Ann Arbor Genealogy Database
Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw County and one of the best cities in Michigan for genealogy research. Researchers can access birth, death, and marriage records through the Washtenaw County Clerk, and can draw on major university-based archives at the University of Michigan, including the world-class Bentley Historical Library. Local societies like the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County add another layer of access, with volunteers at the clerk's office every Thursday to help with research requests.
Ann Arbor Overview
Washtenaw County Clerk Vital Records
The Washtenaw County Clerk is the primary source for Ann Arbor vital records. The office is at 200 N. Main St., Suite 120, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Phone: 734-222-6700. Website: washtenaw.org. The clerk holds birth records, death records, and marriage records for all of Washtenaw County.
Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted under MCL 333.2882. You need to show proof of a direct family relationship or legal interest to get a certified copy. Death records are generally open to the public. Marriage records are public as well. The standard certified copy fee is $15 per record. The Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County (GSWC) has volunteers at the clerk's office every Thursday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM who can assist with research requests at no charge. This is a practical resource that many researchers overlook.
| Office | Washtenaw County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 N. Main St., Suite 120, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 |
| Phone | 734-222-6700 |
| GSWC Volunteers | Every Thursday, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
| Website | washtenaw.org |
Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County
The Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County (GSWC) is the main local genealogy organization for Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. The society holds birth, marriage, and death records from 1867 to 1913, land indexes, and cemetery readings for Washtenaw County. Their library is currently in a storage facility in Ann Arbor and is available by appointment. Contact them through the website to arrange access.
GSWC volunteers at the Washtenaw County Clerk's office every Thursday are especially helpful for new researchers. They know the local record systems and can help you identify which records exist and where to find them. If you are working on a Washtenaw County family and are not sure where to start, the GSWC Thursday volunteer session is one of the best first steps you can take. The society also maintains an active mailing address at P.O. Box 7155, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 for correspondence and membership inquiries.
The GSWC website at washtenawgenealogy.org has information on the society's holdings, how to access the library by appointment, and details about their Thursday volunteer program at the county clerk's office.
Bentley Historical Library at University of Michigan
The Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan is one of the premier archival repositories in the Midwest. It is at 1150 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Phone: 734-764-3482. The Bentley holds the Michigan Historical Collections, which includes personal papers, organizational records, photographs, and documents related to Michigan history going back to the early statehood period. For genealogy research, the Bentley is particularly valuable for finding manuscript collections, church records, and local organization papers that have been donated over the years.
The University of Michigan also has a Special Collections Library that holds rare books, maps, and historical documents. These university-based resources are open to the public for research purposes, though some collections require appointments. If you are researching a family with deep roots in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County, the Bentley may have materials that no other archive holds. University archives can document faculty and staff families in ways that general public records do not.
The Bentley Historical Library is open to the public and holds the Michigan Historical Collections, including documents that span the full history of the state and the University of Michigan.
Ann Arbor District Library Archives
The Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) archives section is another strong local resource. The library's archives team handles obituary lookups and local history research. You can reach them by email at archives@aadl.org. Their genealogy page at aadl.org/archives/genealogy describes the services they offer and the materials they hold. The AADL is a practical resource for obituary searches across the greater Ann Arbor area going back through much of the 20th century.
Ann Arbor newspapers like the Ann Arbor Argus (1889-1896), the Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat (1902-1906), the Ann Arbor Journal (1855-1863), the Ann Arbor Record (1902-1903), and the Ann Arbor Register (1875-1897) are available at various archives. Some have been digitized. The Google News Archive has the Ann Arbor Argus available for free search. Newspaper records are especially useful for finding birth and death notices, marriage announcements, and family event coverage that did not make it into formal vital records.
The AADL archives team at archives@aadl.org handles obituary lookups and local history questions, making the library a useful supplement to formal vital records research.
Online Ann Arbor Genealogy Resources
Free online tools make it easier to start Ann Arbor genealogy research from anywhere. Michiganology at the Archives of Michigan covers death certificates statewide from 1897 to 1952. For Washtenaw County, this is the best free starting point for early death record searches. The database is searchable by name, county, and year. The Archives of Michigan are at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48909, phone 517-373-1408, and hold many older state-level records.
The Washtenaw County MIGenWeb site has volunteer-contributed transcriptions, cemetery records, and research resources for the county. This free resource often contains information not available through official channels. FamilySearch has digitized microfilm for Washtenaw County as well, including some vital records and church registers. The Ann Arbor Michigan FamilySearch Center is located in Saline, just outside Ann Arbor, and is open to the public with limited hours. Saline is a short drive from Ann Arbor and the center has extensive microfilm and digital resources available free of charge.
Under MCL 333.2884, death records are available to any requester. Under MCL 333.2885, birth records require documentation of your relationship. Marriage records are generally public under the standard access rules. The Library of Michigan at michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan provides access to subscription genealogy databases for Michigan residents.
Note: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 517-335-8666 handles requests for vital records when other channels are not available.
Nearby Cities
Ann Arbor is the only qualifying city in Washtenaw County. Nearby qualifying cities in other counties include Detroit and other communities in the southeast Michigan metro area.
Washtenaw County Genealogy Records
Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw County. All vital records for the county flow through the Washtenaw County Clerk in downtown Ann Arbor. The county page has full details on record types, dates, fees, and the GSWC volunteer program that assists researchers every Thursday.