resources for genealogists

LOCAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH

  • Claire Reck Local History Room archives (a collection of materials on the history of the Village of Manchester and surrounding townships (Bridgewater, Freedom, Manchester, and Sharon).
  • Manchester Enterprise (local newspaper) archives on microfilm in the C.R. Local History Room.
  • Set up an appointment with our C.R. Local History Room volunteer to get access to resources and for one-on-one assistance with local history inquiries and research.  Call 734.428.8045 or email localhistory@manchesterlibrary.info.​​
  • Our Local History book collection is available to peruse on the second floor of the Library just outside of the C.R. Local History Room.

family history guild

The ​Family History Guild is a group of local genealogists who meet monthly to help each other with research and learn more about family history topics. 

On the third Saturday of each month (excluding holidays, etc.), the Family History Guild holds a lock-in at our library after hours (2-5pm).  This dedicated time allows the Guild to make full use of our public computers.  While this is not one-one-one help for genealogy, Guild members are more than happy to help guide a fellow genealogist in their search and provide them with tips of the trade.  For more information about the monthly lock-in, please call 734.428.8045. To confirm our lock-in dates, please consult our Events Calendar.

ancestry library edition - ancestry.com

[Free in-library use only.]  Ancestry Library Edition provides unprecedented access to family history via documents that record the lineage of individuals from North America, the U.K., Europe, Australia, and more. Ancestry Library Edition, the world's most popular consumer online genealogy resource, includes more than 7,000 databases of family information available to you via the library. For great short tutorials, visit the Ancestry Academy.

Biography reference center

Genealogy/History.More than 450,000 biographies. Includes complete full text run of Biography Today and Biography Magazine as well as thousands of narrative biographies. Michigan residents or Michigan library access only.

Heritage Quest Online

Genealogy/History/Biography. Full text and indexing. Includes all of the images, and extensive indexing, from the 1790 - 1940 U.S. federal censuses; more than 28,000 digitized book titles, including early family histories and local histories; more than 250 primary-source documents such as tax lists, city directories, probate records and more.  PERSI, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, the Freedman’s Bank Records, and the U.S. Serial Set Private Relief Actions, Memorials and Petitions are included. Michigan residents or Michigan library access only.

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library books available to you

• Genealogy Books in our library
• Genealogy Books in TLN
• Genealogy Books in MeLCat

LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN 

​Genealogy Research at the Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan