Librarians are frequently asked about access to genealogical databases and local newspaper archives. GRCC collections serve the academic needs of students and faculty, so we don’t invest in those if they aren’t needed to support the curriculum. BUT – the Library of Michigan (LOM) does, and now you can get a free LOM library card!
Apply online by completing the form found here. Card information will be emailed to you. Use that LOM access to access their Family History e-resources, a selected list of which follows.
Selected LOM Databases:
- African American Biographical Database Spans 1790-1950, covers the famous to the everyday person.
- Ancestry Library Edition Includes billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more. (ProQuest no longer allows the LOM to have at-home access to this database, but the content is still available at the LOM, as well as many Michigan libraries.)
- Ann Arbor News Historical and Current Collection Access from 1923 – present.
- Black Life in America As recorded by the news media, from 1704 – present.
- Black Thought and Culture non-fiction writings by major American black leaders and public figures, including previously inaccessible material (letters, speeches, political leaflets, interviews, trial transcripts, etc.)
- Detroit Free Press, 1831-1999 (see ProQuest Historical Newspapers).
- Detroit News Historical (1873-1999), MLive publications, and more Selected Michigan newspapers and all MLive-owned publications from 2002 – present.
- Fold3 Access military records.
- The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (see ProQuest Historical Newspapers) Access from 1844-2017.
- Grand Rapids Press Historical and Current Collection, 1893 – present.
- Heritage Hub U.S. obituaries from 1824 – present.
- Michigan Chronicle, 1936 – 2010 (see ProQuest Historical Newspapers) Primary source material for the study of American history and African American culture, history, politics, and the arts.
- Michigan Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970.
- NewspaperArchive From 1759 to 1977, including communities around the country.
- Newspapers.com 16,200+ newspapers from the 1700s–2000s.
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