Local History & Genealogy
DeWitt District Library Local History Collection
The DeWitt District Library does not currently have a local
history room. The most popular items are on shelves while archival
materials are stored at various locations. Please make arrangements in
advance if you wish to view any archival material. The library is in
the process of digitizing and making available much of its collection on
this site. Please check back as new material will be added regularly.
DeWitt Digital Library
Cook Family Letters - three generations of letters from 1841 to 1913
Dateline DeWitt - articles from the Shopping Guide from 1984-1990
DeWitt Businesses - history, ads, and articles written and compiled by Ken Coin
DeWitt Churches - a scrapbook of information from our archives
DeWitt Directories and Maps - a collection of brochures and maps
DeWitt History - includes scans relating to the history of DeWitt
DeWitt History Newspaper Columns (1974-1976 & 1984-1997) by Faye Hanson and Ken Coin
DeWitt People - a scrapbook of newspaper clippings compiled by Ken Coin
DeWitt Places - information and photos from past and present
DeWitt Public Schools - a scrapbook compiled by Ken Coin
DeWitt Ox Roast - a collection of programs and mementos
DeWitt Sesquicentennial - programs from 1983 celebration
Faye Hanson Scrapbook - her scrapbook of newspaper articles she wrote from 1964-1974
Gunnisonville History - 1939 by Alta Gunnison Pierce
Kenneth R. Coin Photograph Collection - scans of photos and select archival items
Social Organizations - a scrapbook of material from our archives compiled by Ken Coin
World War II Scrapbook - a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of Clinton County service men and women
DeWitt Area
Research
Birth, Marriage, Death and Cemetery Records
Clinton County Marriage Records Links to Clinton County church and newspaper records
Michigan Marriage Index for Clinton County Searchable database compiled by Jack Dibean
DeWitt Area Cemetery Records Library has paper copies along with Mt. Rest and Oak Ridge Cemetery readings.
Clinton County Clerk Marriage and death records open to public. Limited access to birth records.
Clinton County Deaths from Clinton County Historical Society
Clinton County Births to 1900 from Clinton County Historical Society
Clinton County Historical Society Archives Excellent source for records and information
Michigan Death Records (GENDIS) Online database of early Michigan death records
Michiganology Death certificates, death records, and much more from Archives of Michigan
Social Security Death Index Online database of US deaths
FamilySearch Online database from the LDS (Morman) Church
Michigan in the Civil War Includes link to veteran burial sites
Biographical and Newspaper
DeWitt Newspaper Columns by Ken Coin
DeWitt People - a scrapbook of newspaper clippings available at the library
Audio Recordings Interviews from 1970's-1980's
Family histories Index to histories available at the library
Family Group Sheets Via Michigan GenWeb
Newspapers -- The DeWitt District Library has microfilm of the following local newspapers:
DeWitt-Bath Review (1980-present). The library also holds some paper copies.
DeWitt Weekly Advertiser (1950-1969; some missing issues)
Clinton Republican (1863-1924)*
Clinton Independent (1866-1906)*
St. Johns News (1892-1923)*
Clinton County Republican-News (1924-1950)*
Misc. Dewitt and Clinton County issues (microfilm and paper)
*digital online are available for free. Use Search with the name/topic you are looking for.
Census and Military Records
The DeWitt Library has Clinton County microfilm for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 and the 1890 special Civil War veteran census
Heritage Quest 1790-1930 U.S. Census images & Revolutionary War records. FREE with DeWitt library card or Michigan driver's license
Church and School Records
DeWitt District Library has the following church records: DeWitt Congregational Church (1840's-1860's); DeWitt Baptist Church (photocopies, 1840's-1900); DeWitt Methodist Church (1860's-1960's)
Dewitt District Library has the following school records: DeWitt Public Schools (mostly 1900-1950); DeWitt Schools Yearbook Collection; Allen School (1930's-1940's); Brown School (1860's-1950's); Simmons' School (some early essays and teacher rosters)
Family History Sites
Fuchs, Fox, Blonigen, Droste, Fedewa, Feldpausch, Garding, Gross, Martin, Miller, Niehaus, Pung, Schaefer, Schneider, Simon, Spitzley, and related families Email for look-ups from Jane's extensive database on these families
Swarthout Family History Swarthout Family of Ovid and Victor Twps.
Voisen-Stewart Family Surnames include Voisin, Yuncker, Pohl, Rademacher, Buechel, Schneider, and Gross.
Heritage Quest Full text books and more. FREE with DeWitt library card or Michigan driver's license
Historical Societies
Genealogists of Clinton County Archives are in the Valley Farms Community Center
Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum St. Johns, Michigan
Shiawassee County History by Steve Schmidt
Shiawassee County Genealogy Society includes searchable surname database
Local History
Bath School Disaster -- Bauerle
Bath School Disaster -- Daggy Includes full-text of "The Bath School Disaster" by Monty Ellsworth and more.
DeWitt Newspaper Columns by Ken Coin
Dewitt District Library has copies of local histories including the DeWitt Area History by Ken Coin
History and Biographical Album of Shiawassee and Clinton Counties (1880) Complete text online
- County, Michigan by Judge S. B. Daboll (1906) Complete text online
Portrait and Biographical Album of Clinton and Shiawassee Counties (1891) Complete text online
History of Shiawassee and Clinton Counties (1880) Complete text online
Local Businesses and Organizations
DeWitt District Library has business records for: Woodruff Brothers Bank
DeWitt District Library has organization records for: George Anderson Camp - Grand Army of the Republic; DeWitt Women's Club; DeWitt Civic Club; DeWitt Mother's Club; DeWitt Memorial Association; DeWitt PTA; DeWitt Royal Neighbors/Modern Woodmen (insurance policy holders)
Maps
Clinton County 1864 Maps from GenWeb
Atlas of Clinton County, Michigan (1873) available online
Standard Atlas of Clinton County (1896) available online
Standard Atlas of Clinton County (1915) available online
Photographs
Kenneth Coin Photograph Collection -- With well over 1,000 vintage images, the ever-growing Dewitt District Library photography collection is perhaps the best documentation of this rapidly changing community. Indexed photocopies of nearly all our photographs are available for public viewing. Original photographs and negatives are housed in coded acid-free folders and stored in archival boxes. These are available for use to researchers within the local history room upon request.
Shafley negative collection - several hundred negatives mostly from the 1930's and 1940's. Some prints are available and over 100 have been scanned and are available in digital format. Those that have not been scanned are mostly of immediate family or photos from outside of the DeWitt area including the Upper Peninsula and Holland Tulip Festival.
DeWitt-Bath Review Photo Collection - An extensive collection of photos taken by the newspaper of people, businesses, and school and community activities. Most are from the 1990's-early 2000's. Nearly everyone who lived in the DeWitt area at that time is in this collection. Some have been scanned and are available in digital format. All may be viewed upon request.
DeWitt Assessor's Photos -- A collection of over 1000 photos of all businesses and residences in the City of DeWitt from the late 1970's to early 1980's. Most are black and white photos from April 1978. Others of new construction or major changes after that date are color. Organized by street and number. Some street numbers have changed since the time of the photograph. Some buildings are missing from the collection. May be viewed upon request. Scanned copies may also be requested by emailing migenweb4@gmail.com.
Ralph L. Woodruff Scrapbook -- A scrapbook of photos and mementos from his time attending Michigan State from 1923-1927. All photos have been scanned along with a few select mementos. Photos include campus life, sporting events, ROTC, and friends.
Links to Genealogy Websites
Ancestry Library Edition (available for in-house use only)
Cyndi's List extensive list of sites
FamilySearch great site with lots of free data
Library of Michigan Genealogy Collection pedigree charts, family group charts and more
National Archives and Records Administration: The Genealogy Page
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