Genealogy
Premium Tools
Genealogy database with census, birth, marriage, death records and more.
Must use at a CADL Library
Capital Area District Library's Local History Online digital collections. Contains photographs, vintage postcards, school yearbooks, documents, and more.
This is a collection of newspapers held by the Ingham County Genealogical Society (ICGS), consisting primarily of the Ingham County News (1860-1969 with some gaps). The collection also includes single issues or just a few issues for the following titles: The Dansville Herald (1888); Ingham County Democrat (1917); Ingham Democrat (1846); and Orion Weekly Review (1905).
High-resolution digitized full page access to the Lansing State Journal from 1911-Present, with a small delay for the most recent issues. Select "Full Text" to see full page images. Resource also includes digitized full page access to some historical newspapers from Battle Creek and Port Huron. Once accessing the resource, select "Publications" at the top to view all publications and coverage periods available.
CADL library card required (this includes Student Success Initiative cards)
Family history resource including more than 6 billion historical records from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and other regions. Includes the full USA federal census (1790-1940); census of England and Wales (1841-1901); U.S. World War II Army Enlistment as well as records of Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers. Over 2 billion family trees.
Request a Lansing-Area Obituary
To request an obituary for the greater Lansing area, please read and complete this form, and mail it to Capital Area District Libraries with your payment. Staff will conduct a search and contact you with any results.
Other Resources
Cyndi’s List
A categorized and cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet.
Ellis Island On-line
Access to immigration records from Ellis Island New York.
Family Search
Access to the genealogical resources gathered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Learn How to Get Started Using FamilySearch
Library of Michigan Genealogy Resources
Information about the Library of Michigan's extensive genealogy resources.
Michigan County Histories and Atlases
Searchable county histories and atlases published before 1923.
Rootsweb
A free genealogy community to help people research their family history.
Sanborn Map Collection
A searchable digital archive of pre 1900 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps brought to you by the Library of Congress.
USGenWeb
Genealogy websites in every county and every state of the United States.
Additional Genealogy Resources
These additional resources are recommended by CADL staff.
Events for History Buffs
Gerald Ford & World War II (Ages 18+)
Thursday Jun 29, 2023 6:30pm - 7:30pm Haslett Learn about former president Gerald R. Ford's military service with the U.S. Navy and how his pre-war activities at Michigan, Yale, and Grand Rapids as an athlete and lawyer continued to play a role in his naval career. Read MoreReminisce (Adults)
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm Aurelius Our group meets monthly for reminiscing, fellowship and refreshments. New members are always welcome! At today's event, join us for a Quilt Trunk Show hosted by local quilter Jan Asmann. Before Jan started quilting, she had years of professional sewing, costume and stage design experience. Her creative style and one-of-kind designs promise to be an audience favorite. Read MoreReminisce (Adults)
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm Aurelius Our group meets monthly for reminiscing, fellowship and refreshments. New members are always welcome! At today's event, join us and learn about the life of the honey bee. Pam Mackinder from Mx6 Ranch & Honey Bee Yards will be here to talk and show us what happens in a honey bee colony throughout the course of a year. Does the Queen bee really rule the colony? Do Honey Bees hibernate? How long does a Honey Bee live? Join us to learn more about this fascinating insect! Read MoreMore Like These