Local Genealogical Resources

For assistance in locating sacramental records, please visit the Burton Historical Collection, the Bentley Library, or the Monroe County Library system.

Catholic Church Records for parishes founded prior to 1900 are available in microfilm format at the Burton Historical Collection at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. The Burton is open 6 days per week, closed on Mondays. Anyone can do research on these records. The films are Archdiocesan property. All sacramental records created after 1930 at the Burton Library are closed to researchers.

The University of Michigan’s Bentley Library has microfilms from Ste. Anne's Parish and Most Holy Trinity Parish registers, 1704-1869; their films end circa 1850 (date varies slightly by sacrament). If anyone wants to publish these films, they must contact the Archives. This agreement was signed by Cardinal Dearden in 1974 and was amended in 1982.

The Monroe County Library System has some microfilm from a dozen downriver parishes. The available sacraments end in 1900. This agreement was signed by Cardinal Szoka in 1987. All researcher registration forms are sent to the Archives. Any request to publish must come to the Archdiocese.

The Archives of Michigan houses Michigan's public records dating back to 1792. More than eighty million state and local government records and private papers, ten million photographs and 500,000 maps, plus films and audio tapes are available for research.