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Archives of Michigan makes 1921-1939 death certificates available online

The Archives of Michigan today made available images of Michigan death certificates from 1921 to 1939 for free on its website www.seekingmichigan.org.

The certificates join others from 1897 to 1920 that were previously made available. The Michigan collection now contains 2.6 million death certificates for researchers. Genealogy researchers, in particular, find death certificates useful while tracing family history.

State Archivist Mark Harvey said that the index of death certificates from 1940 to 1952 will be made available in about a month, with certificates from that period becoming available as privacy restrictions are lifted. For example, images of the certificates from 1940 will be made available online in January 2016. The death records represent a partnership between the Archives, the Vital Records Section of the Michigan Department of Community Health and FamilySearch.org.

“This collection of death certificates covers a period in Michigan history of significant growth and development,” Harvey said. “In these records, researchers will find evidence of the influx of Eastern European immigrants, the emergence of Detroit as the automotive capital of the world and the impact of the Great Depression.”

Researchers can search four different data fields. The certificates are indexed and searchable by an individual’s last name, first name, county and township/village/city of death, birth year, age and parents’ names. Additional information that can be found in death certificates includes the person’s occupation, cause of death, burial location and birthplace.

Among the death certificates in this group is that of illusionist and stunt performer Harry Houdini, who died in Detroit Oct. 31, 1926, of internal injuries after being punched multiple times in the abdomen by a fan at a show in Montreal several days earlier.

The Archives of Michigan is responsible for preserving the records of Michigan government and other public institutions. With documents dating back to 1792, the Archives of Michigan houses much of Michigan's record heritage. More than 80 million state and local government records and private papers, 300,000 photographs and 500,000 maps, plus films and audio tapes are available for research. A growing number of materials in the Archives are available on its website at www.seekingmichigan.org. 

Still some openings for 'Dig Camp' at Michigan Historical Center July 14-18; registration deadline extended to June 9

A unique, weeklong summer-camp experience for 10- to 12-year-olds still has some openings for participants. "Dig Camp" - offered July 14-18 at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing - will focus on archaeology and be tied to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) core concepts in fun and engaging ways. The deadline to register for this program is June 9.
Each day runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-care and after-care also will be offered each day from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 5 p.m., at no additional charge. The program is limited to 20 participants.
The cost for the weeklong Dig Camp is $275 per child. For families with an annual membership to the Michigan Historical Museum, that price is discounted to $250 per child.
"If your child likes science and history, then Dig Camp is for him or her," said Mark Harvey, archivist for the Archives of Michigan. "Dig Camp will teach the skills used in science, technology, engineering and math to study the past, making archaeology a fun way to learn these core concepts. Dig Camp is an innovative learning experience that involves hands-on activities for the students."
Some of the skills that will be explored during Dig Camp include:

• Critical reasoning through forming and testing hypotheses.
• Natural sciences through understanding archaeological site formation.
• Spatial relationships through scaled mapping and drawing.
• Technology through computer-aided data collection.
• Design through artifact analysis.
• Experimentation through trial and error of re-creating past technologies.
• Ethics and personal responsibility through teamwork and knowledge sharing.

"Archaeologists play an important role in helping us discover and learn about social relationships, the environment, biology and technology and how it has changed," said Stacy Tchorzynski, archaeologist with the State Historic Preservation Office and Department of Natural Resources. "Dig Camp taps into a child's natural curiosity and sparks a deeper interest in history and STEM."
For more information on Dig Camp, including online registration, go to www.michigan.gov/museum.

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its museum and archival programs help people discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage. It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and the Archives of Michigan. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/michiganhistory.

The museum and visitor parking are on the north side of Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. in downtown Lansing. Weekend parking is free.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.