History: Regional & Local Subject Guide
Databases and Indexes
8 resources available
- Restricted to WMU users 
- Open Access
RHistory
RHistory is the finding aid for the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections. These materials are located at the Archives and Regional History Collections, 111 East Hall. Use RHistory to identify regional history manuscripts. RHistory includes information about diaries, letters, business records, oral histories, and governmental records from southwestern Michigan. More detailed finding aids exist for many of these collections. Consult the Archives and Regional History Collections web page for additional information.
Kalamazoo Gazette Index Only local news is indexed. The Kalamazoo Public Library has an online index for the Gazette as a part of its catalog. Indexed by subjects and personal names since 1972. A few things have been indexed from older issues. You may need to pull the drop-down menu to Local Indexes and Community Information before searching.
Michigan County Histories
The Michigan County Histories collection is a collaborative effort of Michigan's Council of Library Directors. The collection is projected to provide access to 192 histories dating from 1866 to 1926. There are 195 volumes in 164 titles currently online.
Sanborn Maps 1867-1970 Maps of 300 Michigan towns and cities drawn at a scale of 50 feet to the inch, including street blocks and building numbers. Microfilms from all 50 states are available through Interlibrary Loan from Center for Research Libraries.
Land Patent Research
Land patents document the transfer of land ownership from the federal government to individuals. Patents may be searched by name or property description. This database is free.
General Land Office Platts for Michigan
General Land Office (GLO) plat maps are derived from original surveyor notes of the State of Michigan. The survey was conducted in the early to mid 1800's. All documents pertaining to the original survey of Michigan can be found in the State Archives of Michigan.
Library of Congress Panoramic Map Collection
The panoramic map was a popular cartographic form used to depict U.S. and Canadian cities and towns during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Known also as bird's-eye views, perspective maps, and aero views, panoramic maps are nonphotographic representations of cities portrayed as if viewed from above at an oblique angle. Although not generally drawn to scale, they show street patterns, individual buildings, and major landscape features in perspective. This collection may be searched by city name.
Historical Census BrowserThe data presented here describe the population and economy of U.S. states and counties from 1790 to 1960. The available data differ somewhat from decade to decade, according to what was collected in the census and the items chosen for transcription to electronic form.