Trace Your Family Tree

If you're interested in researching your family history, there are many online resources available to begin your search (and a lot of them are free).  

These databases and websites include a wealth of vital records.

Ancestry - Search billions of census, vital, military and immigration records and more (in library use only). 

Cyndi's List - An extensive list of all things genealogy.

FamilySearch - The genealogy site of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints offers records as well as research.  

Find a Grave - This site features millions of uploaded pictures of graves across the United States.  

MyHeritage Library Edition - A great place to start your research for vital records. A CPL card is required to use this service. 

Castle Garden Records - Records from 1830-1892.

Ellis Island Records - Records from 1892-1924.

Steve Morse One Step Webpages - Searches across a number of websites and databases.  

Bureau of Land Management - Was your relative a homesteader? Find out here. 

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps - Historic fire insurance maps. 

Canton Observer (1974-2022) - Brought to you by the Canton Public Library.

Digital Michigan Newspaper Portal - Includes a number of digitized historical newspapers throughout the state of Michigan.

Archives of Michigan - Located in the Michigan Library and Historical Center, the Archives preserves the records of Michigan government. 

Library of Michigan - The Library of Michigan is home to a great diversity of local history materials including city and county histories, newspaper clippings, vital records, cemetery transcripts, and plat maps. 

Michiganology - The online platform of the Archives of Michigan includes research guides and indexes, as well as access to more than three million state and local government records and private manuscripts, maps and photographs.