Obituaries and Vital Records
Obituaries
Getting a Copy of an Obituary from the Library
You need to know the date of death, unfortunately the library cannot search the date for you. See below for resources on finding death dates. Requests are free but priority is given to requests coming from our service area (Ingham county.) Due to high volume a response may take a week or more for non-resident patrons. Send your request to localhistory@cadl.org or call 517-367-6346.
Locate an Obituary or Death Record, Lansing Area and Michigan: 
- The Downtown Library has the Lansing State Journal on microfilm (or hard copy for current months) from 1855 to the present.
- The Lansing State Journal Web Site archives obituaries for free for the past 30 days and it can be used as an index for obituaries going back to 2003.
- Michigan Death Certificates 1897 to 1920
- Deaths Recorded in the Stockbridge Newspaper 1886-1999.
- Library of Michigan’s newspaper collection on microfilm. You must visit the library directly.
- If the person died between 1999 and the present try NewsBank Michigan Newspapers*
- If the person was locally well known ask the Downtown Library @ 517-367-6346 to check the newspaper clippings.
Locate an Obituary, Sources that Cover Michigan and Other States:
- Try the databases and websites listed on CADL's News and Newspapers page
Find a Date of Death
- Ancestry Plus (Not available from home. Visit the library or call 517-367-6346)
- If the person died after 1962 try the Social Security Death Index
- MIGenWeb
- Online Michigan Death Records & Indexes
Other Resources:
- Volunteers may be able to look up the obituary for you.
- Interment.net lists transcriptions from grave markers from all over the world. Note that not all cemeteries in a region are covered nor is every grave in a cemetery listed.
- If the death was 1980 to the present try Obitsarchive.com (A fee is charged but also useful as a free index)
- For deaths after 1985 check InfoTrac Custom Newspapers*
- Family Search
- Genealogy Bank
- Legacy.com
- Rootsweb
- Michigan Genealogical Death Indexing System (covers 1867-1897)
- Check the Michigan Obituary Project and How to Find an Obituary for good tips on finding obituaries.
Vital Records
Ingham County
Michigan
Other States
International
- International Vital
Records Information
*This resource requires a CADL library card. If you have a Michigan driver's license you can access it from the Michigan ELibrary
