1. Catalog
Finding Books in the MSU Libraries
To search for books in the MSU Libraries on a topic, you will need to use the library catalog. The catalog is a searchable listing of materials owned and located in the MSU Libraries, including: books, journals, government documents, microforms, videos/DVDs/CDs, etc.
When should I use the library catalog?
- To find whether we own a specific book, including its location and call number
- To browse for books on a topic
- To find whether we subscribe to a specific magazine, journal, or newspaper
NOTE: You cannot use the library catalog to find individual articles within a magazine-you must use a periodical index for that.
2. General Genealogy
The library offers a number of general genealogy resources including:
- Genealogy for the first time : research your family history / Laura Best. New York : Sterling Pub. Co., c2003.
- The handy book for genealogists : United States of America. Logan, Utah : Everton Publishers, c1999.
- Professional genealogy : a manual for researchers, writers, editors, lecturers, and librarians / editor, Elizabeth Shown Mills ; editorial board, Donn Devine, James L. Hansen, Helen F.M. Leary. Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Pub. Co., 2001.
- Kashuba, Melinda. Walking with your ancestors : a genealogist's guide to using maps and geography. Cincinnati, OH : Family Tree Books, c2005.
- They came in ships : a guide to finding your immigrant ancestor's arrival record / by John Philip Colletta. Provo, Utah : Ancestry, 2002.
- Kemp, Thomas Jay. The American census handbook. Wilmington, Del. : Scholarly Resources, 2001.
- Ancestry's red book : American state, county & town sources / edited by Alice Eichholz ; maps by William Dollarhide.Salt Lake City, UT : Ancestry Publ., c1992, 1989.
- Rose, James M. Black genesis : a resource book for African-American genealogy. Baltimore, MD : Genealogical Pub. Co., 2003.
- Schaefer, Christina K. The hidden half of the family : a sourcebook for women's genealogy. Baltimore, MD : Genealogical Pub., c1999
- Chambers, Paul. Medieval genealogy : how to find your medieval ancestors. Sutton Publishing, 2005.
3. County Histories
The Library has many county histories for Michian and some for other states and countries. Most can be found in Oversize Books and 3 East. Some examples are:
4. City Directories
The library has some city directories including for Lansing, East Lansing, and Michigan State University.
5. Area History Books
Area History Books are books about specific areas. Some examples are:
- Federal Writers' Project (Ky.). Kentucky: A Guide to the Bluegrass State, Compiled and Written by the Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Kentucky ... Sponsored by the University of Kentucky. New York, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1939.
- Smith, Z. F. (Zachariah Frederick), 1827-1911. The History of Kentucky : From Its Earliest Discovery and Settlement, to the Present Date ... Its Military Events and Achievements, and Biographic Mention of its Historic Characters. Louisville : Courier-journal job printing company ; 1882 [c1885].
- The Encyclopedia of Louisville / John E. Kleber, editor in chief ; Mary Jean Kinsman, managing editor ; Thomas D. Clark, Clyde F. Crews, George H. Yater, associate editors. Lexington : University Press of Kentucky, c2001.
- Ceasar, Ford Stevens. The bicentennial history of Ingham County, Michigan. [Mason, Mich.? : Ingham County?], 1976.
- Honor roll and war history of Ingham County, Michigan, in the great world war, 1914 to 1918. Lansing, Mich. : State Journal Co., [1919?].
- Edmonds, J. P. Early Lansing history. Lansing, Mich. : F. Dekleine Co., 1944.
- Through the years : a pictorial history of greater Lansing, 1847-1997. East Lansing, Mich. : Visions Sports Management Group, c1997.
6. Family History Books
The library has some books on family names including:
- Crimm, A. Carolina Castillo. De Leon, a Tejano family history. Austin : University of Texas Press, 2003.
- Stevens, Archie H. The Stevens family history and their worldwide moving, storage & van lines businesses : 1905-2001. East Tawas, Mich. : Archie H. Stevens, [2001].
- Kilfoy, Helen Hicks. Hicks-Thurber family history : Robert and Zoe. Chicago, Ill. (5000 Marine Dr. 8A, Chicago 60640) : H.H. Kilfoy, c1982.
- Wyndham, H. A. (Hugh Archibald). A family history, 1688-1837 : the Wyndhams of Somerset, Sussex, and Wiltshire. London ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1950.
7. Maps and Atlases
The Maps & Geospatial Services is located on 2 East.
- Atlases and Plat Books
There are county atlases that show rural land ownership and are popularly known as "plat books" or "plat atlases" though that usually isn't in the title. The best catalog search is [county name, county] and real property. You should limit the search to the Maps & Geospatial Services in order to weed out records of things at the Library of Michigan. Example:
Barry County and real property
The Maps & Geospatial Services has atlases for all counties of Michigan, usually one atlas every 3-5 years; with maybe 1-3 pre-1950 atlases for most counties. The atlases older than about 1930 are in Maps' Permanent Reserves and can be used with staff assistance.
- Maps
There are also a number of maps including:
8. Newspapers
Newspapers can be found electronically or on microfilm. Microfilm readers are found on 2 West.
