We’ve assembled a list of important repositories & archives located in Michigan. Here are three you’ll find that are an hour’s drive or less of Grand Rapids.
Archives of Michigan
702 W Kalamazoo St., Lansing, Mich. 48915
Phone: 517-373- Phone Hours M-F: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Research Hours M-F: 1-5 p.m. Sa: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Email: contact us
“The Archives of Michigan is responsible for preserving the records of Michigan government and other public institutions. The collections also include documents, maps, photographs and film from private individuals and organizations.”

Kris Rzepczynski leading a tour thru the open stacks of the Abrams Foundation Historical Collection – Photo by Roger Moffat
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48915
Hours:
10 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday
10 am to 4 pm Saturday (except certain state holidays)
“The Michigan Legislature created The Library of Michigan to guarantee the people of this State and their government one perpetual institution to collect and preserve Michigan publications, conduct reference and research and support libraries statewide.”
Archives and Regional History Collections, Western Michigan University
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo, Mich. 49008
Phone: 616-387-8490; E-mail: Contact us
Hours: Tu-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
“The Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections consists of historical University, regional, and local governmental records. The holdings total over 28,000 cubic feet, making the WMU Archives the largest facility of its type in southwestern Michigan and one of the largest in the state. Detailed finding aids exist for the manuscript collections. In addition to the manuscript collections, the unit has oral histories, census records, a research collection of books, magazines, and newspapers, and several large photographic collections.”