Genealogy & Local History Archives - Ypsilanti District Library

“Through Darkness to Light” exhibit on display Sept. 1 – Oct. 20

Published: August 29, 2024

From September 1-October 20, an exhibit featuring photography related to the Underground Railroad will be on display at YDL-Whittaker.

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A black and white image of the brick Parkridge building from 1945

Ypsi Stories Episode 25: The Parkridge Community Center and the Fight for Racial Equality

Published: August 28, 2024

Episode 25 of Ypsi Stories.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 24: Undertaking the Subject of Death in 19th Century Ypsilanti

Published: June 7, 2024

Episode 24 of Ypsi Stories.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 23: The Ypsi Farmers & Gardeners Oral History Project

Published: May 6, 2024

Episode 23 of Ypsi Stories.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 22: President Roosevelt visits the Willow Run Bomber Plant

Published: March 7, 2024

Episode 22 of Ypsi Stories.

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Growing the YDL Oral History Collections

Published: December 15, 2023

Passionate and influential local food growers are recording their stories in the Ypsilanti District Library’s oral history archives.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 21: On the State of Medicine in 19th Century Ypsilanti

Published: October 20, 2023

Episode 21 of Ypsi Stories.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 20: Fighting for LGBTQ Rights in Ypsilanti: A Double Retrospective

Published: July 26, 2023

Episode 20 of Ypsi Stories.

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YDL will host a screening of Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale in July

Published: June 16, 2023

YDL is glad to announce that we’ll be hosting a screening of Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale. On Saturday, July 8 at 2pm, visit the Superior branch to watch this incredible documentary narrated by Martha Reeves.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 19: Shadow Art Fair – Ypsilanti’s Interactive Art Experience

Published: May 19, 2023

Episode 19 of Ypsi Stories.

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Jean Winborn to be featured on “Finding Your Roots – Family Sagas of Pride and Perseverance”

Published: March 17, 2023

Join Detroit Public TV and PBS Books Wednesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET, for a fascinating look at new techniques for unravelling the mysteries of African American genealogy, including a conversation with YDL’s very own Jean Winborn!

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Family tree representation. Tree growing out of open book, with picture frames on the branches.

Sign up for a One-on-One Genealogy Session with Jean Winborn

Published: January 17, 2023

Sign up for a one-on-one genealogy session with Jean Winborn, co-founder of Washtenaw County African-American Genealogy Society. These sessions will take place on February 1, 8, 16, and 22. Please only sign up for 1 session, as spots are limited. Search for information about your African American ancestors or learn more about the human side of America’s slaveholding past. Look at various records, as well as migration patterns and laws specific to race. Session 1 (Feb. 1) Session 2 (Feb. 8) Session 3 (Feb. 16) Session 4 (Feb. 22)

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Watercolor painting of the front of the Michigan Avenue Branch

Michigan Avenue Branch Turns 60!

Published: December 9, 2022

The library in Ypsilanti was founded over 150 years ago. For nearly half that time, the Michigan Avenue building has been part of its fabric.

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Ypsi Stories Episode 18: More Buses for Ypsilanti

Published: December 5, 2022

Episode 18 of Ypsi Stories.

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Explore the A.P. Marshall African American History Archive

Published: July 15, 2022

Have you checked out the A.P. Marshall African American Oral History Archive?

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1950 U.S. Census records now available

Published: April 7, 2022

Genealogists rejoice! On April 1, the United States National Archives released the 1950 Census records, 72 years after it was conducted, as required by U.S. law. The following website has been set up with access to all the records, plus additional resources: https://1950census.archives.gov/ For those looking for a bit more assistance with navigating the new records, the National Archives has a series of presentations through May. The videos and slides are also available after the presentation date to refer back to. Find all the information here.

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Online Access to the Veterans History Project

Published: February 8, 2022

The Veterans History Project, part of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center, collects oral histories of American veterans, including those from Ypsilanti and Washtenaw County. Now, thanks to Eastern Michigan University, the Washtenaw County veteran interviews have been digitized and collected in an online archive. The digital archive contains interviews with veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the homefront, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Check out the archive here!

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