Decatur, Michigan
The Toni I. Benson Room of Local History and Genealogy is a premiere destination for researchers. Housed in the Webster Memorial Library in Decatur, the collection includes thousands of books, microfilm, periodicals, photographs and manuscripts relating to Southwestern Michigan.
The collection also includes resources for select states and foreign countries, and general Michigan history. The Benson Room is a licensed microfilm loan center for the Family History Center in Salt Lake City.
Hours
The local history collection is open to researchers Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; and Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Benson Room observes all holiday and other closings of the Webster Memorial Branch, Van Buren District Library. Researchers are encouraged to verify access hours prior to visiting. Phone Webster Memorial Library, 269-423-4771, or email Local History.
Requests for Information
Brief requests for information are welcome and may be made to Local History.
Planning Your Visit
- Call 269-423-4771 or email in advance to verify hours
- Make a list of items to view, including title and call numbers. Locate local history materials in the library’s catalog
- Focus: Make a list of needed records and names to search
- Organize: Put your information in order on a family group sheet or genealogical software program
- Upon arrival, consult the Local History Master Index first. The LHMI is an in-house Database tool that can be used to quickly locate materials in the collection.
Main Categories of the Local History Collection
The materials housed in the Toni I. Benson Room are extensive. While not a complete list, those below are the most frequently requested:
Census
- 1820 – 1940: Federal and State Censuses for Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties
- 1850 – 1870: All of Michigan
Newspapers
The collection includes newspapers from 20 different communities in southwestern Michigan including Bangor, Bloomingdale, Covert, Decatur, Gobles, Lawrence, Paw Paw and Marcellus.
Obituaries
Southwest Michigan Obituary Collection: This obituary index is a work in progress and contains over 89,000 entries dating from Southwest Michigan’s earliest history through the year 2000.
Special Collections
The Toni I. Benson Room has many specific collections for researchers. If you don’t see a collection that may meet your needs, please contact the local history librarian.
- Bess Britton One-Room Schoolhouse Collection
- Family Files
- Historical Platbooks and Atlases
- Picture Collection
- Yearbooks
Contacts
Amy Druskovich, Local History Librarian
Weblinks
Ancestry Library Edition is accessible inside all branches of Van Buren District Library.
