Genealogy Resources

Due to the rise in complex and multi-faceted AI-generated genealogy questions, we now require individuals with genealogy requests to review the following information before seeking reference assistance. Additionally, if AI is used to help generate a question, please review our finding aids before submitting to ensure that the information is accurate relative to our current holdings, as chatbots can create false citations, or "phantom citations," which fabricate archival materials to provide answers to a prompt.

Due to limited staffing, archivists are unable to conduct research on behalf of patrons. Patrons can begin their search at archives.wayne.edu. Our collections are typically arranged and described at the folder level, which means there is rarely item level information available. Consequently, our search box will not help you find information on a specific person unless that person’s name is part of a folder title. Newspapers, newsletters, and other publications in our collections are not indexed, which means an in-person visit is required to search those materials for a name, location, or event.

There are several record types that we do not collect and will not be in our collections, such as:

  • Employment records – including personnel files and benefits information

  • Student academic records – including diplomas and transcripts

  • Medical records – including birth/death certificates, adoption papers, documents about hospitalizations or procedures, patient charts

  • Property records – including deeds, blueprints and photographs of individual residences, and photographs of residential streets. (Note: we do not have access to residential or business directories to look up locations of buildings.)

  • Phone books and city directories

If your relative was in a union that has a collection at the Reuther, please contact the collection archivist for that union to inquire about member information or related material.

If your relative was affiliated with Wayne State University, please contact the University Archivist to inquire about available commencement programs, yearbooks, staff directories, or student directories.