Archived Michigan Death Certificates Now Available Online

By Edward Cardenas

SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Families exploring their genealogy, researchers and those curious about the early 1900's can now view images of Michigan death certificates on the Archives of Michigan website.

The death certificates are from 1921-1939, and include the document for illusionist and stunt performer Harry Houdini who died in Detroit Oct. 31, 1926, after suffering internal injuries after being punched multiple times in the abdomen by a fan at a show in Montreal several days earlier.

"This collection of death certificates covers a period in Michigan history of significant growth and development," said state archivist Mark Harvey in a release. "In these records, researchers will find evidence of the influx of Eastern European immigrants, the emergence of Detroit as the automotive capital of the world and the impact of the Great Depression."

With the addition of the these documents, Michigan now has 2.6 million death certificates available online dating back to 1897.

According to state officials, the certificates are indexed and searchable by an individual's last name, first name, county and township/village/city of death, birth year, age and parents' names. Additional information that can be found in the death certificates includes a person's occupation, cause of death, burial location and birthplace.

As privacy restrictions are lifted, additional death certificates will be made available.

The Archives of Michigan houses more than 80 million state and local government records and private papers, 300,000 photographs and 500,000 maps, plus films and audio tape dating back to 1792.