Local History

Our hours are Monday through Friday 11 am – 5 pm. Walk-ins are welcome. If you would like us to pull archival materials prior to your visit, please call us at 269.657.3800. We can also assist with research virtually. Please email us at info@pawpawlib.org.

Digital Collection

Visit our digital collection including photos, drawings, and special exhibits.

Visit our Digital Collection

Local History

Discover the history of Paw Paw and the pioneers who settled the area. Read about the events that led to its incorporation.

Read About the History of Paw Paw

Your House / Property

Your house or property has a history. Your local government offices and our library have many resources available for your research.

Research Your House / Property

Genealogy

The internet offers many fantastic resources for researching your family tree. We’ve compiled a list of our top websites for genealogical research.

View Genealogy Resources

Plat Maps

The local history collection includes plat maps dating back to 1860 for Van Buren County. There are also atlases of the State of Michigan dating back to the 1890s.

View Maps

Yearbooks

Yearbooks can be a useful resource when searching for information on your family history or community.

View Available Yearbooks

Summary of Resources

There is a wealth of resources available for your research.

View Inventory of Resources

Newspapers

Search the digital Michigan newspapers collection.

See List of Available Newspapers

Cemeteries

The Local History Room is home to several Van Buren County cemetery indexes. These indexes include descriptions of the cemetery, its history in some cases, maps, and lists of people who are buried there.

View Cemeteries