Research and Archives
Benzie County Historic newspapers-Digitized: Click here for link>
The library has Benzie County Plat books and cemetery indexes, along with tombstone photographs available to use. The Michigan Room houses the Bruce Catton collection and books about Michigan's rich history or books written by Michigan authors.
We have newspaper subscriptions for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Traverse City Record Eagle. You are also encouraged to use the Michigan eLibrary to augment the print collection of research materials found in the building. The Library also has bound, print issues of the Benzie Banner/Record Patriot dating back to 1888. If you are interested in looking at the bound issues, please contact the Library in advance to schedule an appointment and let them know what time year(s) you would like to see. The bound newspapers are currently in storage and staff will need at least a 24 hour notice to retrieve the appropriate books you wish to review. The Benzie County Historic Newspapers are also digitized ... Click here for link> |
Michigan Room Historical Archives Project
BPL would like to thank Cheri Dundon for her tireless efforts in organizing the priceless collection of photos, pamphlets, old letters, and historical information that we have at the library. Cheri grew up in Kalamazoo and visited this area for many years. In 2009 she and her husband retired to Benzie County and spent a year relaxing and settling in. In 2010 Cheri began volunteering at BACN, and still works there today. Fueled by a fierce love of history and wanting to learn more about her community, Cheri began volunteering at the Benzie Area Historical Society last year. Cheri’s first big project was in the form of 600 burial permits for Benzonia ranging from 1912-1940. She recorded and transferred all the information to the database where it is available to the public today! After finishing, for some reason, Sheri asked, “what next?” For the last 6 months Cheri has been diligently working on the wealth of historical items from BPL. In the newly renovated Michigan Room, you will find photo albums full of historical photos, sorted according to location and identified when possible. We are so grateful to Cheri for all the work she has already done and for the work she continues to do! BPL is very lucky in the fact that Cheri is a firm believer in finishing a project once it is started. This has been and continues to be quite a project! Stop by to look through the history, and keep stopping by, as Cheri finishes more and more of the albums!
BPL would like to thank Cheri Dundon for her tireless efforts in organizing the priceless collection of photos, pamphlets, old letters, and historical information that we have at the library. Cheri grew up in Kalamazoo and visited this area for many years. In 2009 she and her husband retired to Benzie County and spent a year relaxing and settling in. In 2010 Cheri began volunteering at BACN, and still works there today. Fueled by a fierce love of history and wanting to learn more about her community, Cheri began volunteering at the Benzie Area Historical Society last year. Cheri’s first big project was in the form of 600 burial permits for Benzonia ranging from 1912-1940. She recorded and transferred all the information to the database where it is available to the public today! After finishing, for some reason, Sheri asked, “what next?” For the last 6 months Cheri has been diligently working on the wealth of historical items from BPL. In the newly renovated Michigan Room, you will find photo albums full of historical photos, sorted according to location and identified when possible. We are so grateful to Cheri for all the work she has already done and for the work she continues to do! BPL is very lucky in the fact that Cheri is a firm believer in finishing a project once it is started. This has been and continues to be quite a project! Stop by to look through the history, and keep stopping by, as Cheri finishes more and more of the albums!