A look back at the past.
The Shelby Area District Library houses the updated Local History Room. This collection includes resources for genealogical research and historical reference, including family histories, obituaries, cemetery records, historical photographs, Shelby High School yearbooks, and more.
If you wish to explore the Local History Room, please call ahead to make an appointment. Contact coordinator Jeremy Gowell at (231) 861-4565 or [email protected] to arrange a time.
Local History Room Collection:
- Benona Families Genealogies — Paul and Freda Grover
- Collection of Shelby postcards and photographs
- Shelby and surrounding area family histories
- HeritageQuest and Ancestry Online
- Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society Collection — 34 volumes
- Oceana County Atlases (1895 and 1913)
- Oceana County Cemetery Records and Obituaries
- Oceana County Census Records (1840–1930)
- Oceana County Pioneers
- Oceana Herald on microfilm (May 1888 to June 2005)
- Oceana Independent on microfilm (1880 to 1884)
- Plat books
- Rails to Trails Scrapbook
- Samuel Atherton Genealogy Collections
- Scrapbooks
- Shelby High School Yearbooks
- Surname File
Local History Committee
Mission: To preserve and make Shelby area local history accessible to the public.
Our committee meets periodically to discuss special topics and plan programs. If you are interested in joining the committee or would like to attend a meeting, contact us at [email protected] or (231) 861-4565.
Have artifacts to share?
Committee members welcome area residents who are interested in sharing historical documents, photographs, postcards, personal histories, and other memorabilia for display in the Local History Room. Contact the library for more information.
Other Local History Resources
- Oceana Herald Journal Newspaper Archive – Archived newspapers from 1880 to 2009. Supported by the residents of Oceana County through their local public libraries.
- Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society – Official website of the local historical society.
- Oceana County Cemeteries: Database of Oceana County cemetery records.
- MyHeritage: Historical records database (available on-site at the library only).
- Find a Grave: World’s largest gravesite database.
- Shelby, Michigan In Pictures – Facebook page with historical and current photos of Shelby.
- You Know You’re From Shelby If… – Facebook group with historical photos and current community events.
- Stony Lake Recollections – Facebook group featuring historical photos from the Stony Lake area.