Michigan's Ethnic Heritage

Michigan has a vast and varied ethnic heritage starting with the American Indian. Many European people travelled in groups and settled in different areas in Michigan. They came to start religious communities, for job openings, and due to the lack of land in thier home country.

The following are the collections that people have donated for visitors to use.

Displaced Persons

Polish

• St. Stanislaus Jubilee Bay County had/has a strong Polish community.
• St. Stanislaus Cemetery Bay City
• St. Stanislaus Cemetery Photos Bay City

Irish

• Fr. Patrick O'Kelley Records Records cover Ingham, Oakland and Livingston County Roman Catholics

Italians

• Italians U.P. Many came because of the opportunities that opened up during the iron and copper mining boons.

Finnish

• Finnish U.P. Mining and lack of land brought groups of Finns.

Cornish

• Cornish To Michigan Mining was their way of life in Cornwall and the mining companies sent recruiters to Cornwall to enlist workers for the mines in the Upper Peninsula.

Native Americans

• Native Americans In Michigan