MDL History Center

About the MDL History Center

Thanks to a generous donation from Laura R. (Withee) Bliss, Marshall District Library has opened the MDL History Center — a dedicated room for conducting family research, seeking local history information, and starting digitization projects.

This center contains materials from the Marshall area and surrounding communities.

Equipment & Facilities

Overhead book scanner for high-quality scans of printed materials
High-quality photocopier/scanner
Media Conversion Station — digitize VHS, cassettes, slides, film, and photos
Digital microfilm reader for newspapers and archival materials
Book binding station
Family history computer with free Ancestry, Library Edition
Seating and tables for research
Compact shelving and map case in the local history storage area

Collections

County directories, plat maps, cemetery guides, and family histories
Marshall newspapers from 1838–2024 on microfilm and online (current year in print)
Some marriage (1836–1915) and death (1867–1933) records for Calhoun County
Free access to Ancestry, Library Edition
Local History Archive with digitized yearbooks, city directories, and church records
Extensive collection of area family histories
The Michigan Pioneer Collection
Calhoun County atlases and plat maps from 1858–2020
(incomplete collection — please call us if you’re looking for a certain year)
High school yearbooks from 1899 to present
Cemetery record indexes for most Marshall-area cemeteries
Current city budget reports, ordinances, and other Marshall documents
Sanborn fire insurance maps (1888–1931) on microfilm
The Homer Index (1874–1903, incomplete) on microfilm

When Can I Use the History Center?

During the library’s open hours, the MDL History Center is available for researchers. Please stop at the Help Desk to let staff know you would like to access the room.

To use the Media Conversion Station, please make an appointment with our Technology Department at 269-781-7821 ext. 2700.

For one-on-one research assistance from a librarian, please contact:

Future Plans

In addition to helping individuals research their own family history, Marshall District Library encourages residents and local organizations to use our digitization equipment to increase access to local historical materials.

We aim to work with organizations and individuals to make these items accessible through the library’s website. We are also working to digitize local newspapers from other rural areas in Calhoun County that have ties to the Marshall area.

The Marshall District Library History Center officially opened on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 with a ribbon cutting and open house. Nearly 150 people attended. Shown here, left to right, are Assistant Director Nate Palmer, Board Members Jerry Marshall and Mary Fountain, Librarian Chelsea Heisler, Board Member Joanne Davis, Librarian Melissa Rzepczynski, Director Angela Semifero, and Board Member Ann Fitzpatrick. In front is Bob Withee and grandchildren Levi, Rebekah, Ada, and Isaiah Withee.

Who was Laura R. (Withee) Bliss?

According to Laura’s family, her love of reading and libraries started early due to encouragement from her mother, Eleanor M. (Rushford) Withee, a former Marshall Public Library employee in the 1930s, and her father, Alton B. Withee. She was a faithful supporter and patron of Marshall District Library all her life. Upon retirement as a purchasing manager at Denso in Battle Creek, Laura devoted much of her free time to her lifelong passion: conducting genealogical research on behalf of her family and friends.

Marshall District Library received a generous donation from Laura R. (Withee) Bliss, who passed away in 2023. We are grateful that she provided the funding through the Laura R. Bliss Trust for the development and enhancement of the MDL History Center, which will be enjoyed for generations to come. The Trust will also provide funding for future local history projects such as the digitization of rural newspapers.