Local History

Local History Room

The Paw Paw District Library’s Local History Room contains a noncirculating collection material on the Greater Paw Paw Area and Van Buren County as well as its residents and businesses.  Researchers may use the collection only with staff assistance.  Contact the library for open hours or to book an appointment with the local history librarian.

The collection includes:

Microfilm

We have the local newspapers on Microfilm dating from 1859 to the present.  Digital versions of the newspapers are available online at DigMichNews.

Obituaries

Obituaries from our local newspapers are indexed from 1859-1950 and 1990 through the current year.  You can also search for obituaries online at DigMichNews.

Paw Paw High School Yearbooks

Yearbooks from 1940 to the present day are available to the public with assistance from a staff member.  You can also view the yearbooks online at PawPawWapPaw.com.

Country Schools

Information, including illustrations and photos, on the one-room schools located in the Paw Paw Public School District, is available.

Civil War

The complete indexed set of Michigan volunteers who served in the Civil War during 1861-1865 are available with assistance.

Cemetery Records

Select cemetery records for Van Buren and Cass Counties are available.

Funding for the Local History Room was provided by The Coterie Club.