Death Records in Marquette County
Marquette County obituary and death records go back to 1851, making this one of the richer genealogical archives in the Upper Peninsula. The County Clerk office in Marquette handles certified death certificates, while the Peter White Public Library, the Marquette County Genealogical Society, and Northern Michigan University archives hold newspapers and local records that document generations of families. This guide walks through how to find death records and obituary notices for Marquette County, Michigan.
Marquette County Overview
Marquette County Clerk Death Records
The Marquette County Clerk office issues certified death certificates for deaths that took place in the county. Under MCL 333.2882, death records in Michigan are open to anyone. You do not need to be a family member or show a reason to request a copy. The clerk's office is located in Marquette and is open Monday through Friday. Certified copies cost $14 per certificate.
Marquette County has some of the longest-running records in the Upper Peninsula. The county was organized in 1851, and death registrations start around that period, though the earliest years are incomplete. Michigan's Public Act 194 of 1867 created the state mandate for death registration, and compliance improved steadily from that point. For deaths before 1867, church burial records and cemetery inscriptions are often the only documentation that survives. Marquette's iron ore mining history brought thousands of workers from Scandinavia, Finland, Cornwall, and other regions, so death records here frequently reflect immigrant communities.
| Office | Marquette County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
| Fee | $14 per certified death certificate |
Mining Journal Obituary Archive
The Marquette Mining Journal is one of the most valuable sources of obituary records in the Upper Peninsula. The paper has been digitized from 1868 through 1989, giving researchers more than a century of death notices and obituary write-ups. This digitized archive is a standout resource not found in most Michigan counties. If your ancestor died in Marquette County between 1868 and 1989, there is a good chance their death was noted in the Mining Journal.
The Peter White Public Library in Marquette holds microfilm and other newspaper collections. Staff there assist with genealogical research requests and can help you locate obituary records across multiple time periods. The library's local history collection covers the iron ore mining era in depth, which is useful context when researching families who lived here in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Northern Michigan University's archives also hold materials related to Marquette County history and may have records not found in the public library. The Marquette County Genealogical Society is another active local group with indexed records and research assistance for people working on Upper Peninsula family histories.
Note: For newspaper obituary searches covering dates after 1989, contact the Mining Journal directly or check library microfilm holdings.
Search Marquette County Obituaries Online
The MIGenWeb project maintains a county-specific page for Marquette that links to volunteer-contributed obituary indexes and genealogical records.
The Marquette County MIGenWeb site offers cemetery transcriptions, obituary records, and links to historical resources that you can browse before filing a formal records request.
Free online searching also starts at GENDIS on Michiganology, which indexes Michigan death records from 1897 to 1952. Marquette County deaths from that window are fully searchable at no charge. The FamilySearch wiki page for Marquette County describes what digitized records exist and where to find them. FamilySearch also has some free records for the county that you can search directly.
Public Act 73 of 2006 limits online access to death certificate images less than 75 years old. Deaths from 1952 or earlier are freely accessible through Michiganology. For more recent deaths, you need to order through the clerk or through MDHHS.
MDHHS Death Records for Marquette County
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) keeps copies of all death records filed in the state, including Marquette County. MDHHS charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Orders go through the main vital records office in Lansing. You can call 517-335-8666 for information, or order online through VitalChek. The VitalChek service adds a $12.95 fee on top of the state charges.
If you need records older than what the county clerk has on file, the Michigan Archives in Lansing may hold microfilmed copies. The archives have death records going back to the early registration period, and staff can assist with research requests by mail or in person.
The MDHHS route is useful when you are not sure which county office to contact, when you need multiple certificates from different counties, or when in-person access to the Marquette office is not practical given the travel distances common in the Upper Peninsula.
Cities in Marquette County
Marquette County is the largest county by area in the Lower 48 state of Michigan and is home to several communities in the Upper Peninsula. The city of Marquette is the county seat and the largest city in the UP.
No cities in Marquette County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All death records and vital records for communities in Marquette County are handled through the Marquette County Clerk office or through MDHHS in Lansing.
Nearby Counties
Marquette County is surrounded by other Upper Peninsula counties. Deaths near county borders may have records in more than one county office. Verify the address before requesting records.