National Archives at Chicago

Records of U.S. Courts (Detroit)

Records of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts,
Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division (Detroit)

These records are held in the National Archives regional facility in Chicago, Illinois.

 

The Michigan Territory was created in 1805, comprising at the time the area between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.  The Territory in 1818 was expanded to include Wisconsin and part of Minnesota, and was expanded again to include all territorial lands east of the Missouri River.  When admitted to the Union in 1837, however, the state assumed its present boundaries.

The original Enabling Act of 1805 gave to the Michigan Territory the form of government already established for the Northwest Territory.  This included the appointment of a governor and three judges who together also served as the legislature for the territory.  The judges were to hold trial court as well as an appellate court.  A fourth judge was added in 1830 to hold court at Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, and Mackinac.  When Michigan was admitted as a state in 1837, it constituted one judicial district, sitting at Detroit.  At first, the judge was given full federal jurisdiction, but this soon was altered when the state was added to the Seventh Circuit and the Circuit Court jurisdiction of the court was abolished.  In 1866, the state was assigned to the Sixth Circuit, where it has remained ever since.

Michigan was divided into Eastern and Western Districts in 1863, terms of court being held at Detroit in the Eastern District and at Grand Rapids in the Western District.  An Act of June 19, 1878 authorized the judge of the Eastern District to hold a court in Port Huron at his discretion.  In 1894, the Eastern District was separated into Northern and Southern Divisions, with the seat of the former to be at Bay City and the latter at Detroit.

 

Record Group 21


Records of the U.S. Circuit Court

General Records, 1837-1911

Journals, 1837-1911.  18 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 66956651

Civil Records, 1844-1911

Civil Record Books ("Record of Judgments"), 1844-1882.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 68887906
Special Motion Books, 1874-1911.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 70187049

Chancery (Equity) Records, 1838-1911

Chancery Calendars (Dockets), 1838-1911.  13 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 66956987
Chancery Order Books, 1861-1911.  5 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 68887845
Chancery Case Files, 1838-1911.  102 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 66956972
Chancery Final Record Books, 1885-1909.  44 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 67892280

Law Records, 1837-1911

Law Calendars (Dockets), 1837-1911.  16 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 68114744
Law Case Files, 1837-1911.  72 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 2814290

Habeas Corpus Records, 1837-1911

Habeas Corpus Dockets, 1837-1911.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 68121256

Criminal Records, 1837-1911

Criminal Case Files, 1837-1911.  4 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1127014

Naturalization Records, 1835-1916

Declarations of Intention, 1874-1911.  3 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 71974151
Naturalization Application Files, 1837-1906.  3 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 71962684
Register of Declarations of Intention, 1835-1916.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 71962659
Register of Final Papers Issued, 1837-1916.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 71962661
Naturalization Certificate Stubs, 1908-1911.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 74231137
Register of Aliens, 1837-1906.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 71974148
Naturalization Petition Book, 1908-1911.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 71962665


Records of the U.S. District Court

General Records, 1837-1980

Consolidated Soundex Index to Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Cases, circa 1851-1980. National Archives Identifier 24822112
Masters and Commissioners, 1838-1895.  National Archives Identifier 17331347
Index of Attorneys, 1905-1922.  National Archives Identifier 17338327
Roll of Attorneys, 1837-1911.  National Archives Identifier 17331491
Judgment Dockets and Indexes, 1913-1952.  National Archives Identifier 68887989
Calendar, U.S. Cases, 1837-1857.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 16920487
General Dockets, 1846-1943.  57 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 4735089
Law Journals, 1837-1939.  118 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 5549557
Minute Book, 1873-1874.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 75503011
Record of Judgments (Civil Record Books), 1844-1882.  National Archives Identifier 68887906
Judgment Record, 1838-1863.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 16941213
Miscellaneous Order Book, 1910.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 74618297
General Case Files, 1837-1857.  4 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 16910631
General Case Files, 1846-1943.  331 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 4735076
Miscellaneous Orders, 1939-1955.  7 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 16953861

Admiralty Records, 1869-1872

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Clerk's Fees in Admiralty, 1869-1872.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 68887994

Bankruptcy Records - Act of 1841, 1842-1843

Bankruptcy Calendars (Dockets), 1842-1843.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 18554166

Bankruptcy Records - Act of 1867, 1867-1884

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Bankruptcy Calendars (Dockets), 1867-1884.  5 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 23810931
Register’s Docket, 1867-1870.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 23811204

Bankruptcy Records - Act of 1898, 1898-1979

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Bankruptcy Dockets, 1898-1979.  100.46 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 5633988
Financial Reports of Referees, 1923-1941.  11 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 74259406
Bankruptcy Ledger, 1898-1904.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 68887991
Referee’s Case Files, 1903-1938.  59 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 74613367

Civil Records, 1912-1995

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Civil Dockets, 1938-1988.  130 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 7489318
Civil Journal, 1938-1939.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 17365577
Special Motion Books, 1912-1916.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 17365701
Civil Case Files, 1938-1995.  3,191.139 cubic feet. National Archives Identifier 587749 and 7479853
Judgments and Orders, 1939-1989.  Microfiche.  National Archives Identifier 51460264
Miscellaneous Order Registers, 1965-1987.  5 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 74618314

Equity Records, 1873-1943

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Equity (Civil) Dockets, 1912-1943.  72 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 16764653
Equity Journals, 1912-1939.  39 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 16771294
Calendar—Civil (Equity) Cases in Bankruptcy, 1903-1908.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 16805554
Equity (Chancery) Order Books, 1912-1926.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 16792541
Equity Short Books, 1927-1932.  2 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 16794782
Equity Case Files—Suits by Assignees, 1873-1882.  2 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 16801967
Civil (Equity) Case Files—Cases in Bankruptcy, 1903-1908. 1 cubic foot. National Archives Identifier 16804535
Equity Case Files, 1912-1943.  371 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 2803282

Law Records, 1874-1880

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Calendar—Suits by Assignee, 1874-1880.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 12044666
Law Case Files—Suits by Assignee, 1874-1880.  2 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 12042616

Criminal Records, 1851-1991

Index.  See National Archives Identifier 24822112
Criminal Dockets, 1851-1991.  71.443 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 7488344
Index of Criminal Bonds and Witness Bonds, 1929-1931.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 17365560
Criminal Case Files, 1851-1991.  989.207 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1087335

Naturalization Records, 1837-1998

Naturalization Application Files, 1837-1897.  3.87 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1151178
Declarations of Intention, 1856-1989.  82 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1151287
Naturalization Hearing Dockets, 1912-1920.  National Archives Identifier 17407964
Register of Declarations of Intention, 1835-1916.  National Archives Identifier 71962659 and 18216027
Register of Final Papers Issued, 1837-1916.  National Archives Identifier 18215980 and 71962661
Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1906-1991.  National Archives Identifier 1137682
Overseas Military Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1942-1956.  1 cubic foot.  National Archives Identifier 1151138
Naturalization Depositions, 1909-1974 and 1977-1980.  47 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 18233305
Naturalization Depositions Transferred, 1952-1965.  0.4 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 74231744
Naturalization Certificate Stubs, 1909-1991.  23 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 18222300
Register of Aliens, 1837-1900.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 18216261
Repatriation Records, 1918-1970.  2.72 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1150838
Naturalization Court Order Books, 1926-1998. 8.5 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 18462267
Naturalization Transfer Case Files, 1953-1993.  1.36 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1138304
Naturalization Monthly Reports, 1969-1975.  0.34 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 18471305
Naturalization Index, 1908-1991.  32 cubic feet.  National Archives Identifier 1135881
Correspondence Regarding Naturalization Petitioners and Certificates, 1997.  National Archives Identifier 12004808

Clerk's Records, 1912-1954

Clerk’s Quarterly Report of Moneys Paid, 1912-1935.  National Archives Identifier 17361055
Ledger, 1940-1946.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 17364679
Cash Books, 1942-1954.  6 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 17362643
Trust Funds Account Book, 1937-1954.  1 volume.  National Archives Identifier 70156399

U.S. Commissioners' Records, 1879-1905

U.S. Commissioners' Calendars, 1879-1905.  3 volumes.  National Archives Identifier 23810507

 

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