Oakland County Historical Records
This collection includes:
Oakland County records
Oakland County's tax rolls
Avon Township records
Berkley State Bank records
Oakland County Records
- Account Book of Civil War Bounty (1863-1865)
- Account Book of County Treasurers (1837-1875)
- Account Book of Township Collectors (1838-1859)
- Assessment Roll for Highway Taxes (1845-1850)
- Delinquent Tax Roll (1845 -1847, 1848-1850, 1852-1855, 1863-1865, 1865-1870, 1842-1844, 1851-1856, 1859-1864, 1865-1866, 1867-1869, 1869, 1870)
- Detailed Accounts of Candidates Election Expenses (1914-1918, 1932-1933) General Ledger of Accounts / Ditch Orders (1866-1867, 1865-1871)
- Inheritance Tax Record-County (29 Aug. 1900-23 Jan. 1915)
- Journal of Receipts from Sales of Primary Schools and University Lands (1867-1872)Journal of Soldiers Aid Fund (Jan 1902-31 Jan 1919)
- Journal of Volunteer Relief Fund (1861-1863)
- Ledger of Accounts with Tax Collectors (1827-1837, 1840-1842)
- Non-Resident Tax Returns (1836-1838)
- Oakland County Liquor Tax (1875, 1876)
- Salary of County Officers (Statements of Orders Paid) (Apr. 1883-Dec.1910)
- Specific State Tax (1839-1842)
- Supplementary Report on Audit of Oakland County(1 Jan. 1908-1931)
- Treasurer's Journal of Contingent Expenses (Jan. 1879-May 1902)
Oakland County tax rolls
Tax Rolls from 1841-1871 and 1879-1890 are also available on microfilm (F 572 .O2 O19).
Frequently the tax rolls of a community are consulted to trace the ownership of property or to date when a house was built or remodeled.
1841 -- All townships except Commerce, Holly, Milford, Novi, Oakland
1842 -- Brandon, Farmington, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Southfield, Springfield
1843 -- Farmington, Highland, Orion, Pontiac, Royal Oak
1844 -- All townships except Royal Oak
1845 -- All townships except Independence
1846-1870 -- All townships
1871 -- Royal Oak, Southfield, Springfield, Troy, Waterford, West Bloomfield, White Lake
1888 -- Farmington, West Bloomfield, Waterford, Independence, Brandon
*1899 -- 1900 -- Pontiac (includes personal property ledger). (Spec. Coll. F 574 .O2 O19 Pontiac)
| Addison | Groveland | Novi | Royal Oak |
| Avon | Highland | Oakland | Southfield |
| Bloomfield* | Holly | Orion | Springfield |
| Brandon | Independence | Oxford | Troy |
| Commerce | Lyon | Pontiac | Waterford |
| Farmington | Milford | Rose | West Bloomfield |
| White Lake |
*The 1842 Tax Roll for Bloomfield Township is stored in the fireproof cabinet containing other historic township records in the office of the Bloomfield Township Clerk.
Avon Township Records
Assessment and Tax Rolls (1841-1847, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1887-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930)
List of taxable persons and property completed, verified, and deposited by the assessors, not as it appears after review and equalization; and mainly as it appears after value fixed by Board of Review.
Offers name of owner or occupant; legal description; number of acres comprising tract or parcel; value of each tract or parcel; value of personal estate; amount of tax assesed for state, county, township, highway and special purposes, together with total.
Bookkeeping Records (1881-1919)
- Account Book, Clerk (1904-1909)
- Account Book, Treasurer (1909-1919)
- Journal (1889-1919)
- Journal (1896-1903)
- Ledger (1900-1902)
Chronological entry of receipts and disbursements for highway, cemetery, library, school, road, bridge, drain, ex-soldiers and widows, and dog funds, together with amounts collected for state and county tax. Certain volumes include form annual settlement of town board with township treasurer. Includes bond treasurer approved by supervisor.
Chattel Mortgages (1872-1895)
Name of mortagee and mortgagor; description of property mortgaged; amount; dates given, filed, due, renewed, assigned, discharged; and to whom delivered. Also includes copy of a lease, 1892, and report of fence viewing, 1878.
Justice Docket (1906-1911)
Name of complainant and defendant, charge, and certificate of warrant issuance, together with chronological entry of proceedings. Includes detail of case, pleadings, alleged violation of law, fees, decision, and punishment rendered. Also includes notes on amounts of fees and fines.
Minutes of School Inspectors (1852-1871, 1872-1914)
Chronological entry of proceedings of regular, special, and annual meetings of the school inspectors. Includes apportionment and primary school money, lists of teachers examined and licensed, list of books purchased, alteration and establishment of district boundaries, statistics on population and membership, inventory of property and, occasionaly, maps showing district lines.
Register of Electors, Avon Township (1872-1924)
- Record of Male Electors. 1882-1924, Precincts #1,2
- Record of Party Enrollment. 1906-1910, 1912
- Register of Electors. 1872-1882; Register of Female Electors. 1919-1924, Precincts #12.
Offers date, name, party affiliation and, later, elections at which citizens voted. Arranged alphabetically by elector name. The Record of Party Enrollment offers date, enrolled number, name, street and post office address of elector, age, nativity, color, party affiliation and removal. (Spec. Coll. F 574 .A84 R4)
Minutes of Survey on Roads, Avon Township (1835-1916)
Copy of survey of roads within township approved by highway commission, signed by surveyor and recorded by township clerk. Relates to new, altered, and discontinued highways. Includes list of state Reward Roads laid out within township (p.68) and record of notice of action on such roads (1910-1916). Occasionally includes map or profile road.
Berkley Records
Minutes of Shareholders Meetings of the Berkley State Bank (24 Feb. 1924 - 17 March 1931)
Note about the collection
Oakland University Library is a local archives depository library for the Michigan Historical Commission.
Only the 1842 tax rolls for Brandon, Farmington, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Southfield, Springfield are not part of the Michigan Historical Commission Depository Collection.
Most of these volumes are in very fragile condition and must be used with the utmost care. Materials do not circulate and photocopying or photographing are restricted. Notetaking in pencil only.