This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RuthMcMahon62 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.wayne/17923.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There is a City of Detroit death index that begins in 1920. It is held at the Detroit Public Library. You can e-mail the Burton Historical Collection and request a search. The Wayne County clerk has a card index to deaths for the whole county EXCLUDING City of Detroit. The index is by soundex code of surname, then alphabetical by first name. It is inclusive of all deaths except the most recent that are computerized. Michigan vital records has an index for every year after 1914 that is alphabetical by surname. That is why they will only search 3 years unless you pay extra to cover more years. I am a professional genealogist in the Detroit area with 22 years experience. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.