Michiana Genealogical Index
Grateful Acknowledgement
Norbert Cramer
The South Bend Area Genealogical Society wishes to thankfully acknowledge the author of this massive and excellent research database, Mr. Norbert P. Cramer of St. Joseph, Michigan. The Michiana Genealogical Index is a computerized index of birth, death, marriage, cemetery, license, divorce and ancestor files following research throughout Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. It represents over 30 years of Mr. Cramer’s dedicated work in indexing records from 55 sources in the Michiana area. Comprising seven tables of vital records, it is surname indexed either by common spelling or by Soundex. The database is a source database, i.e., by surname, and will guide the researcher to where the records are located, most being in area newspaper archives.
Mr. Cramer gave it to the South Bend Genealogical Society with his strict proviso that he would allow only a non-profit organization to host his index and that it was to be fully available to the public without subscription charge.
Mr. Cramer continued to record and submit data to the index until shortly before his death on October 8, 2017 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It now totals some 1.25 million surnames of people of the southern Michigan and northwestern Indiana area and is one of the most complete genealogical research sources in our area.
He was born in LaPorte, Indiana, on August 8, 1922. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, graduated with an Engineering degree from Purdue University, and enjoyed most of his professional career as a Product Engineer and Laboratory Manager with the Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Mr. Cramer’s genealogy credentials are lengthy and respected. He was a Professional Genealogist, was President of the Berrien County Genealogical Association, and was an editor and publisher of several books related to Berrien County, Michigan, genealogical records. He worked extensively with early computerization of vital records of the area and gave presentations of genealogy programs throughout the Michiana area.
The South Bend Area Genealogical Society greatly misses our long standing friend and is providing the index as he wished and as a tribute to his dedication to preserving family history records.
Notice: To obtain more information regarding records and sources referenced by this index go to our Links Page for website contacts.