Genealogical Resources of the Minnesota Historical Society: A Guide, Second Edition

Front Cover - Genealogical Resources of the Minnesota Historical Society: A Guide, Second Edition

Minnesota Historical Society, Library and Archives Division, Genealogical Resources of the Minnesota Historical Society: A Guide, Second Edition,  © 1993, Minnesota Historical Society Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, Soft Bound, 68 Pages, 0-87351-240-5, 016.929'3776--dc20. 

From the Back Cover

Back Cover - Genealogical Resources of the Minnesota Historical Society: A Guide, Second Edition

Genealogical Resources of the Minnesota Historical Society: A Guide is an essential tool for all genealogists researching Minnesota family and local history. High-lighting the many and varied holdings of the MHS, this second edition features a lengthy, annotated listing of resources in more than fifty useful subject areas, such as:

  • biographical, census, naturalization, cemetery, school, religious, business, court, government, legal, military, and veterans’ records
  • photographs, personal papers, oral histories, ethnic resources, and local and county histories
  • family histories, newspapers, directories, passenger ship lists, and publications of genealogical organizations
  • maps, atlases, and other geographical resources

Helpful appendixes include information about MHS services and addresses of other reposi-tories in the state.

This book is an indispensable guide to a personal journey into the past for both beginning and experienced researchers who have discovered the value and pleasure of genealogy. Other researchers, too, will find in it a wealth of sources for topics of the new social history — studies of gender, families, ethnic groups, the urban and rural pasts, material culture, labor, and “ordinary people.”

COVER PHOTOGRAPHS from the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society: (front) the Munson and Anderson families posed for a portrait on the Anderson farm near Cokato, about 1914; photograph by Albert Munson; (back) on July 25, 1907, delegates to the third annual convention of the Minnesota Federation of Afro-American Women’s Clubs posed in front of their meeting place, the Pilgrim Raptist Church in St. Paul.

Table of Contents

  • INTRODUCTION
  • GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES
  • Adoption Records see Court Records: Civil Case Files
  • African Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • Alien Registration Records
  • American Indians: Resources
    • Chippewa and Sioux Annuity Rolls
    • Indian Rights Association Papers
  • Americanization Survey Cards: Ramsey County
  • Artists: Resources
  • Asian Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories
  • Assessment Records see Tax and Assessment Records
  • Atlases see Geographical Resources
  • Biographical Records
    • Biography Collection
    • Biography Files
    • Biography Reference Sets
  • Birth Records see Appendix 3: Vital Records Repositories
  • Black Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • Bond and Oath Records
  • Burial Records see Cemetery Records
  • Business Records
    • Annual Reports
    • Business Histories
    • Business Name Registrations
    • Company Newsletters
    • Fur Trade Records
    • Incorporation Records
    • Makers, Manufacturers, and Businesses File
    • Textile Labels File
    • Unpublished Materials
  • Cemetery Records
  • Census Records
    • Population Censuses for Minnesota: 1849, 1850, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1890
    • Veterans’ Census, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1920
    • Nonpopulation Censuses for Minnesota:
      • Agricultural Censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
      • Manufacturing Censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
      • Mortality Censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
      • Social Statistics Censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
    • Non-Minnesota Censuses
  • Century Farm Applications
  • Child Welfare Survey Cards: Ramsey County
  • Chippewa Indians: Resources see American Indians: Resources
  • Church Histories see Oral Histories; Religious Records
  • Coroners’ Records
  • Coroners’ Reports
  • Corpse Permits
  • Correctional Facilities Records
  • County Histories see Local and County Histories; Work Projects Administration (WPA) Resources
  • County Records
  • Court Records
    • Civil Case Files
    • Criminal Case Files
    • Probate Records
  • Dakota Indians: Resources see American Indians: Resources
  • Death Records see Appendix 3: Vital Records Repositories
  • Diaries see Personal Papers
  • Directories
    • Business Directories
    • City Directories
    • Professional Directories
    • Rural Directories
    • Telephone Directories
  • Disaster Relief Records
    • Drought Relief Applications
    • Hail Relief Applications
  • Divorce Records see Court Records: Civil Case Files
  • Draft Registration Lists see Military and Veterans’ Records
  • Election Records
  • Ethnic Resources
  • Family Associations Records
  • Family Histories
  • Farm Crop and Labor Reports
  • Federal Documents see United States Government Documents
  • Finnish Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • Fire Insurance Maps see Geographical Resources
  • Fraternal Organizations Records see Organizations Records
  • Fur Trade Records see Business Records
  • Gazetteers see Directories: Business Directories; Geographical Resources
  • Genealogical Organizations Publications
  • Geographical Resources
    • Fire Insurance Maps
    • Gazetteers
    • Plat Books
    • Post Office Location Guides
    • Topographic Maps
    • Township Organization Records
    • Ward Maps
  • Governor’s Office Records
    • Appointment Records
    • Citizenship Restoration Records
  • Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Records see Military and Veterans’ Records
  • Hispanic Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources;
    Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • Hospital Records
    • Private Health and Welfare Facilities Records
    • Public Health and Welfare Facilities Records
  • Indians: Resources see American Indians: Resources
  • Insurance Maps see Geographical Resources: Fire Insurance Maps
  • Jail Records see Correctional Facilities Records
  • Jewish Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories; Religious Records; Appendix 1: Religious Sources
  • Justice of the Peace Records see Municipal Records;
    Township Records
  • Labor: Resources see Newspapers; Oral Histories; Union Records
  • Land Records
    • Original Entry Tract Books
    • Registers of Land Entries
    • Rural Credit Department Records
  • Licenses see Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Registration Records; Professional Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations
  • Local and County Histories
  • Maps see Geographical Resources
  • Marriage Records see Religious Records; Vital Records;
    Appendix 3: Vital Records Repositories
  • Medical Examiners’ Records see Coroners’ Records;
    Coroners’ Reports
  • Mexican Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • Military and Veterans’ Records
    • Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Records
    • Military Service Record Cards
    • Muster Rolls
    • Pension Records Indexes
    • Pension Registers
    • Soldiers Bonus Records
    • Veterans’ Facility Records
    • Veterans’ Organizations Records
    • World War I Draft Registration Lists
    • World War I Induction Lists
    • World War I Military Records
    • World War II Military Records
  • Minnesota Historic Resources Survey: Manuscripts
  • Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Registration Records
  • Municipal Records
  • Naturalization Records
  • Negro Americans: Resources see Ethnic Resources; Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • Newspapers
  • Nursing Home Records see Hospital Records; Poor Farm Records
  • Obituaries see Biographical Records; Newspapers; Pioneer Settlers Obituaries and Index
  • Ojibway Indians: Resources see American Indians: Resources
  • Oral Histories
  • Organizations Records
  • Orphan Trains
  • Passenger Ship Lists
  • Patriotic Organizations Records see Organizations Records
  • Pension Records see Military and Veterans’ Records;
    Teachers Retirement Association Records
  • Personal Papers
  • Photographs
    • Community Photographs
    • Minnesota Photographers Index
    • Portraits
  • Pioneer Settlers Obituaries and Index
  • Plat Books see Geographical Resources
  • Poor Farm Records
  • Population Records see Census Records
  • Post Office Location Guides see Geographical Resources
  • Prison Records see Correctional Facilities Records
  • Probate Records see Court Records
  • Professional Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations
    • District Court Records
    • Municipal Records
    • Professional Board Records
    • State Agency Records
      • Detective and Protective Agents
      • Embalmers, Morticians, and Funeral Directors
      • Health Care Professionals
      • Notary Public Appointment and Registration Records
      • Plumbers
  • Railroad Records
    • Published works
    • Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range Railway Company (DM&IR) Payroll Records
    • Great Northern Railway Company (GN) Records
    • Northern Pacific Railway Company (NP) Records
  • Religious Records
    • General Collections
    • Church Histories
    • Episcopal Church Records
    • Roman Catholic Records
    • United Church of Christ Records
    • Work Projects Administration (WPA), Historical Records Survey, Churches
  • Rural Credit Department Records see Land Records
  • Scandinavian Americans: Resources see Ethnic Records;
    Oral Histories; Appendix 1: Ethnic Sources
  • School Records
    • College and University Resources
    • County Superintendent of Schools Records
    • Private School Records
    • School District Records
    • School Publications
    • State Special Education Facilities Records
  • Secretary of State Records see Business Records: Incorporation Records; Election Records; Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License Registration Records; Professional Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations
  • Service Organizations Records see Organizations Records
  • Sioux Indians: Resources see American Indians: Resources
  • Social Organizations Records see Organizations Records
  • State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Inventory of Historic Properties
  • State Land Office Records see Land Records
  • Tax and Assessment Records
  • Teachers Retirement Association Records
  • Topographic Maps see Geographical Resources
  • Township Records
  • Trade Union Records see Union Records
  • Union Records
  • United States General Land Office Records see Land Records
  • United States Government Documents
  • Veterans’ Records see Military and Veterans’ Records Vital Records
  • Ward Maps see Geographical Resources
  • Women in Industry Survey
  • Work Projects Administration (WPA) Resources
    • Annals of Minnesota
    • Published Materials
    • Unpublished Materials
  • APPENDIX 1. Selected Sources for Historical and Genealogical Research
    • Minnesota Historical Sources
    • Guides to Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Regional Research Centers
    • Guides to Other Collections in North America
    • Ethnic Sources
    • Religious Sources
    • Genealogical Sources
  • APPENDIX 2. Minnesota Historical Society Information
    • Location, Hours, and Telephone Numbers
    • Services
      • Reference Service
      • Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
      • Photoduplication
    • Map: Minnesota History Center
  • APPENDIX 3. General Genealogical Information about Minnesota
    • Vital Records Repositories
    • County Courthouses
    • Historical and Genealogical Organizations
      • Minnesota Regional Research Centers
      • Iron Range Research Center (IRRC)
      • Immigration History Research Center (IHRC)
      • Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS)
      • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) Family History Centers
    • Map: Minnesota Counties and County Seats

About This Publication

In 1989 the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) published the first edition of Genealogical Resources of the Minnesota Historical Society: A Guide to give researchers a sampling of its vast and varied resources. Since that time, many new items have been added to the collections, but more significant has been the gathering of all resources into one research facility in St. Paul, the state capital, made possible when the Society moved into Minnesota’s new History Center in 1992.

This guide was compiled for at least two groups of researchers. For the numerous genealogists who have already used the resources of the MHS for documenting family and local history, it will point out stones left unturned. For other historians, the guide will identify resources for topics of the new social history —studies of gender, families, ethnic groups, the urban and rural pasts, material culture, labor, and “ordinary people.”

The holdings of the Society are huge and the quantity of materials for an individual resource can range from a few pages to thousands of boxes. The materials may be partial or complete; some continue to be added to and some cover a definite time span. This book, while ambitious, cannot be a complete inventory of all resources, but it can serve as a guide to many of them and introduce even the most experienced researchers to new areas for exploration.

Minnesotans typically leave records of births, marriages, and deaths, education, employment, religious and political affiliations, military service, property ownership, and relationships to governments and the law —all the way from paying taxes and registering a business to serving time in correctional facilities. The MHS has many of these records, as well as other items.

The Society, founded in 1849 and the state’s oldest institution, has long been recognized as the key repository for Minnesota’s history. Besides holding collections of printed materials and the papers of prominent and not-so- prominent residents and businesses, the MHS is a designated legal repository for most of the state’s newspapers and for the Minnesota State Archives.

The main feature of this guide is an alphabetical, annotated listing of resources by name of subject area. The entry for each resource describes content, location, and means of access. The use of computer catalogs, State Archives notebooks, Manuscripts Collections inventories, and supplemental card catalogs and finding aids enable the researcher to locate resources regardless of format. Any available index and any restrictions are noted. Special permission is required to obtain access to some restricted resources.

Researchers wishing to use such resources should contact the MHS for any necessary instructions or forms before visiting. Many helpful publications that are mentioned in the resource entries are described more fully in Appendix 1, along with other items useful to researchers in Minnesota genealogy.

Current information about the location, hours, and telephone numbers of the Minnesota History Center is found in Appendix 2. Research services offered by the staff may be limited due to financial and time constraints.

Appendix 3 has general genealogical information about Minnesota, including addresses for vital records repositories, county courthouses, and historical and genealogical organizations.
With the publication of this book, the Minnesota Historical Society is pleased to provide a guide to a personal journey into the past for both beginning and experienced researchers who have discovered the value and pleasure of genealogy.

Library of Congress Catalog Listing

  • LC Control Number: 89003305
  • Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)
  • Corporate Name: Minnesota Historical Society.
  • Main Title: Genealogical resources of the Minnesota Historical Society : a guide / by the Minnesota Historical Society, Library and Archives Division.
  • Published/Created: St. Paul : Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1989.
  • Related Names: Minnesota Historical Society. Division of Library and Archives.
  • Description: xi, 63 p. : ill.; 28 cm. ISBN: 0873512405 (alk. paper)
  • Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
  • Subjects: Minnesota Historical Society--Catalogs. Minnesota--Genealogy--Bibliography--Catalogs.
  • LC Classification: Z1299 .M67 1989 F605
  • Dewey Class No.: 016.929/3776 20
  • Geog. Area Code: n-us-mn
  • CALL NUMBER: Z1299 .M67 1989
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