Resources for: Genealogy & Family History

FamilySearch is a nonprofit genealogy organization sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Search the catalog of genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) made available by FamilySearch online and in libraries and centers worldwide.

Use Minnesota People Records Search to exclusively research birth, death, and state census records, as well as Veterans Graves Registration and World War I Gold Star Rolls.

Provides information about where to obtain vital records (such as birth, death, marriage cetificates, and divorce decrees) from each state, territory and county of the United States.

Ancestry.com's interactive site. The Social Security Administration Death Master File contains information on millions of deceased individuals with United States social security numbers whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration. Full access to the records requires a paid subscription to Ancestry.com.

The world's largest gravesite collection, with over 190 million memorials created by the community since 1995.

The University of Minnesota Libraries provides access to government information both online and within its libraries' collections across campus. Besides being a full (regional) United States government depository, the Libraries also receive documents from Canada, the European Union, and the United Nations, as well as publications from other countries and international organizations. The Government Publications collection also contains state documents.

Guide to getting articles from The New York Times, and other newspapers

The Minnesota Historical Society has a large collection of newspapers published in the state. This includes items like local advertisers, old ethnic group newspapers, etc.

Links to Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.

A comprehensive, referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.

The Norwegian bygdeboker is one of the best sources of Norwegian genealogical information. This is a guide on finding this resource at the University of Minnesota Libraries and elsewhere.

The Minnesota Historical Society Library is the most complete genealogical resource in the area. Included in its collections are Minnesota state and federal census records, 1850 through 1910, and SOUNDEX indexes, when available, on microfilm; history of Minnesota, its counties, cities, towns, communities, and churches; city directories; family histories; and publications of state and local historical societies.

Staffed by volunteers from the Minnesota Genealogical Society, this library has a growing collection of genealogical materials, including CD-ROM resources. As part of its service through the library, the Society conducts classes in beginning and more advanced areas of genealogy research. This is the first place you should contact if you are beginning your research. Call ahead for library hours.