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Research Notes - Minnesota Basics
from Park Genealogical Books, your specialists in genealogy and local history for Minnesota and the surrounding area
Minnesota Basics
Almost every on-line newsletter begins a new year with instructions on getting back to the basics - e.g., file, don't pile; review all your data in preparation for research; schedule time to write narratives of smaller pieces of your family; etc. Those apply to everyone. Instead, here are some sites for specific on-line Minnesota research:
- Our monthly research notes can provide more specific info about research in Minnesota. Be sure to bookmark this page, or sign up to be notified when it changes.
- The
Minnesota Historical Society continues to offer some wonderful (and free!) resources for family historians. In addition to the Visual Resources Database, their library/archives catalog and a searchable Minnesota Place Names, here are a few of the winners. And best of all, many of their microfilms are available through local public libraries and interlibrary loan.
state-wide index to death certificates with ability to order the actual certificates on-line or visit the Library to get your own copy. See our research page for a description of the availability of records from 1899-1997 and complementary records. Our research note can be found at
And don't forget Minnesota Birth Records Index. The records can be viewed in the Library, or ordered on-line. This index covers 1900-1935, and includes illegitimate births. Our research note can be found at Minnesota Birth Records (Governmental)
The Minnesota Veterans Grave Registration Index indexes the Veterans Graves Registration reports from 1857 to 1975, the bulk of which are in 1927-1969. Note that does not include all veterans ever buried in Minnesota. More info can be found at our note.
Experienced family historians know that understanding the context in which their families lived can suggest answers to that brick wall question: "Why?" and just discovering how an industry worked or how a political candidate gained votes can help make sense out of family letters or traditions. MHS introduced index to Minnesota History, including more than 200,000 entries for people, places and topics. Indexing has changed over the years (Mrs. John Doe is now more likely Mrs. Mary Doe, for example), and those changes are often reflected in the index entries.
Looking for naturalization records and alien registration papers from the District Courts? Those questionnaires are on microfilm, and the Ironworld Research Center has a free, on-line index. In fact, you can also purchase copies of the records directly from them. We've done research notes on both sets of records: Minnesota Naturalization Indexes On-line will get you started!
The Minnesota GenWeb and archives has grown considerably. If you haven't visited your counties of interest recently, you might be surprised at what you find. Some of them are spectacular in the resources that have been donated.
Check also for the historical and genealogical societies in your counties of interest. And remember that volunteers and members are working hard to make your research easier. Donations of time and money are always welcome!
Remember to sign up for automatic notification to additional research notes. You can do that on our research page.
Happy hunting in 2009!
Park Genealogical Books
Dept. WWW
P.O. Box 130968
Roseville, MN 55113-0968
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