Research Notes -
Looking for Minnesota Records on the Internet

For some fun reading, you might want to check out the New York Times article entitled "www.internet.anarchy" published 15 August 1997, more than a dozen years ago. It compares the effect of Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" on this radio audience to the potential of the internet. And remember, twelve years is a VERY long time in terms of that medium!

Whether or not you believe the internet is an anarchy or not, family historians need to continue to seek out information to help them with their research. That means returning to sites with some regularity to help solve their brick wall problems, and searching out new sites that can provide clues. I'm not talking about Ancestry.com, other subscription sites, FamilySearch, or the various GenWeb sites, though thorough investigation of them beyond name searches can be helpful as well. Here are three possibilities:

• WorldCat is a favorite site of librarians, because it pulls together libraries where specific books and other materials can be found. It's part of the services offered through the Library of Congress, and you can search by subject matter as well as other standard cataloging terms. If you want to look at a particular county history, for example, you can determine which library(ies) hold(s) a copy, and it will tell you how far it is away from your location. You might be surprised that the Minnesota Historical Society Library, for example, has a fantastic selection of county histories from the places along the migration routes to the state. You can combine your research of non-Minnesota ancestors with the Minnesotans. Or you might find a Minnesota reference book you want to look at down the street at your own public library.

• The Historical Marker Database can take you off the beaten path. According to the site, "National and global events all happened somewhere, and historical markers mark the place where many occurred. But the richness of history is in its local details, details that can be insignificant on the global stage: the home of an individual who made a difference; a natural feature, building, byway; or something interesting that happened nearby. History is not just about the high and mighty." There are more than 100 markers listed for Minnesota, including some in other states where Minnesotans played a part in the event that's commemorated. Run by volunteers, you can contribute your favorite markers to the site.

• FindAGrave has been around for a long time, but continues to grow. Begun as a place for finding the burial spots of persons who had attained some kind of fame, it is also used at times by volunteers as a place to post interments in small cemeteries. You may find a photo of the grave marker, a biography of your ancestor, or other clues to more research. If it's an unexpected geographic location, why was your ancestor buried there? If it's a churchyard cemetery, there's always the possibility of congregational records. Do you need to check it daily? Probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to look every once in a while, or to add some of your own information.

As noted, two of these sites are operated and maintained by volunteers, who share a pastime with a passion for making information available. That describes many family historians too. How about you?

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