Minnesota Periodicals

Overview
A periodical is a regularly published magazine, newsletter, or journal. Several valuable periodicals concerning Minnesota genealogical research exist. Many genealogical and historical societies publish magazines and newsletters. The articles in these periodicals often include the following:
 * Family genealogies and pedigrees
 * Helpful articles on research methodology
 * Transcripts or indexes of biographical sketches, censuses, church records, migration lists, military records, obituaries, wills, vital records, and more
 * Historical background
 * Current and historical maps
 * Information about local and national records, archives, and services
 * Interesting articles about social life and customs
 * Book advertisements and book reviews
 * Advertisements of professional researchers
 * Queries or requests for information about specific ancestors that can help you contact other interested researchers

Periodicals
Some genealogical periodicals and magazines for Minnesota research are:


 * Minnesota Genealogical Journal 1984–1987, 1992–. Published by Park Genealogical Book, P.O. 130968, Roseville, Minnesota 55113-0968. (Family History Library .) This contains extracts of early Minnesota newspapers, original records, and maps from state and county sources.
 * German Interest Group, a branch of the Minnesota Genealogical Society 1980–1992. German Interest Group (series) Newsletter. Family History Library book . In 1993 this society was renamed and started a new publication, Germanic Genealogy Society Newsletter with the same call number. This newsletter describes activities of the society, tips for research, sources of records, and case studies focused on German family research.
 * Minnesota Genealogist 1970–. Published by the Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1385 Mendota Heights Road Ste 100, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120. Telephone: 651-330-9312. Family History Library . Includes cumulative indexes to 1988, and extracts of records, search strategies, case studies, and issues of interest to researchers in Minnesota records.
 * Minnesota History 1915–. Published by the Minnesota Historical Society, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, Minnesota 55102-1906. Family History Library . There are three published indexes for this journal that are available from the Minnesota Historical Society: Volumes 1–10 (1915–1929); Volumes 11–40 (1930–1967); Volumes 41–50 (1968–1987). This journal contains articles on social, political, economic, intellectual, and cultural history of Minnesota and surrounding areas.
 * Prairieland Pioneer 1984–. Published by the Prairieland Genealogical Society, Southwest Minnesota Historical Center, Social Science 141, Marshall, Minnesota 56258-1598. Telephone: 507-537-7373. Family History Library . This journal contains extracts of records and helps for doing research in southwestern Minnesota. Under this same call number, there are two indexes: one for volumes1–5, and one for volumes 6–10.
 * The Prairieland Register: Genealogical Records from Southwestern Minnesota 1977–1983. Published by Prairieland Genealogical Society, 703 North Sixth Street, Marshall, Minnesota 56258. (Family History Library . This journal contains extracts of records and helps for doing research in southwestern Minnesota.
 * Scandinavian Saga: A Newsletter for Members of the Scandinavian-American Genealogical Society, A Branch of the Minnesota Historical Society 1979–, P.O. Box 16069, St. Paul, Minnesota 55116-0069. Family History Library . The newsletter describes activities of the society and contributions Scandinavians have made to their communities.

Obtaining Periodicals
Copies of periodicals are available from the local societies that publish them. Major archives with genealogical collections will have copies of many periodicals, particularly those representing the area they serve. The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. PERSI is available online and is especially useful because it refers to countless items published in thousands of family history periodicals worldwide. Learn more at the PERSI wiki page here: Once you locate an article in a periodical, check the FamilySearch Catalog and regional or local libraries for available copies. The Family History Library has collected many periodicals, with some available in digital format and accessible online. Minnesota periodicals may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog with a Place and Subject search, as found here: Minnesota-Periodicals. They can also be found by using: Also find Periodical resources available at other libraries via WorldCat. As with the FamilySearch Catalog search, search WorldCat using society names, locality names, and periodical title names. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog on our Wiki pages.
 * Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Ft. Wayne, Indiana: Allen County Public Library Foundation, 1987-. (Family History Library book ; 40 fiche (1847-1985); 15 fiche  (1986-1990).) Partially indexes over 5,000 English-language and French-Canadian family history periodicals. The microfiche indexes are cumulative; book indexes since 1986 are year-by-year. For further details see the PERiodical Source Index Resource Guide (34119).
 * Find My Past Researchers can use the Internet edition of this index at Family History Centers via their site.
 * Place Search of the country, state/province, and county
 * Title Search of the periodical
 * Keyword Search for the publishing society name.