Step-by-Step Minnesota Research, 1880-Present

Minnesota Step-by-step research 1880--present

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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What should be asked?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * Fifty Questions for Family History Interviews What to Ask the Relatives
 * Genealogy: 150 questions to ask family members about their lives
 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military.

Using the clues to lead to census record searches.


We find Erling and Mildred Eide, with their three children, in the 1940 census of Minneapolis. Then, in 1930 they are listed living in the home of his parents, Christian and Sophie Eide. So we next follow up by finding the family of Christian and Sophie going back in time in as many censuses as possible:

By finding all of the census records available, we have the best chance of identifying all of the children of Christian and Sophie. The 1910 census tells us that they came to Minnesota in 1907, so we do not look for them in the 1905 Minnesota state census or the 1900 U.S. census.

When we find out Erling Eide's wife Mildred's maiden name, we will also look for her in pre-1930 census records, hopefully living with her parents.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
 * A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using the census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents. Example of an indexed birth record.

Using the census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Fequently, our main purpose for locating records for the marriages is to establish the maiden name of the wife. Also in some cases the names of the parents of the bride and groom are given. Example of an indexed marriage record.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death: Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
 * online databases
 * writing to a county courthouse (prior to state civil registration beginning in 1867)
 * purchasing them through the mail

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Minnesota Counties.

Order Certificates from Minnesota Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for Minnesota Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Minnesota, see How to Find Minnesota Birth Records, How to Find Minnesota Marriage Records, and How to Find Minnesota Death Records.

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find your ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

Obituaries

 * Try these Minnesota links:
 * Online Minnesota Death Records &amp; Indexes, statewide and by county
 * Genealogy Buff - Obituary Library - Minnesota Genealogy Data
 * US Gen Web Archives Obituary Project
 * Dalby Database Obituaries
 * Fargo Forum Obituary Index, covers Northwestern Minnesota
 * ObitsArchive.com - Minnesota, ($), index

Cemeteries

 * Try these Minnesota links:
 * Online Minnesota Death Records &amp; Indexes, statewide and by county
 * Findagrave.com.
 * Minnesota Cemetery Records at Interment.net.
 * BillionGraves.com Minnesota Cemeteries.
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Tombstone Project
 * Dalby Database Cemetery Search
 * I Dream of Genealogy - Minnesota Cemeteries, index
 * Minnesota Cemetery Records
 * Minnesota, Veteran Grave Index, 1857-1975 at MyHeritage ($)
 * Minnesota, Veteran Grave Index, 1857-1975 at MyHeritage ($)

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards and Civil War pensions.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card.

Example of a World War II draft card.

'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Minnesota Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch Indexes

 * 1798-1991 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only.  Incomplete.
 * 1840-1980 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only.  Incomplete.
 * 1849-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection;Index only.  Incomplete.
 * 1835-1900 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index only. Incomplete.

Ancestry.com Indexes

 * 1840-1980 Minnesota, Births and christenings Index, 1840-1980 Index only ($)
 * 1849-1950 Minnesota, Marriages Index, 1849-1950 Index only ($)
 * 1915-1917 New York, U.S., Frank S. Rowland Church Register, 1889-1917 at Ancestry - images ($)

Dutch Reformed

 * 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947, index and images, incomplete.($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Quaker (Society of Friends)

 * Quaker records : Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota Monthly Meetings, e-book, incomplete.

Other Collections

 * 1856-1913 Early Minnesota church records, 1856-1913, e-book. Incomplete


 * For help with church records kept in Minnesota, see Minnesota Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
For more information, see U.S. Probate Records Class Handout.

County probate records

 * County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration. In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet. Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.


 * Currently, these records are microfilmed and digitized:
 * Minnesota, Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * Index only.


 * Eventually more of these records may become available online.


 * In the meantime, this online directory by Genealogy Inc. will enable you to arrange to have them searched for a fee: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the Courthouse and Government Records to find the address and phone number of the County Clerk of Court. Ask them about the years covered by their probate records and their procedure and fees for ordering copies probate packets. When you write, always ask for the full probate packet, not just the will or administration.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that your ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records are the next goal. Immigration refers to people coming into a country, such as the United States, and emigration refers to people leaving a country to go to another. Usually these records are passenger lists of the ships they sailed on. A typical record will show name, age, and country of origin, but in ship lists after 1906 you can find the actual town of birth, the next of kin still living in the old country and their residence, and the names of relatives in the place they are traveling to.

Immigration records
Passenger lists and border crossing lists are the most common immigration records. There are many immigration records available. Click here to see a complete list of available immigration records online. Notice that they are listed by state, but under the letter "U" there is a long list of records that cover all of the United States. Unless family information tells you the port where family arrived, you will need to search all of the United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records for the time period when your ancestors arrived.

There are also many immigration records unique to Minnesota:
 * Index of Wagon Train Emigrants From Minnesota to Montana.
 * Web: Minnesota, Alien Registration Index, 1918, index ($). Also available at Iron Range Research Center, Minnesota Discovery Center, index, no charge.
 * — index and images

Naturalization (Citizenship) Records
Naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen. Records can include the immigrant's declaration of intent to become a citizen, petitions for citizenship, and final certificate of naturalization. Naturalization records after 1906 can show birth date and place, spouse's name, marriage date and place, and lists of children with their birth dates.

Minnesota naturalization records could be recorded at the county court or the Federal District or Circuit Court. You must look for them in both locations. Try searching first in any county where the person lived, unless the census tells you the year they were naturalized, and you have evidence of where they lived that year. If you cannot locate them in the county records, try searching for them in the Federal courts.

Minnesota Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1854-1957 Index only. ($)
 * Minnesota, Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920, index & images ($).
 * index only.
 * Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1930-1988 ($)
 * Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1930-1988 ($)
 * Iron Range Research Center Naturalization Records Index only. Select Naturalization Record under Record type.
 * Iron Range Research Center Alien Registrations 1918 Index only. Select Alien Registrations 1918 under Record type.



Local histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories:
 * Hathi Trust Digital Library. Don't use the keywords Minnesota; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Minnesota" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "Minnesota" and the county name.
 * Genealogy Book Links, Minnesota. Browse list; county histories are interspersed.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Minnesota and the name of the county.


 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find out about local histories the library has by checking the FamilySearch Catalog. In the "place" field, type the name of your county and select it from the drop down list, then click "Search". A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, and History - Indexes.

Biographies
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
 * Minnesota's Early Explorers ($)
 * Minnesota Historical Society, Vol. 1 ($)
 * Frank O'Brien, Minnesota Pioneer Sketches ($)
 * Minnesota History and Biography, 1915 ($)
 * Minnesota biographies, 1655-1912, Vol. 14 compiled by Warren Upham, e-book
 * Compendium of history and biography of central and northern Minnesota, containing a history of the state of Minnesota ... also ... biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of central and northern Minnesota, e-book
 * Encyclopedia of biography of Minnesota : illustrated with steel plate and copper plate engravings.1999 e-book
 * Encyclopedia of biography of Minnesota. History of Minnesota by C.E. Flandrau. v. 1., 1900 e-book
 * Memorial record of southwestern Minnesota. e-book
 * Who's who among Minnesota women; a history of woman's work in Minnesota from pioneer days to date e-book
 * The book of Minnesotans; a biographical dictionary of leading living men of the state of Minnesota e-book

Step 10: Contact a county historical or genealogical society.
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 * County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.


 * If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Minnesota, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Minnesota, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Minnesota Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Minnesota Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Minnesota Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Minnesota Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Minnesota.
This article focused more on Minnesota state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Minnesota. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.