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Many churches keep records of baptisms, christenings, confirmations, marriages, burials, memberships, admissions, and removals. Some keep minutes of church meetings and the histories of their local church. Each church has its own policies in record keeping. | Many churches keep records of baptisms, christenings, confirmations, marriages, burials, memberships, admissions, and removals. Some keep minutes of church meetings and the histories of their local church. Each church has its own policies in record keeping. | ||
Church records are important for family research because civil authorities in Minnesota did not begin registering births and deaths on a county level until 1870 and even later on a state level. (See the "[[Minnesota Vital Records-Civil Registration|Vital Records]]" | Church records are important for family research because civil authorities in Minnesota did not begin registering births and deaths on a county level until 1870 and even later on a state level. (See the "[[Minnesota Vital Records-Civil Registration|Vital Records]]" article for more information on birth, death, and other records.) Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Minnesota were the Roman Catholics and Lutherans. There were also many Methodists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians. | ||
Although records of some congregations have been gathered in major denominational repositories, the majority still remain with local churches. | Although records of some congregations have been gathered in major denominational repositories, the majority still remain with local churches. | ||
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Refer to the following inventory to learn more about the available records: | Refer to the following inventory to learn more about the available records: | ||
*Historical Records Survey (Minnesota). ''Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Minnesota: Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals.'' St. Paul, Minnesota: Historical Records Survey, 1942. ( | *Historical Records Survey (Minnesota). ''Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Minnesota: Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals.'' St. Paul, Minnesota: Historical Records Survey, 1942. (Family History Library book 977.6 K23h; microfilm 962275 item 2.) This list is by county, then town or city. It mentions the church records of some congregations that existed at the church in 1940 and gives the years that the records were available. | ||
*''Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Minnesota''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Historical Records Survey, 1941. ( | *''Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Minnesota''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Historical Records Survey, 1941. (Family History Library book 977.6 K24h; microfilm 1036193 item13; microfiche 6051165.) This volume contains an incomplete list of churches; many congregations were missed. Information is arranged first by denomination, then district or conference, then the name of the church. Entries include the address of the church, year of incorporation, and often the name of the minister in 1941. For a reprint of this book see: | ||
Richardson, Antona Hawkins, ed. ''Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Minnesota: A New and Expanded Index''. 1941. Reprint. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paduan Press, 1997. (Not at the Family History Library.) | Richardson, Antona Hawkins, ed. ''Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Minnesota: A New and Expanded Index''. 1941. Reprint. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paduan Press, 1997. (Not at the Family History Library.) | ||
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Before beginning research and to have a better understanding of the makeup of the denominations and the location of these records, see: | Before beginning research and to have a better understanding of the makeup of the denominations and the location of these records, see: | ||
*Hage, Anne A. ''Church Records in Minnesota: A Guide to Parish Records of Congregational, Evangelical, Reformed, and United Church of Christ Churches, 1851–1981''. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minnesota Conference, United Church of Christ, 1983. ( | *Hage, Anne A., ''Church Records in Minnesota: A Guide to Parish Records of Congregational, Evangelical, Reformed, and United Church of Christ Churches, 1851–1981''. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minnesota Conference, United Church of Christ, 1983. (Family History Library book 977.6 K2h.) This source mentions the kinds and dates of records at each church up to 1981. | ||
=== Jewish === | === Jewish === | ||
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For a history about the Jewish people in Minnesota, see: | For a history about the Jewish people in Minnesota, see: | ||
*Plaut, W. Gunther. ''The Jews in Minnesota:The First Seventy-Five Years''. New York: American Jewish Historical Society, 1959. ( | *Plaut, W. Gunther. ''The Jews in Minnesota:The First Seventy-Five Years''. New York: American Jewish Historical Society, 1959. (Family History Library book 977.6 F2p.) | ||
=== Lutheran === | === Lutheran === | ||
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The American Lutheran Church (ALC) Archives are now part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Archives. They have divided their records into nine regions. Region 3 covers Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If a church is still active, the regional archive can help locate their records. The records of Minnesota churches that have been disbanded are at this archive. For a partial list of Lutheran church records, see: | The American Lutheran Church (ALC) Archives are now part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Archives. They have divided their records into nine regions. Region 3 covers Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If a church is still active, the regional archive can help locate their records. The records of Minnesota churches that have been disbanded are at this archive. For a partial list of Lutheran church records, see: | ||
*''ALC Congregations on Microfilm''. Dubuque, Iowa: The Archives, [197–?]. ( | *''ALC Congregations on Microfilm''. Dubuque, Iowa: The Archives, [197–?]. (Family History Library microfiche 6330690–93 [set of 4].) No circulation to Family History Centers. Arranged by state and city of congregation. The microfiche number for Minnesota is 6330691. There are over 200 churches listed in Minnesota with the city, name of the church, type of records, county, and their microfilm or microfiche number. | ||
'''Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) <br>'''8765 West Higgins Road<br>Chicago, IL 60631-4198<br>Telephone: 773-380-2818<br>Fax: 773-380-2977<br>Internet: [http://www.elca.org www.elca.org] | '''Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) <br>'''8765 West Higgins Road<br>Chicago, IL 60631-4198<br>Telephone: 773-380-2818<br>Fax: 773-380-2977<br>Internet: [http://www.elca.org www.elca.org] | ||
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The first conference, which was formed in 1856, was known as Evangelical Gemeindschaft, or Evangelical Association. There is information about the conference and its congregations before 1856. The conference can help identify and locate existing records. The records may include membership, preparatory membership, baptism, marriage, a few death records, and occasionally a column that lists what happened to the member. | The first conference, which was formed in 1856, was known as Evangelical Gemeindschaft, or Evangelical Association. There is information about the conference and its congregations before 1856. The conference can help identify and locate existing records. The records may include membership, preparatory membership, baptism, marriage, a few death records, and occasionally a column that lists what happened to the member. | ||
*Hobart, Chauncey. ''History of Methodism in Minnesota''. 1887. Reprint, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 1992. ( | *Hobart, Chauncey. ''History of Methodism in Minnesota''. 1887. Reprint, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 1992. (Family History Library book 977.6 K2hc.) This history contains a glossary of terms used in nineteenth-century Methodism and an every-name index to biographies included in the work. | ||
=== Presbyterian === | === Presbyterian === | ||
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Information about Presbyterian churches before 1907 is found in: | Information about Presbyterian churches before 1907 is found in: | ||
*Campbell, E. V. ''History of the Churches of the Presbytery of St. Cloud''. St. Cloud, Minnesota: Journal Press, 1907?. ( | *Campbell, E. V. ''History of the Churches of the Presbytery of St. Cloud''. St. Cloud, Minnesota: Journal Press, 1907?. (Family History Library microfilm 1845852 item3.) Gives information about the organization and early life of the Presbyterian Church especially in St. Cloud area. | ||
=== Roman Catholic === | === Roman Catholic === | ||
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A guide to the Catholic churches in Minnesota is: | A guide to the Catholic churches in Minnesota is: | ||
*Catholic Church. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. ''Official Minnesota Catholic Directory, 1989: Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Diocese of Crookston, Diocese of Duluth, Diocese of New Ulm, Diocese of St. Cloud, Diocese of Winona''. St. Paul, Minnesota. The Catholic Bulletin, 1988. ( | *Catholic Church. Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. ''Official Minnesota Catholic Directory, 1989: Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Diocese of Crookston, Diocese of Duluth, Diocese of New Ulm, Diocese of St. Cloud, Diocese of Winona''. St. Paul, Minnesota. The Catholic Bulletin, 1988. (Family History Library book 977.6 K24c.) This directory gives the address and telephone number of each church and includes a list of towns and the diocese to which the town belongs. These directories are updated yearly. | ||
The Minnesota Historical Society has records of some individual churches and religious groups. Only a few of the church records held by the Minnesota Historical Society have been microfilmed. They have an inventory for each series of church records that lists the contents of each roll of film. These copies are available through interlibrary loan. | The Minnesota Historical Society has records of some individual churches and religious groups. Only a few of the church records held by the Minnesota Historical Society have been microfilmed. They have an inventory for each series of church records that lists the contents of each roll of film. These copies are available through interlibrary loan. | ||
The Family History Library does not have an extensive collection of church records for Minnesota. Local church records that are available are listed in the | The Family History Library does not have an extensive collection of church records for Minnesota. Local church records that are available are listed in the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Family_History_Library_Catalog_Place_Search Place Search] of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
MINNESOTA, [COUNTY] – CHURCH RECORDS | MINNESOTA, [COUNTY] – CHURCH RECORDS | ||
MINNESOTA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] – CHURCH RECORDS<br> | MINNESOTA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] – CHURCH RECORDS<br> | ||
[[Category:Minnesota]] | [[Category:Minnesota]] | ||