Minnesota Record Finder

This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

1. In column 1 find the category closest to your research goal.
2. In column 2 find the types of records most likely to have the information you need.
3. In column 3 find additional record types that may be useful.
4. Look in the section of this outline that corresponds to the record type you chose. It explains what the records might tell you, how to search them, and how to find the records in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog. Some records are not at the library.

Note: Records of previous research—genealogy, biography, history, periodicals, and societies—are useful for most goals but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.

1. If you need	2. Look first in	3. Then search
Adoptions	Court Records, Vital Records	Probate Records, Census
Age	Census, Vital Records, Obituaries	Cemeteries, Naturalization and Citizenship, Military Records
Birth date	Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries	Obituaries, Newspapers, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Birth place	Vital Records, Church Records, Census	Obituaries, Biography, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Boundaries and origins	Maps, Gazetteers	History
Children	Census, Genealogy, Obituaries	Probate Records, History, Military Records
City or parish of foreign birth	Vital Records, Genealogy, Church Records	Naturalization and Citizenship, Obituaries, Biography
Country of foreign birth	Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration	Vital Records, Obituaries, Church Records
Death information	Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries	Church Records, Probate Records, Funeral Homes, Military Records
Divorce	Court Records, Divorce Records, Vital Records	Newspapers, Obituaries
Emigration information	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census	Obituaries, Biography, History
Ethnic background	Minorities, Emigration and Immigration, Native Races	Census, Societies, Naturalization and Citizenship, Church records
Historical background	History, Gazetteers, Biography	Periodicals
Immigration date	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census	Genealogy, Obituaries, Biography, History
Living relatives	Obituaries, Genealogy, Directories	Census, Probate Records, Church Records
Maiden name	Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries	Newspapers, Bible Records, Military Records
Marriage information	Vital Records, Church Records, Census	Obituaries, Bible Records, Military Records
Migration	Emigration and Immigration, Maps, Census	History, Land and Property, Military Records
Naturalization	Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Obituaries	Court Records, Biography, Land and Property
Occupations	Census, Directories, Biography	Obituaries, Court Records
Other family members	Census, Obituaries, Vital Records, Church Records	Probate Records, Funeral Home Records, Bible Records, Military Records
Parents	Vital Records, Church Records, Census	Probate Records, Obituaries, Genealogy
Physical description	Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration	Biography, Genealogy
Place-finding aids	Gazetteers, Maps, History	Periodicals
Places of previous residence	Census, Military Records, Obituaries	Land and Property, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration
Place of residence when you know only the county	Census, Directories, Biography	Obituaries, History, Taxation
Place of residence when you know only the state	Census, Vital Records, Military Records	Naturalization and Citizenship
Previous research	Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies	History, Biography
Record-finding aids	Archives and Libraries, Societies, Periodicals	Genealogy, For Further Reading
Religion	Church Records, Obituaries, Cemeteries	Biography, Funeral Homes, History, Genealogy
Social activities	Biography, Newspapers, Societies	Obituaries, Directories, History