Research Services

The Minnesota Historical Society Library offers a variety of research services. A fee is charged for all research performed by staff.

 

Basic Research Requests

To submit a basic research request, please select one of the record categories below.

• City Directory Search Request
• Court Case Search Request
• Divorce Records (these are in the District Court case files)
• Land Survey Field Notes Request OR try the free, beta-version of the BLM's Land Survey Field Notes Search.
• Legislative Document Search Request
• Marriage Record Request
• Military Records Request
• Naturalization Record Request
• Obituary Request
• Other Newspaper Article Request
• Owatonna State Public School Records Request
• State Correctional Institution (Prison) Records Request
• State Hospital Records Request
• World War I Bonus Record Request

Search These Online Indexes Yourself

 

• Birth Records (search the online index)
• Census, State (Minnesota) (search the online index)
• Death Records (search the online index)

Other Research Request Options

 

For research topics that do not fall within the Basic Research Request categories listed above, three other options are available.

 

Visit the Library

 

Researchers can search for and locate materials on site, with assistance from Library staff if desired. Photocopy orders may be placed at a charge of .25 or .35 per page, depending on paper size. Same-day copies are possible depending on how busy the copy center is. There is a 50 page maximum limit on same-day orders. Photocopy orders may also be mailed with additional shipping and handling fees depending on the size of the order. For more details on visiting the library, please see our Using the Library page.

 

Specific Citation Requests

 

If a search of the Library's online catalog has provided a specific citation to a published item or a group of specific materials within a collection, researchers can submit a photocopy request using the specific citation request form. Send completed forms with payment information, via U.S. mail, fax or email, (although email is not recommended due to security issues). Copy request will be completed within the restrictions of the U.S. Copyright Law. In many cases materials in microfilm format can be borrowed via Interlibrary Loan.

 

Payment

 

• Prepayment is required and non-refundable.
• MN residents: $12.00, plus photocopy charges.
• Non-MN residents: $15.00, plus photocopy charges.
• Staff cannot provide photocopy cost or page count estimates in advance.
• Credit card is the preferred method of payment for Specific Citation Requests.
• If paying by credit card, please note a maximum charge limit on the request form. You will then be contacted if additional funds are needed to complete your request.
• If paying by check, make the check payable to the Minnesota Historical Society in an amount appropriate to the size of your request. If additional funds are needed we will notify you before completing your request. Please note: At this time we are unable to refund any over-payment made by check. Any extra funds on orders paid by check will be considered a donation.
• Minnesota Historical Society members receive a 10% discount. Visit our Membership page to find out how to become a Society member.

Delivery

 

• Turn-around time can be as much as 30 business days if we are busy, dating from the receipt of payment.
• Photocopies will be sent via regular U.S. Mail. Requests in most cases can also be faxed or scanned and sent via email (20 page limit), but there is an additional fee of $3.00 per order for this service.

 

Independent Researchers

 

The Library is not able to provide any general, complex or broad-based research services. For research services that do not fall within the options listed above, please consult the list of Independent Researchers who are familiar with our collections. Any agreement for research must be solely between the patron and the contract researcher.