State Archives Collection
The State Archives Department identifies, collects, and preserves the historically valuable records of almost 4,000 units of state and local government in Minnesota. These are records generated from the territorial period to the present day.
Materials preserved in the State Archives come from the Executive Branch of state government, including the constitutional officers and state departments, boards and commissions; the Legislative Branch, including the Minnesota Legislature and its committees, commissions and officers; and the Judicial Branch, including the Supreme and Appellate courts, 87 district courts, and antecedent probate, municipal and justice of the peace courts. Local government records include material from Minnesota counties, cities, school districts, townships and regional government organizations.
Because government affects everyone, government records document the fundamental events and aspects of our lives, both routine and extraordinary. Examples of the types of records illustrate the rich variety of the collections: correspondence, reports, minutes, memoranda, published records, maps, photographs, architectural drawings, microfilm, sound recordings, ephemera, and videotapes.
More information can be found on the State Archives website.
Searching the Collection
State Archives materials are listed in the library catalog. To search the catalog:
Naturalization records are listed in the library catalog. To search the catalog:
Assessment and tax records in the State Archives are listed in the library catalog. Assessment rolls and tax lists not in the State Archives may be held by individual counties. To search the catalog:
Refer to the State Archives Inventory Notebooks for detailed information on holdings for local and state government records and the specific locator numbers. Consult the reference staff for additional assistance in locating State Archives materials in the Society's collection.
Copy Services
Find information about the copy services available at the Society.
