1. Q: How do I find someone's maiden name?

• Check marriage records.
• If the person is deceased, you might find that information in probate records.
• If the person was affiliated with any church, synagogue, etc., you might find the information in religious records kept by that organization.
• If the person is deceased you can also check her vital records or look for her in the obituaries.

• The Minnesota Historical Society does NOT have comprehensive birth or vital records. Vital records are available from the county courthouses and at the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Birth records that are available at the Minnesota Historical Society are closed for 100 years from their creation due to state privacy laws.
• You can find out more about the limited birth and vital records available at the Minnesota Historical Society.

• Census records are organized by enumeration district within city ward or township. Finding the census record for an individual without an index is easiest if you first determine the enumeration district in which they lived. Try the following steps:
  
  1. First check city directories to find the individual's address.
  2. Locate the address on the ward map to determine the ward number.
  3. Check the enumeration district descriptions to determine the enumeration district number.
  
  
• For rural areas census records are organized by township. If you know the township, you may be able to locate the individual by scanning through all the names in that township.

• For individuals naturalized in Minnesota after 1906, naturalization records usually include the name of the ship. (See also Question No. 7.)
• The Library collections include some published passenger lists and indexes.
• If the individual resided in Minnesota as a non-citizen in 1918, check for the name in the 1918 alien registration. Information in this registration often includes the name of the ship on which an immigrant arrived.
• For additional information on passenger lists available from NARA, check their Immigration Records web page.

• Biographies of early settlers and prominent citizens (often written by the individual concerned).
• Very local history (township, village, church, etc.).
• Varying quality of content.
• You can read more about local and county histories available at the Minnesota Historical Society.

• The Minnesota Historical Society has some records and publications documenting Minnesotans' military service--see the Military and Veterans' records entry in the guide to genealogical resources for a complete description.
• Full official records are located at NARA in Washington (pre-1900) and St. Louis. Check the NARA Genealogy web page and the NARA Personnel Records Center.

• Naturalization is a two-step process producing two sets of records: Letters of intention (first papers) and Final Papers.
• Most naturalization records available at the Minnesota Historical Society are filed with the District Court records for the county where the individual was naturalized. Some records are filed with the Minnesota Supreme Court records.
• Records created after 1906 contain more information about the person than earlier records.
• Women were not generally naturalized independently of their husbands or fathers until after 1920.
• Census records from 1900 and 1920 give citizenship status and dates.
• The 1918 Alien Registration done by the Public Safety Commission includes citizenship information.
• Additional immigration records are available from NARA. Check their Immigration Records web page for more information.

• School records are filed with the records for the county in the State Archives collection at the Minnesota Historical Society. See school district records.
• Note that pupil record cards with grades are restricted by state law.
• School Census records exist for many districts.

• Check his or her naturalization records.
• Check vital records.
• Look for an obituary in the newspaper collections.
• If the individual was a non-citizen resident of Minnesota in 1918, check under his or her name in the 1918 alien registration.
• Check family records.

• Start with yourself.
• Talk with relatives. Have a prepared list of questions, making sure to avoid questions with "yes/no" answers.
• Keep notes in a consistent manner.
• Join local genealogical society.
• Follow the steps in our on-line guide, Family History in Easy Steps.