Research Services
Research Services
December 2025 Update:
Most of our distance copy and research services are currently available. We are still adjusting our daily operations and expect to reintroduce the remainder of our services later in the Winter.
The Gale Family Library offers a wide variety of research services.
We charge a fee for all research performed by staff. Please note that we have substantially discounted the rates for most of our research services. Prices and service descriptions are listed in the online store.
If you have further questions on specific services, please contact the Library.
New Services!
Vintage Cookie Recipe Request: Select a cookie recipe from one of six categories–or order the Variety Pack to receive a recipe from each category.
World War II or Korean War Bonus Records: Library staff will look for a World War II or Korean War Bonus Record for a service member who was a Minnesota resident at time of enlistment.
City Directory / Telephone Book Search Request: search for one name--individual or business--in up to five years of one city's directories or telephone books.
Search online yourself
Use the Minnesota People records search to find and order copies of specific records online. Visit about the records/help for more information and search tips.
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Birth records delivered via email
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Death records delivered via email
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Land survey field notes view and print records for free through the Bureau of Land Management’s Land Survey records search
- State census records view and print records for free
- Veterans' grave registrations delivered via email
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World War I Bonus Records delivered via email
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World War I Gold Star Rolls view and download/print records for free
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WWI Service Questionnaires delivered via email
Copy requests
Please see distance copy requests for more information about this service.
Basic research requests
The following services are available:
- Will book record request
- 1918 alien registration record research request
- Birth and Death Records:
- Birth Record Research Request - Before 1900
- Birth records--in Minnesota People records search
- Death Record Research Request - 1904 and Earlier
- Death records--in Minnesota People records search
- City Directory / Telephone Book Search Request
- Court records searches:
- Marriage record request
- Military records requests
- Veterans' grave registrations--in Minnesota People records search
- World War I bonus and disallowed bonus records request--in Minnesota People
records search - WWI Service Questionnaires--in Minnesota People records search
- World War I service questionnaire request--in Minnesota People records search
- World War II and Korean War Bonus Request
- Newspaper Searches:
- Railroad Employees Index Search
- State census records --in Minnesota People records search
- Will book record request
- Vintage Cookie Recipe Request
- Yearbook Research Service
The following services are currently available for official or legal purposes only:
Examples of this type of need include upcoming trial dates, citizenship hearings, current benefits claims, obtaining a passport/Real-ID, and other similar purposes. If this applies to you, please email us at reference@mnhs.org with the subject line “Research Service: Urgent Legal Need” and we will work with you to place an order.
- Institutional Record Requests
- Legislative Document Search Request
- Naturalization record request
- State School for the Blind and Deaf Records Request
Interlibrary loan (ILL)
Interlibrary loan services are currently available. MNHS makes items available for interlibrary loan (ILL) on a limited basis. Items available include most of our newspaper and microfilmed manuscript collections, Minnesota state archives records, city directories, and county atlases.
If you are interested in borrowing MNHS materials through interlibrary loan, please contact your local public or university library for assistance. They will serve as the borrower on your behalf and can help you with their procedures. Please see our interlibrary loan section for more information on our ILL policies.
Independent researchers
Patrons needing additional help with complex or broad-based research can consult the list of independent researchers who are familiar with our collections. Any service agreements are solely between the patron and the hired researcher.
