RESEARCH CENTER
Welcome to the Research Center
Our friendly, knowledgeable staff can provide guidance, resources, and services to support your pursuit of local history and family history.
If you are unfamiliar with genealogy (researching your ancestors through time), we will show you how to get started!
If you are an independent learner, we will highlight resources—including free access to Ancestry.com—to further your research.
For students, journalists, historians, and scholars, our staff can work with you to locate and access other resources and historical collections from the archives. Just (click here to) schedule a time to talk with our Collections Manager, Cara Mooney.
Research Center Hours
Exciting news! The Research Center is undergoing a renovation to modernize the space, fix infrastructure issues, make it more accessible, and enhance its utility to current-day researchers. We’ve temporarily relocated the Research Center’s staff and equipment to the Winter Admissions lobby so we can continue to serve you throughout the construction.
The Research Center will be closed Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17. Those are our moving days—there’s a lot to haul!
The temporary location will open to the public starting Thursday, June 18, and normal operations will continue there until the renovation is done (which is anticipated to be in late summer).
To access the temporary location, please enter through Summer Admissions as normal, walk through Heritage Park, enter the Museum, go down the stairs, and head into the Winter Admissions lobby. There will be directional signage for you to follow, and you can always ask a staff member if you need help!
Summer hours apply Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fall/winter hours apply Labor Day through Memorial Day. Admission to the Research Center is always free!
| Day | Summer Hours | Fall/Winter Hours |
| Monday | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Thursday | 10:00am – 5:00pm* | 10:00am – 5:00pm* |
| Friday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
* Late Night in the Research Center
Come study your geneology during extended hours! The Research Center will be open until 8:00pm on the last Thursday of most months. (Some months’ Late Night day might vary due to holidays. See our Upcoming Events for more information.)
Questions? Call the Research Center at (218) 254-6005 or email yourroots@mndiscoverycenter.org for more information.
Must-Have Records and Resources to Aid in Your Research
Naturalization Records
Foreigners who became United States citizens are known as naturalized citizens. This process usually included two stages: the filing of first papers (a person’s declaration of intention to become a citizen) and final papers (a person’s petition and record showing he or she was made a legitimate citizen). Microfilm copies for Minnesota’s 87 counties are available.
Alien Registration of 1918
During World War One, the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety required all non-U.S. citizens (including children) living in Minnesota to register with the state. German males were not included.
Archival Collections
These historical collections were created by a person, family, agency, or business and include some personal or family papers, business or organizational records, federal and local government records, maps, moving images, oral histories, photographs, and sound recordings.
County Plat Books
Records, usually public and in book form, showing the location, size, and owner’s name for each plot of land in a stated area, for Itasca County and St. Louis County.
City Directories
These directories contain alphabetical listings of people and businesses, including addresses and employment information.
Hibbing Arrest Records
Information includes arrestee’s name, date of arrest, and nature of infraction (e.g., violation of city ordinance). Please note that these records DO NOT include court proceedings.
Iron Range High School Yearbooks
Annual publications that provide information and often photographs about students and school activities during the school year.
Newspapers
Most Iron Range newspapers that were published between 1900s-1990s are available in microfilm format.
Obituaries
This record category consists primarily of obituaries taken from Iron Range newspapers; it also includes State of Minnesota death cards (1900-1903).
Mining Accident Records
The Inspector of Mines for Crow Wing, Itasca, and St. Louis counties published annual reports that include information on accidents—both non-fatal personal injuries and accidental fatalities.
Telephone Directories
These directories contain alphabetical listings of people and businesses with telephone service and include addresses.
Women in Industry Records
Beginning in March 1918, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industries conducted a survey of working women in Minnesota. Completed in December 1919, the survey included results from 81 of Minnesota’s 87 counties.
If you require additional assistance with your family history, please contact us:
If you are interested in a topic other than family history, please let us know: