The Minnesota Historical Society Library has microfilm copies of most newspapers published in Minnesota, arranged by city of publication.
You can check for obituaries if you have a date of death for the family member. For death dates between 1904 and 2001, check the online Death Certificates Index.
To order a Minnesota obituary online, fill out the order form on the Obituary Request page at our online store. Please include any and all information you have about the record you are looking for.
Minnesota Black Newspaper Index, compiled by Brendan Henehan.
Partial index to names and topics found in Minnesota African-American newspapers.
The Library also has several newspapers published by or for African-Americans, and many are available to browse as scans through the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub. The list below includes each paper’s dates in publication and links to the scans if available. Please search the library’s online catalog for additional newspaper holdings from other date ranges and in other formats.
Minneapolis and St. Paul
Afro-Independent
1888
The Protest
August 13, 1892-October 8, 1892
Twin City Guardian
November 16, 1895-January 17, 1920
The Appeal
1889-November 24, 1923
Negro World
July 23, 1892-June 9, 1900
The Twin-City American
May 4-18, 1899
Afro-American Advance
May 1899-1905
The National Advocate
1915-1924
Northwestern Bulletin
March 11, 1922-January 5, 1924
Northwestern Bulletin-Appeal
January 12, 1924-August 15, 1925
St. Paul Echo
November 7, 1925-June 25, 1927
Twin-City Leader
July 20, 1940-August 23, 1941
Twin Cities Courier
May 14, 1966-December 25, 1986
Insight
1974-2008
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
2000-present
Insight News
2008-present
St. Paul
Western Appeal
June 6, 1885-December 29, 1888
Saint Paul Recorder
August 10, 1934-2000
The Globe News
1939
St. Paul Sun
October 11, 1951-May 5, 1976
Minneapolis
Minneapolis Observer
August 16, 1890-September 27, 1890
Northwestern Vine
1901-1905
Twin City Star
June 2, 1910-January 25, 1919
Minneapolis Messenger
May 7, 1921-April 1, 1922
Minnesota Messenger
April 8, 1922-February 9, 1924
Twin-City Herald
April 30, 1927-July 13, 1940
Northwest Monitor
May 10, 1930-Feb 3, 1931
Timely Digest
April 1931-May 1932
Minneapolis Spokesman
August 10, 1934-2000
Twin City Observer
May 14, 1943-May 12, 1976
Duluth
The World
April 25, 1896-November 6, 1897
The Minnesota Historical Society holds the world's largest collection of Minnesota newspapers, with dates ranging from 1849 to the present day.
Past issues of most newspaper titles are available on microfilm in the MNHS library, but there is also digital access to select newspapers.
Use the links to the left to search for newspapers available at MNHS and to search within digitized newspaper collections.
Gale Family Library
Minnesota Historical Society Library
Located on the Second Floor of the Minnesota History Center
345 West Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
Library Hours:
Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
More Information on Visiting the Library
Contact Us:
651-259-3300
