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African American Family History Research: Newspapers

Obituaries

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

Minnesota Black Newspaper Index, compiled by Brendan Henehan. 
Partial index to names and topics found in Minnesota African-American newspapers.

African American Newspapers

The Library also has several newspapers published by or for African-Americans.  All newspapers are microfilmed unless otherwise noted. 

Minneapolis and St. Paul

The Protest
Miscellaneous roll #14
August 13, 1892-October 8, 1892

Twin City American
May 4-18, 1899

Northwestern Bulletin 
March 11, 1922-January 5, 1924

Northwestern Bulletin-Appeal
Jan 12, 1924-August 15, 1925

Twin City Leader
July 20, 1940-August 23, 1941

Twin Cities Courier
May 14, 1966-December 25, 1986

St. Paul

Twin City Guardian 
November 16, 1895-January 17, 1920

Appeal/Western Appeal 
February 23, 1889-November 24, 1923
Digital Copy through the Library of Congress's Chronicling America.

St. Paul Echo
November 7, 1925-June 25, 1927 

Saint Paul Recorder
Published from August 10, 1934-October 6, 1983.

St. Paul Sun
October 11, 1951-May 5 1976

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Observer
August 16, 1890-September 27, 1890

Negro World
July 23, 1892-June 9, 1900

Northwestern Vine 
October 4, 1902-October 10, 1903

Twin City Star 
June 2, 1910-January 25, 1919

Minnesota Messenger
May 7, 1921-February 9, 1924

Northwestern Bulletin
March 11, 1922-January 5, 1924

Twin City Herald 
April 30, 1927-July 13, 1940

Northwest Monitor 
May 10, 1930-Feb 3, 1931

Timely Digest 
April 1931-May 1932
MHS call number: E185.5 .T58

Minneapolis Spokesman
August 10, 1934-December 28, 1995

Twin City Leader
July 20, 1940-August 23, 1941

Twin City Observer 
May 14, 1943-May 12-1976

Duluth

The World 
April 25, 1896-November 6, 1897

Newspapers

Newsboy distributing January 1937 Minneapolis Journal.

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.   

Newspaper Links

MNHS Reference Staff

reading room bookshelves

 

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:
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Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
 

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