Minnesota is the homeland of the Dakota people. A Dakota person’s family history can reach as far back as stories can tell. Elders and other storytellers are often the best guide. This online guide may help with the more recent part of that history, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Minnesota Historical Society has a variety of resources to help you learn about your family's history such as birth and death, marriage, education, employment, religious, military service, property ownership, and state institution records. You can access many of these materials at the Minnesota Historical Society Library, as well as additional valuable items.
Watch this quick tutorial for an overview on researching ethnic records at the MNHS library.
Revised by Jackie Beckey,
Reference Librarian
