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Ojibwe Family History Research: Overview

Overview

Ojibwe or Anishinaabe people arrived in Minnesota from the east hundreds of years ago by way of the Great Lakes. Their tradition recounts that they needed to settle in a place where food grows on the water. That food, wild rice, has been both a food resource and a mainstay of their culture, supporting families for many generations.

All people typically leave records of births and deaths, marriages, education, employment, religious and political affiliations, military service, property ownership, and relationships to government and the law, ranging from paying taxes and registering a business, to annutiy rolls, and church records. The Minnesota Historical Society Library has many of these records, as well as additional valuable items.

This guide will help your research your family history by exploring: 

Research Options

Related Research Guides & Webpages

Tutorial Video

Watch this quick tutorial for an overview on researching ethnic records at the MNHS library. 

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:
Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
 

More Information on Visiting the Library

 

Contact Us:

651-259-3300

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Guide Author

Katie Jean Davey
Reference Librarian

Gale Family Library • Minnesota Historical Society • 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3300
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