Book-A-Genealogist
Need extra assistance with your family research?
Get a one-on-one consultation from a professional volunteer genealogist researching your family tree and using the library’s genealogy resources with expert guidance!
Appointments are available on Mondays from 10am-2pm.
Walk-ins also welcome; Assistance will be on a first-come first-served basis, with appointments given top priority.
Bring any info you already have and let us help you grow your family tree!
Call 320.650.2500 to make an appointment
Genealogy Basics Web Tutor
Learn more about how to do genealogical research with free library and internet resources.
Handouts for Genealogy Basics:
- Four Generation Ancestor Chart
- FREE Internet Resources for Genealogy Research
- Interview a Relative
- Family Group Sheet
Research Tools:
Ancestry for Libraries - Available for *free* at all Great River Regional Libraries!
FamilySearch.org - Requires a *free* account to access records. Expanded availability if you are using this website inside a GRRL branch
Find A Grave - The World's largest gravesite collection, volunteer and crowdsourced cemetery information
St. Michael Historical Society Research Page - A great collection of research sources tied to European Minnesota roots
USGenWeb Project - An award-winning nationwide site that offers *free* genealogy sources; searchable by state, county and city
Library of Congress - Documents, digital collections and more!
Allen County Public Library - Special genealogy collections including African American, Native American, military records and more. One of the largest genealogical libraries in the U.S.
Freedmen's Bureau - A Federal agency of the U.S. Department of War to help slaves who were set free after the Civil War as well as poor whites at the time.
New York Public Library - The Milstein Division has extensive history and genealogical materials related to all 50 states, including one of the largest American collections of city directories on microfilm. Many items available through Inter-Library Loan (ILL) and your local library card.
Minnesota Specific Research Tools:
Minnesota Birth/Death Index - Through the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Marriage Index - Minnesota's Official Marriage System
U of M Government Publications - The University of Minnesota Libraries provides access to government information online and in physical forms.
Obituaries and Newspaper Resources
To search the St. Cloud Times Index:
https://www.griver.org/sctimes-index
Other Obituaries:
Legacy.com - Search for obituaries from more than 1,500 newspapers and 3,500 funeral homes
Chronicling America - Historic digital newspapers through the Library of Congress
Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub - Through the Minnesota Historical Society
General and Country Specific Search Sites:
Cyndi's List - A massive, cross-referenced list of links for every genealogical research sites online
Freedman's Bureau Records - United States Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands records
Stephen Morse's One-Step Immigration - contains tools for finding immigration records, census records, vital records, and more!
U.S. First Nations - Native Indian Law Library
Foundation for East European Family History Studies
Translation sites:
Looking for more? Reach out to your local county historical society!
Benton County Historical Society: https://mnbentonhistory.org/
Morrison County Historical Society: https://morrisoncountyhistory.org/
Stearns History Museum: https://www.stearnshistorymuseum.org/research/
Sherburne County Historical Society: https://sherburnehistorycenter.org/
St. Michael Historical Society: https://saintmichaelhistory.org
Todd County Historical Society: https://www.toddcountymuseum.org/
Wright County Historical Society: https://www.wrighthistory.org/