Ancestry and Genealogy

This genealogy database provides a unique, growing collection of research materials for tracing family history.

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world.  The popular web service has over 6 billion searchable names and 2 billion images of historical genealogical records.  Many resources are freely available through FarmilySearch.org, however as a FamilySearch affiliate library, additional records are available from within LARL branch library locations.   A free account may be required to access some resources on FamilySearch.org.

Find obituaries or any other newspaper articles from over 350 historical and current newspapers, including Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Cloud Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The New York Times, and more.

The Minnesota Digital Library offers access to digital content archived from participating cultural heritage organizations, including more than 55,000 photographs, postcards, maps, documents, letters, and oral histories.

View historic publications and documents with microfilm readers at the Moorhead Public Library, Crookston Public Library, Ada Public Library and the Fosston Public Library. We offer a collection of local historical publication archives on microfilm, including the Fargo Forum, Detroit Lakes Tribune, Norman County Index, Crookston Times and more. Plus, more documents are available to request with interlibrary loan.