A visit to the Irish collection offers unique opportunities for your research!

The Hoffman Research Library
at the Minnesota Genealogy Center (MGC)

The MGC in central Minnesota is a collaborative resource managed by the Minnesota Genealogical Society with 10 partner societies, including IGSI. Research collections of other Minnesota-based ethnic Societies comprise the 20,000+ volume library: Canadian, Czechoslovakian, English-Scottish-Welsh, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Ostfriesland, Polish, Pommern, and Swedish.

You will find, in one convenient location, a wide variety of midwest, U.S., and international research resources. What Irish family in America doesn't include some non-Irish ancestral branches?

The location of the Minnesota Genealogy Center is in the southern rim of the Twin Cities Metro area of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, near the Mall of America and the MSP International Airport.

Nearly 3,000 items are included in the IGSI research collection, housed in the Hoffman Research Library.

These include:

• bound references and family histories
• maps of Northern Ireland & the Republic
• microfilms of MN Catholic Church records
• loose vertical files of family history material
• the Irish periodical collection

An IGSI guide to the best searching strategies for the catalog can be found here.

'Irish Saturday' is held on the second Saturday of each month when IGSI volunteers are present to provide informed direction and feedback on your Irish research. They will work with you to review and guide your research. We encourage you to bring your copy of any family tree you wish to discuss.

The Hoffman Research Library is a "research" facility. Materials are for onsite reference use only -- they are not loaned out. However, a copy machine and a microfilm printer are available for your convenience. These copiers will also save to a flash drive, and there is no charge for saving images or scans. There is a per-page charge for printing, monochrome or color. The library is free to members of IGSI and Minnesota Genealogical Society-associated societies; non-members are charged a fee of $10 per day.

Location

Minnesota Genealogy Center
1385 Mendota Heights Rd, Suite 100
Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120
Phone (during open hours): (651) 330-9312

Click here for an interactive map and directions (opens in separate browser window)

Free online resources in the Library

• JohnGrenham.com
• RootsIreland.ie
• Irish Newspaper Archive
• FamilySearch.org Affiliate Library
• Ancestry.com Library Edition
• MyHeritage.com Library Edition
• Findmypast.com Library Edition and British Newspaper Archive (BNA)
• AmericanAncestors.com Library Edition

Access to collections in the library.

You can bring your own laptop or mobile device to connect with online databases using the library's WiFi.

It's good practice to bring a USB thumb drive and cellphone camera during your visit to take photos or save images. There is no charge for this.

Explore Resources in the Irish Collection

• Over 3,000 titles are available to browse, scan to a USB drive or photograph (no cost) or photocopy (small fee). No materials leave the Library premises.
• More than 2,500 bound family histories are shelved alphabetically by surname. This is supplemented by 5 cabinets of vertical files with unbound materials filed by surname. A larger special collection of vertical files focuses on French Canadian families.
• More than 200 full size maps of Ireland, including Ordnance Survey, valuation, topographic, and townland maps, as well as atlases and geographic and place references.
• The microfilm holdings include a unique collection of more than 100 reels of 35mm Minnesota Catholic Church parish registers dating to the 1840s, primarily from Central Minnesota.
• A limited collection of historic periodicals from across the island reflecting local historical and cultural accounts and insights.

All these materials are continuously curated, improved, and expanded by a team of professional librarians and dedicated volunteers. Many of our volunteers are present on Irish Saturdays in the library to assist patrons with their research.

To search for materials in the IGSI collection, check the library catalog (opens in a new window), which is shared with all partners of the Hoffman Research Library. A guide to searching the catalog can be found at this link.

If you cannot visit on Irish Saturday, but would like to have some assistance or guidance by an Irish researcher when you do come to town, contact the Librarian before coming, to set up a time to meet at the library.

Coming to the library from out of town?

If you will be coming to the library from out of town and wish to pre-arrange assistance during your visit, please contact the Librarian to explore options.