Yankee Research Quick Guide
Resources at the William J. Hoffman Library and Research Center (LRC)
at the Minnesota Genealogy Center (MGC)
Are you new to New England research, or would you like a refresher? The books and websites listed below focus on New England as a whole, and are a great place to jump-start your research. For more detail on individual states, check our exclusive Pathfinder resource listed below, and the library catalog.
Call Numbers: the Library is in the process of converting to the Dewey Decimal system. As cataloging continues, the call numbers below are subject to change. If you cannot find an item, check the online catalog or ask the library volunteer for help.
For a good overview, we recommend that you start with this book in the New England section of the stacks:
US NEng 040 Hat
by Patricia Law Hatcher, published 2006 by Ancestry
Researching Your Colonial New England Ancestors
Subscription Websites
Library computer workstations provide free access to the following websites. You may also use these sites on your laptop or mobile device (free wi-fi available), at no charge, while at the Library. Note that the links below may not be active for you unless you are in the Library.
- ancestrylibrary.com - Ancestry Library Edition, free access on site at the LRC and many public libraries
Original New England town vital records, New York Reformed Dutch Church records, Canadian vital records
- americanancestors.org - New England Historic Genealogical Society
Published New England town records to 1850, early newspapers, NEHG Register, Mayflower Descendant, Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700
- findmypast.com
New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, British and Irish records, PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)
- familysearch.org - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Original New England town vital and church records, land, probate, court records. The MGC is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, allowing you to view many “locked” databases.
- fold3library.com - Fold3 Library Edition
Revolutionary and War of 1812 pensions, military service records from all wars.
New England and Military Research
| "old" LRC call number |
new LRC Dewey number |
Title |
| Reference section |
| |
REF 929.1072 |
The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy (ed.3, 2000) |
| US General shelves |
| US Gen 119.1 Sav |
|
Female Index to Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (2008) |
| US Gen 235 And |
|
The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 (3 volumes, 1995) |
| US Gen 235.1 |
|
The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 (7 volumes, 1999) |
| US Dewey shelves |
| |
US 929.10974 |
Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (4 volumes, 1884) |
| |
US 929.20973 NSMD |
Mayflower Families through 5 Generations (the “silver books,” 21 volumes) |
| |
US 929.374 |
The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England 1620-1640 (2015) |
| US Military History shelves |
| US MH 210 Whi |
|
Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files (4 volumes, 1990) |
| US MH 219 Hat |
|
Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots (4 volumes, 1987) |
| US MH 221 Whi |
|
Index to Revolutionary War Service Records (4 volumes, 1995) |
| New England shelves |
| US NE Yan 004 |
|
Yankee Research Aids; Pathfinder (3-ring binder) |
| US NEng 008 Lec |
|
Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research, 5th ed. (ed.5, 2012) |
| US NEng 023 Lai |
|
Digging for Genealogical Treasure in New England Town Records (1996) |
| US NEng 038 Rap |
|
New England Court Records (2006) |
| Massachusetts shelves |
| US MA 205 And |
|
The Pilgrim Migration: Immigrants to Plymouth Colony 1620-1633 (2004) |
