Research Library

Archives and Research Center

The Victor Lawson Research Library has a variety of resources available. The resources include:

• Archives and Manuscripts:  approximately 450 linear feet.  Local records, papers, manuscripts, genealogies, ephemera and other unpublished materials, including transcripts of all county cemeteries.  Indexed with cross reference.
• Audio-Visual:  approximately 250 audio and audio-visual tapes and films.  Local oral history.  Indexed with cross reference.
• Books and Periodicals:  approximately 2000 volumes and 30 periodicals.  Primarily local and Minnesota history, with some American history.  Indexed (Dewey Decimal).
• Federal Censuses of Kandiyohi County (microfilm):  1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (veterans and widows of veterans only), 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.  Includes some other counties.
• Kandiyohi County Naturalization Records (microfilm):  1868-1954.  Indexed.
• Kandiyohi County Death Records, (microfilm), 1908-54
• Minnesota State Censuses of Kandiyohi County (microfilm):  1875,1885, 1895 and 1905.  Includes some other counties.
• Newspapers (microfilm):  on-going collection (approximately 1100 reels in 2001) of all county newspapers.  Includes complete set of the Willmar/West Central Tribune, with subject, biography and obituary indexes (1895-contemporary).  Also indexes to early Atwater, New London, Raymond, and Willmar newspapers (1870's-1930's).
• Photographs:  approximately 10,000+ photographs and slides. Local.  Indexed.

Hours: 

• Monday-Friday:  9am-4pm
• Admission to Lawson Research Center is $3.00 and Members Free
• We accept information requests by mail, phone or email.
• Email us at research@kandiyohicountyhistory.com for more information.

Fees:

• $20 per hour for information request, plus postage and copies.
• $10 for Obituary look-up only

Paper copies:
Black & White $0.25
Color $0.50

Photo Paper Copies:
Black & White $1.00
Color $2.00

Scanned & Emailed $4.00

 If you want a larger dpi or have any questions, please contact us at (320) 235-1881 or kandhist@msn.com

Kandiyohi County Historical Society Microfilm Inventory-April 1, 2010
MICROFILM NEWSPAPERS

Atwater Press, Aug. 21 through Dec. 25, 1885; Feb. 5 through Oct. 15, 1886; March 4,1887 through Feb.     16, 1900 – 7 reels
Atwater Republican, May 30, 1895 through May 20, 1897; May 26, 1898 through Feb. 15, 1900 – 5 reels
Atwater Republican Press, Feb. 23, 1900 - Aug. 18, 1939 – 40 reels
Atwater Herald, Aug. 25, 1939 - Aug. 1, 1996 – 41 reels
Atwater Tri City News, Aug. 5, 1996 - Apr. 26, 1999 – 1 reel
Atwater, Western Minnesota Press, Apr. - Dec., 1881; Apr. 15, 1881 through Aug. 14, 1885 (partial) – 4 reels
Golden Galaxy (supplement), Jan. 6, 1975 - Dec. 25, 1978 – 4 reels
Lake Lillian Echo, Jan. 14, 1926 - Oct. 7, 1926 – 1 reel
Lake Lillian Crier, May 6 through Dec. 30, 1949; June 8, 1956 -  Dec. 27, 1989 – 34 reels
Minnesota Western Peach (supplement), Jan. 1, 1976 - Dec. 28, 1978 – 3 reels
New London Review, 1884 – 1885 – 1 reel
New London, Kandiyohi County Expositor, 1885 – 1886 – 1 reel
New London Times, June 5, 1890 through Apr. 19, 1900 (partial); Apr. 23, 1903 - Dec. 28, 1972 – 48 reels
New London-Spicer Times, Jan. 4, 1973 - Dec. 30, 1982 – 7 reels
New London Times, Jan. 6, 1983 - Oct. 9, 1995 – 17 reels
New London Times Free Press, Oct. 18, 1995 - Dec. 30, 1996 – 1 reel
Raymond News, Nov. 23, 1900 – Dec. 27, 2000 (standing order) – 59 reels
Spicer Free Press - Jan. 1, 1992 - Oct. 27, 1992 - Apr. 26, 1999 – 3 reels
Spicer, Green Lake Breeze, 1904 - 1923 (partial), 1930-58 (partial), July 9, 1914 - Dec. 27, 1928 – 22 reels
Spicer, Kandiyohi County Times, May 3, 1999 - Dec. 31, 2001 (standing order) – 2 reels
Willmar, Western Minnesota Press, Jan. 9, 1880 - Dec. 31, 1880 – 2 reels
Willmar, Alliance Standard, Feb. 2 - Dec. 30, 1892 – 1 reel
Willmar Argus, Jan. 1, 1885 through Dec. 30, 1886; March 3, 1887 - Aug. 17, 1899; Jan. 4, 1900 through Apr. 25, 1901 – 16 reels
Willmar Journal, Jul. 16, 1904 – May 25, 1956 – 36 reels
Willmar, Minnesota Forum, 1902 – 1 reel
Willmar Republican, Jan. 28, 1871 - Aug. 26, 1873 – 1 reel
Willmar Republican Gazette, March 24, 1881 through Dec. 25, 1890; Sept. 25, 1890 - May 6, 1943 – 54 reels
Willmar Tribune, Feb. 19, 1895 - May 29, 1946 – 34 reels
Willmar Daily Tribune, 1928 - Oct. 1, 1950 – 85 reels
West Central Daily Tribune, Oct. 2, 1950 - Oct. 31, 1980 – 137 reels
West Central Tribune, Nov. 1, 1980 – June 30, 2009 (standing order) – 308 reels

OTHER MICROFILM

Minnesota State Census (Kandiyohi County), 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905 – 4 reels
Minnesota Dakota Territory Census, 1850 – 1 reel
Federal Census (Kandiyohi County), 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (veterans), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 – 10 reels
Minnesota Historical Society, Holdings of Newspaper Microfilm,  April 1985 – 1 reel
Minnesota Historical Society, Holdings of Newspaper Microfilm, 1996 – 1 reel
Wilohi, Willmar High School, Nov. 16, 1921 - May 16, 1969 – 4 reels
Registers of Mail Contracts, Minnesota, 1854-1858 – 1 reel
Illustrated History of Kandiyohi County, Lawson and Nelson, 1905 – 1 reel
Kandiyohi County Naturalization Records, 1868 – 1954 – 12 reels
Death Certificates 1908-1954 – 47 reels
Kandiyohi County School Census, Districts 1 - 1057, 1909-1970 – 8 reels

TOTAL REELS:  1,116  
KCHS, April, 2001