Local History

At the Library

These materials are at the Main Downtown Library and may be used in the building during regular library hours. Please visit or call the library at (218)730-4226 for more information.

Duluth Collection - Wide range of Duluth-related subjects are covered, including general history, architecture, schools, churches, business and industry, civic concerns, recreation, laws, politics, and climate. Includes materials by or about Duluthians. 

 

Clippings Files Index - Newspaper articles going back to the late 1800s relating to local history. Arranged by subject. To search, press the Ctrl button and the letter F, then search by subject or scroll through the list.

 

Biography File Index - List of names of people included in the Duluth Public Library's biography files. These files range in size from one article to a folder of articles and images. To search, press the Ctrl button and the letter F, then search by name or scroll through the list.

Business and Industry File Index - List of businesses and industries with clippings. To search, press the Ctrl button and the letter F, then search by business name or scroll through the list.

Duluth War Casualties Index - Index to articles published in Duluth newspapers on some military personnel from the Duluth area who were killed or captured during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Minnesota Collection - Covers Minnesota-related subjects, with special emphasis given to St. Louis County, Northeastern Minnesota, and Lake Superior. Includes materials by many Minnesota creators.

Slides - Hundreds of images, many of early Duluth. 

 

_{Children's Book Week display at the Duluth Public Library on 101 West Second Street}

Online

Minnesota Digital Library

Digital content recording the early history of Minnesota, contributed by organizations around the state, including photographs, postcards, maps, documents, letters, and oral histories.

Vintage Duluth 

Local history blog is written by volunteers and reference librarians at Duluth Public Library.

Zenith City Online 

Features and columns covering topics such as Duluth's development, architecture, culture, parks, landmarks, and biographies.

Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub

A collection of historical Minnesota newspapers including the Duluth Minnesotian (1869-1875), Duluth Evening Herald (1887-1910), the Duluth Herald (1910-1922), Labor Leader (1917), Labor World (1896-1922), Narodni Vestnik (Slovenian language, 1911-1917), Truth (Socialist Party publication, 1917-1922), and The World (African American newspaper, 1896-1897).

Newspaper Index 

Online subject indexes to articles of regional interest. Paper index for 1978-1995 is available at the Main Library. Developed and maintained by the Duluth Public Library Staff.

• 1893-1929
• 1986-1995

Inclusive Local History

A research guide for finding archival materials in our area libraries that document the history of indigenous people, people of color, women, and LGBTQIA2S+ people.

Regional Magazine Index

A guide to articles through 2008 of regional interest that appeared in area publications.

Library of Congress

Old photos, maps, and documents from Duluth, Minnesota, 

_{Rasmusen Model Pharmacy and T.A. Pinto Jeweler on Michigan Street and Garfield Ave around 1890.}

UMD Archives and Special Collections

St. Louis County Historical Society

Veterans' Memorial Hall