A minimum of ½ hour is charged. Please indicate the maximum amount of time we should spend on your research request. By placing this order, you authorize us to increase your order total for the amount of time we spend, up to the maximum amount you authorized.  

The collection includes . . .

St. Paul Building Permits 1883-1975
To obtain a photocopy of a St. Paul  Building Permit or Building Permit Index Card call 651-222-0701 or email research@rchs.com. Copies will be mailed to you within two weeks of your request. There is a preservation fee of $12.00 for each permit copy you request and a $1.50 for each index card copy you request.

Books
More than 1,300 volumes document the history of Ramsey County, the City of St. Paul and the State of Minnesota. The book holdings, which include many rare titles, reflect the rich history found throughout the communities of Ramsey County and Minnesota.

Periodicals
Complementing the book collection is the library's core collection of serials, including several periodicals devoted to history. A variety of topics are featured in the Society’s publication Ramsey County History. Historical resources include the Minnesota Historical Society’s Minnesota History and other county periodicals. See Magazine Index

City Directories
An incomplete set of R. L. Polk’s St. Paul City Directories, 1885-1998, lists businesses and individuals residing in the City of St. Paul. Other information includes business and home addresses, occupations and date of death of individuals. The City Directories provide an abundance of information for genealogists.

Maps and Atlases
Dating from the 1860s to the present, the research library’s collection of published maps, plats and atlases depict Ramsey County, the Upper Mississippi River region, the American Northwest and Minnesota. A set of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps for the City of St. Paul, 1927/1955, drawn on a large scale, detail the location of buildings, their layout, and types of materials used for construction in county communities. No photocopies or digital scans of plat maps are allowed.

Ramsey County Historic Site Survey
Completed in the early 1980s, the Ramsey County Historic Site Survey documents 5,000 existing historic structures located in the county. Each survey form describes a structure through an architectural profile, a brief history of the building and its potential for historic designation on the local and national level. A black and white photograph of the structure accompanies most survey forms. 

Directory of Architects
As a result of the Historic Site Survey, a directory listing architects who designed structures in Ramsey County was created. Information in the index includes biographical data and names and addresses of structures found in Ramsey County and Minnesota.

Photographs
The photograph collection contains images dating back to 1857. They are a uniquely valuable resource of Ramsey County and Minnesota history. This collection includes a set of aerial images taken by Mark Hurd between 1937 and 1962, which traces changes in communities through construction of transportation routes and housing developments.  When you visit our library you will find a photocopy of each photo in our collection in binders organized by lose topics.Photo topic index. We keep the original photos in a temperature controlled vault for their safety and preservation. We do make copies of photos in our collection the fees are as follows:
ARCHIVE PHOTO REPRINTS
4" x 5" Print . . . $ 8.00 each
5" x 7" Print . . . $ 9.00 each
8" x 10" Print . . . $ 11.00 each
11" x 14" Print . . . $ 20.00 each
16" x 20" Print . . . $ 28.00 each
150 dpi scan to be emailed....$5.00

Papers and Records of Minnesotans
The collection of letters and diaries from a variety of residents include political figures, farmers, prominent citizens and others. The most complete set of family papers was donated by the Gibbs Family, dating from 1830s. See Summary of RCHS Manuscript Collection.

Business, Association & Church Records
Numerous county businesses and organizations have placed their records in the Ramsey County Historical Society. They include the American Hoist and Derrick Company, Yoerg’s Brewery, the Monday Literary Club, the Minnesota Club and the House of Hope Presbyterian Church. Typical records include board minutes, publications, annual reports, catalogues, ledgers, and photographs. See Summary of RCHS Manuscript Collection.

Subject Files
Numerous Ramsey County clubs, churches, schools, fraternal and welfare organizations have donated a variety of pamphlets and histories that compromise a detailed history of community life.

Facilities and Access
The Ramsey County Historical Society Research Library and Archive is open by appointment only at the address below. Parking can be found on metered streets surrounding the Landmark Center or in parking ramps nearby. How do I find Landmark Center?