Manitoba Genealogical Society

Research Services

What am I looking for?

We may or may not have the resources that you need to resolve your research questions in your family history. As a provincially based Resource Centre & Library the largest strength in our holdings will be aimed at Manitoba resources. However, we offer much more than that. Your first course of action is to exhaust all possible family or home sources which will include your oral history interviews before seeking out other resources - please visit the Getting Started section on this website for a great introduction to Starting Your Family's Story. Next - check our Library & Resources section for holdings.

As with any research trip, even if you live in the same city, bring some organized information with you so that our volunteers can assist you. If you would like to request for some research to be done for you the next step is...

Research requests

The Manitoba Genealogical Society Inc. will undertake genealogical researches within the Society's Manitoba sources on a fee for service basis.

Basic Research Service

The MGS will do a one name search for a fee of $50 in the following MGS resource centre sources applicable to an inquiry:

1. CEMETERY INDEX - transcriptions on tombstones of over 1274 cemeteries throughout Manitoba. (A list of cemeteries is available on our website.)

2. MANITOBA CROWN LANDS REGISTRY - index listing land description for major land grants and homesteads. (Copy of index enclosed with research.)

3. EARLY NEWSPAPER OBITUARY INDEX - births, marriages and deaths found in selected rural Manitoba newspapers 1859 - 1887 and in Winnipeg newspapers from 1859 to mid 1890s.

4. MANITOBA LOCAL HISTORY BOOKS - approximately 450 books that contain family histories. The relevant locality must be listed on your research request.

5. CENSUS RECORDS

• 1870 RED RIVER CENSUS - contains information about all household members including names, ages, father's name, place of birth, religion, citizenship. (Manitoba Locality must be given.)
• 1881 MANITOBA CENSUS - lists names of household members, ages, place of birth, occupations. (Manitoba Locality must be given.)
• 1891 MANITOBA CENSUS - lists names of household members, ages, place of birth, religion, occupation, parents' birthplaces. (Locality or Address must be given.)
• 1901 MANITOBA CENSUS - lists names of household members, full birthdates, year of immigration, religion, occupation. (Locality or Address must be given.)
• 1906 MANITOBA CENSUS - lists names of household members, full birthdates, year of immigration, religion, occupation. (Locality or Address must be given.)
• 1911 MANITOBA CENSUS - lists names of household members, full birthdates, place of birth, year of immigration, year naturalization, race, nationality, religion, and occupation.

6. HENDERSON DIRECTORIES - Manitoba addresses and residents from 1876 to 1908 and Winnipeg addresses and residents only from 1908 to end of publication in 1999. (Fee includes a 5 year search span.)

7. MANITOBA TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES - Various Manitoba telephone directories for both Winnipeg City and rural areas from approximately 1950 onwards. (Gaps in coverage exist)

The basic search will provide a minimum of five hours of a volunteer researcher's time and will include photocopying and postage to a $5.00 maximum.

Specific Research Service

The enhanced specific search will provide a one name search in any of the above sources or those listed below for a fee of $10 for each source.

8. ANGLICAN MARRIAGE & BAPTISM REGISTERS - over 60 church indexes from the Diocese of Rupert's Land. The registers list parents' names, date and place of marriage or baptism. Years range from 1813 to 1925.

9. CATHOLIC MARRIAGE REGISTERS - 30 Manitoba registers that list parents' names, date and place of marriage. Years range from 1834 to 1982.

10. UNITED CHURCH ARCHIVES - marriage, baptism and burial indexes for a large number of Manitoba and N.W. Ontario charges.

In addition to the sources in our library, we have access to many internet web sites (some free and some via paid subscription) that may be applicable to your research request. We will advise you of any possible further research and costs that would be of use to you when we respond to your query.

Requesting our Services

Payment must be in advance. (Please note that the time spent by our volunteers when no useful information is found is just as valuable as the time spent where we do find useful information.) No refunds will be made. The MGS only accepts personal cheques, money orders or bank drafts. Please do not send cash through the mail.

To proceed, download this form, or in PDF format, complete it, and forward it with the applicable fee to MGS Research Services, Unit E - 1045 St. James Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 1B1. Please ensure a suitable return postal address is provided to receive any information resulting from your request. The MGS is unable to accept credit cards at this time. Response by fax is also not possible due to the costs involved.

Professional Assistance

For those who desire professional assistance in accessing Manitoba records, the MGS maintains a roster of active searchers who are willing to undertake research on a fee-for-service basis. Contact must be made with these individuals directly as this is not an MGS service.