Immigration History Research Center Archives

The Immigration History Research Center Archives (IHRCA, or IHRC Archives) is an archives and library for the study of immigration, ethnicity, and race. We select sources documenting a broad range of immigrant and refugee experiences, and strive to connect archives to today’s experiences.

Welcome

We are part of the Migration and Social Services Collections in Archives & Special Collections (ASC) in the University of Minnesota Libraries. We also work closely with our colleagues in the Immigration History Research Center in the College of Liberal Arts.

Our collections' strengths are first and second generation immigrants and displaced persons who came to the USA from central, eastern, and southern Europe; the eastern Mediterranean (formerly called the “Near East” region of the Middle East and North Africa); and late-20th and early-21st century immigrants and refugees. Our collections vary from print to manuscript to born digital. They include personal papers as well as organizational records of ethnic and immigrant-formed groups, and of social service providers.

We are open to the public and we welcome you to contact us. Let us know how we can help you through our distance and virtual services.

Connecting the past to today’s experiences, we also engage with academic and community-based projects, including community archiving, digital projects, exhibits, lectures and symposia.

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Search collections

Collection guides
Use collection guides (or finding aids) that describe a collection of archival records, personal papers, or manuscripts to locate material for your research. The guide may be a brief summary or a detailed description and inventory.
Digital collections
Search our digital collections of images, maps, films and videos, audio tapes, rare volumes and publications, and select items from the Immigration History Research Center Archives.
Libraries catalog
Explore the University of Minnesota Libraries catalog for information about rare and special books held by the Immigration History Research Center Archives. Our collection is particularly strong in immigration history; print produced by immigrant communities including anniversary publications, ephemera and pamphlets, fiction; and more. We continue to develop our library of unique and rare titles, building upon fifty years of expert collecting.
Serials
Our newspapers and serials are largely those published by immigrants after arriving in North America, and date mostly from the 20th century. All periodicals that have been cataloged can be searched in the Libraries catalog. Additionally, for items not yet found in the catalog, this serials spreadsheet can also be used for locating more information. The spreadsheet includes many different sheets to explore. Please contact us to confirm all data.

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Explore the Immigration History Research Center Archives

Digital exhibits

View curated digital collections utilizing materials from IHRCA

Digitizing Immigrant Letters

This project connects on-line letters from the IHRCA and other collections written between 1850-1970, both by immigrants (the so-called “America letters”) and to immigrants (“homeland letters”). It encourages scholars, teachers, students and the public to interpret letters that express emotion and intimacy among loved ones separated by migration.

Primary Sourcery blog

Primary Sourcery is the blog for the Archives and Special Collections at University of Minnesota Libraries. Read IHRCA's contributions.

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Visit

Hours
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Note: Appointments are required to visit the reading room within these hours.
More Andersen Library hours

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Give to the collection

We welcome your financial support! Your gift to our fund will help us continue our work of leadership and outreach in the area of archival work regarding im/migration and refugee archives, and to preserve, process, and digitize the material we provide access to.

Give to the collection

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