Local History

The Nobles County Library in Worthington has a variety of resources related to the history of Nobles County, surrounding counties, and Minnesota as a whole. The Adrian Branch Library also has some Nobles County history, but has a focus on the Adrian area.

List of Resources

Printable list of Local Resources

Historical Newspapers on Microfilm

Microfilm can be viewed at the Nobles County Library in Worthington.  Articles can be printed, saved, or sent to your email.  If you cannot come into the Library, you may contact the Library for limited research assistance.  Minnesota newspapers on microfilm may be interlibrary loaned through the Minnesota Historical Society.  See their policies at: http://sites.mnhs.org/library/content/interlibrary-loan. Early Nobles County newspapers (among others) are available online at the Chronicling America website: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.

Microfilm available at the Nobles County Library:

  • Adrian Citizen : July 7, 1892-October 27, 1892
  • Adrian Guardian : September 26, 1890-October 18, 1905
  • Nobles County Democrat (Adrian) : January 18, 1895, June 3, 1899-October 3, 1902
  • Nobles County Review (Adrian) : April 16, 1926
  • Minnesota Signal (Bigelow) : June 19, 1896-August 2, 1901
  • Brewster Tribune : February 26, 1942-December 31, 1980
  • Dundee Advocate Weekly : August 20, 1903-April 7, 1904
  • Ellsworth News : April, 17 1891-October 19, 1944, October 7, 1948-December 4, 1952
  • Ellsworth Herald : June 13, 1946-December 26, 1946
  • Ellsworth Voice : November 1, 1979-June 30, 1987
  • Kinbrae Herald : September 16, 1897-March 1, 1900
  • Lismore Free Press : September 16, 1921-November 5, 1926, March 6, 1942-October 15, 1943
  • Lismore Leader : October 18, 1907
  • Round Lake Graphic : July 3, 1930-June 22, 1944
  • Rushmore Enterprise : October 14, 1915, January 3, 1935-December 31, 1953
  • Wilmont Initiator : September 21, 1900
  • Wilmont Tribune : March 12, 1942-January 24, 1974
  • Western Advance (Worthington) : March 14, 1874-September 5, 1874
  • Advance (Worthington) : September 12, 1874-July 3, 1908
  • Advance-Herald (Worthington) : July 10, 1908-March 25, 1910
  • Herald (Worthington) : April 12, 1895-January 10, 1908
  • Journal (Worthington) : July 3, 1879
  • Nobles County Independent (Worthington) : April 22, 1893
  • Republican (Worthington) : March 9, 1911-January 30, 1913
  • Progressive (Worthington) : February 6, 1913-May 27, 1915
  • Nobles County Times (Worthington) : August 2, 1923-October 8, 1936
  • Nobles County Daily Times (Worthington) : October 11, 1936-December 2, 1936
  • Worthington Daily Times : December 3, 1936-June 8, 1939
  • Minnesota Smoke Eater (Worthington): January 1, 1956-May 31, 1961
  • Worthington News Reminder : November 28, 1940-March 11, 1943
  • Worthington Reminder : April 17, 1947-September 11, 1947
  • Worthington Globe : September 25, 1890-May 25, 1899, March 31, 1910-October 5, 1916, June 21, 1917-October 1, 1939
  • Worthington Daily Globe : October 3, 1939-June 2, 2017
  • Globe of Worthington : June 3, 2017-.

Nobles County Publications

Numerous books, plat books, city directories, cemetery indexes, and early indexes for deaths, births, and marriages are available for research.  A place to start early Nobles County History research is the 1908 book: “An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota” by Arthur P. Rose.  We have copies at both libraries, but an online version is available at: https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00rose/page/n8/mode/2up.

Other Resources

Nobles County Historical Society: http://www.noblescountyhistory.org/

Minnesota Historical Society: http://www.mnhs.org/