White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

Research Your History!

Exciting News! The WBLAHS will be making their resources available online!

The Research collection

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society’s research collection spans nearly 150 years of local history and continues to grow. With the addition of our Resource Library at the Depot Museum in 2001 and the on-going cataloging projects, the collection is more accessible to the public than ever before. Resources available for research include:

Books on Local History
Saint Mary's and Saint Pius Church - Baptism, Marriage and Death Records
Microfilm of Local Newspapers—The Lake Breeze, The Breeze, White Bear Life, The White Bear Press, The Free Press, The Railsplitter and The Town Crier (1887-2005)
Genealogical Index of White Bear Newspapers 1887-1988
Index of White Bear Lake Cemeteries: St. John’s Episcopal, Lakeview, Union and St. Mary’s Catholic
Vertical files on local subjects, businesses, events, buildings and more
Biography and obituary files on local individuals and families
Organizational records including: White Bear Women’s Club, White Bear Lake Fire Department, the Masonic Lodge—Garnet Lodge #166 of White Bear Lake, White Bear Lake Genealogical Society and the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, White Bear Lake Lions Club, White Bear Lake Men's Garden Club
Plat maps and atlases of the area: 1898/1901, 1908
School records (1861)
White Bear Town Board Meeting Minutes 1883-1915
White Bear Village Council Meeting Minutes 1881-1921
White Bear Lake City Council Meeting Minutes 1921-present
Family and Community Scrapbooks-some indexed
More than 3,000 Photographs of the area, including original images and negatives from Snap Fournelle’s local photography studio capturing White Bear Lake and its families in the 1930s. (1860s-present)
Birth and Death Indexes (1916-1932)
Local Maternity Hospital Registers (1921-1932)
1980/81 Ramsey County Historic Sites Survey (local section only) featuring inventory sheets and photographs of buildings deemed historic

Growth of the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society’s collection relies heavily on donations from the community members past and present. Photographs, maps, books, papers, letters, family and business records relating to the people and places of the White Bear Lake Area (including all communities that touch the lake—Birchwood, Dellwood, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, and Willernie) are desired. If you have an item you would consider donating, please contact Sara at 651-407-5327.

Research in person or from a distance.

The WBLAHS Resource Library is located in the Depot Museum at the intersection of 4th Street and Highway 61 in downtown White Bear Lake. We are open throughout the year—hours may vary depending on season. Resource Library appointments are strongly recommended even during regular business hours so the limited staff can plan accordingly and assist researchers to the fullest benefit. To schedule an appointment please contact Sara at 651-407-5327.

Research/Reproduction Fees:

No fee is currently charged for on-site use of the Resource Library
Photocopies or microfilm prints are $0.25 per page
Research requests from off-site researchers will be processed by staff at a rate of $8.00 per half hour or portion thereof with the first full hour ($16.00) payable in advance. This fee includes 5 photocopies/microfilm prints and postage and can be requested via email, mail or telephone.
WBLAHS Photos may be reproduced for personal or commercial use.
4x6 print - $9.95
5x7 print - 12.95
8x10 print - 14.95

Oversized prints available-prices vary
Written permission and use fees are required for publishing and other commercial uses.

For more information call 651-407-5327.

P.O. Box 10543

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Phone: (651) 407-5327

Fax: (651) 407-5328

E-mail: Sara Markoe Hanson at

sara@whitebearhistory.org