In 1927, the Minnesota Adjutant General was given responsibility to maintain a permanent registry of the graves of all persons who served in the military or naval forces of the United States and whose mortal remains were buried in Minnesota. In 1943, this responsibility was transferred to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1947, the funeral director overseeing the burial was required to complete the form and forward it to the state. In 1969, this graves registration program was eliminated from the duties of the Veterans Affairs Department, although some officials continued to submit reports until about 1975. The extant records total approximately 70,000 forms.

The Veterans Graves Registration Index includes only military veterans who are buried in Minnesota. It does not include veterans who enlisted from Minnesota, who resided in Minnesota, or who died in Minnesota if they are buried outside the state. This index also does not include Minnesota veterans who may have been buried in American cemeteries on other continents.

An index to these reports is now available to the citizens of the state of Minnesota and researchers around the world. Additionally, copies of these reports can be ordered through this website. The cost of each report is $8.00.