Step-by-Step Arizona Research, 1850-1910
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Step 1: Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
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Step 2: Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
- A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
- For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
- Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
- Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.
Example of a census record.
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
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For more information, see Arizona Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Try to find additional details in death certificates, Social Security, obituary and cemetery records online.
When a person dies, several records will be created: death certificates, Social Security records, obituaries, and cemetery records.
- Death certificates can give birth information for people born before actual birth registration began. Death certificates frequently give the birth date and place, parents' names, and birth places of parents.
- The Social Security Death Index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits. The index entries give the person's full birth date, last known residence, and residence at the time they first enrolled.
- The Social Security Applications and Claims Index provides information filed in the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names.
- Cemetery records can be as simple as the information on the headstone or, in some FindAGrave records, they can report more thorough information about birth, parents, spouses, children, and siblings.
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Example of a death index entry.
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Example of a full original death certificate.
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Example of a FindAGrave cemetery record.
Death Indexes
- 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
- 1870-1951 Arizona Deaths, 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1910-1911, 1933-1994 Arizona, Deaths and Burials, 1910-1911, 1933-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
Ordering Certificates from the Arizona Vital Records Department.
The full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).
- Where to Write for Arizona Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
U.S. Social Security Death Index
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry, Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process — index ($)
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Obituaries and Cemeteries
Obituaries
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1993-1994 Arizona Obituary Index to Arizona Newspapers, 1993-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Arizona Genealogy Queries at GenealogyBuff Arizona
- Arizona Obituary Archive at Obits ArizonaGraveStones
- Native American Obituaries : A Project of the Farmington, NM Family History Center. Farmington, New Mexico: Family History Center (Farmington, New Mexico), n.d. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Online Arizona Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com
Cemeteries
- 1910-1994 Arizona Deaths and Burials, 1910-1911; 1933-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index
- Arizona Cemeteries, Tombstone Transcription Project at at USGenWeb Tombstones
- Arizona Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
- Arizona Cemetery Records at Interment
- Arizona Gravestones Photo Project at Arizona Gravestones
- BillionGraves - index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave - index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Historic Arizona Pioneer Cemetery at American Pioneer and Cemetery Research Project
- Online Arizona Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes
- Pioneer Cemeteries at Arizona Pioneers' Cemeteries Association; PDF lists
For more information, see Arizona Vital Records, Arizona Cemeteries, and Arizona Obituaries.
Study any new information in these records for clues leading to more census searches.
Step 4: Search for county birth and marriage records online.
Vital records registration of births and marriages at the state level did not start until 1905. However, prior to that the individual counties kept the records. The starting dates of those records vary from county to county, depending on when the county was formed.
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Example of county birth indexes. |
Example of an indexed county marriage entry. |
The examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate.
Gather as many early birth and marriage records as possible.
Online Records
- 1800-1948 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1948 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
- 1855-1930 Arizona, Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1948 Arizona, U.S., County Birth Records, 1881-1948 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage ($) — index & images
- 1700-Onward United States Marriages at Findmypast ($); Arizona 1833-1949 — index
- 1809-2016 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2016 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1864-1982 Arizona, U.S., Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1865-1949 Arizona Marriages, 1865-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1871-1964 Arizona, County Marriages, 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1888-1908 Arizona, U.S., Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry ($) — index
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: FamilySearch
Records at the County Courthouse.
Vital records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Arizona Counties.
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Arizona, see How to Find Arizona Birth Records, How to Find Arizona Marriage Records, and How to Find Arizona Death Records and Arizona Vital Records.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards online.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Example of a World War I draft card.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives. Even though these are 1917 and 1942 records, the men in them were born in the 1880-90's.
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see Arizona Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.
FamilySearch
- 1865-1949 Arizona Marriages, 1865-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1909-1917 Arizona Births and Christenings, 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1910-1994 Arizona Deaths and Burials, 1910-1911; 1933-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Ancestry.com
Episcopal
- 1889-1971 Episcopal Diocese of Arizona Church Records : Jurisdiction of New Mexico and Arizona, 1889-1971(*) Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, J. W. Atwood, Walter Mitchell and Arthur Barksdale Kinxolving at FamilySearch Catalog - images
Lutheran
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Presbyterian
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For help with church records kept in Arizona, see Arizona Church Records.
To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 7: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Arizona Immigration Records
- 1895-1964 U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1903-1910 Texas and Arizona Arrivals, 1903-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1906-1955 Arizona, Arrival Manifests, 1906-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Arizona Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1840-1957 U.S., Naturalization Records, 1840-1957 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1869-1993 Arizona, U.S., State Court Naturalization Records, 1869-1993 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1909-1991 Arizona, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1909-1991 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For more information, see Arizona Emigration and Immigration and Arizona Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 8: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Arizona; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Arizona" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books at FamilySearch
- Ancestry ($); In the Card Catalog search box, use Arizona and the name of the county.
- County and Town Histories at LearnWebSkills.com
- Internet Archive; Use keywords "Arizona" and the county name.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
- Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
- In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
- A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.
Biography Collections
- A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona at Ancestry — index & images ($) Also at: Findmypast ($)
- Arizona Memory Project at Arizona Library — index
- Connors, Jo. Who's Who in Arizona. Tucson, Arizona: Jo Connors, 1913. Online at: HathiTrust
- Portrait and Biographical Record of Arizona. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co., 1901. Online at: HathiTrust
For more information, see Arizona Biography and Arizona History.
Step 9: Search for wills and probate packets.
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.
- 1803-1995 Arizona, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1803-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
From 1850 to 1864, probate records of Arizona were kept by the probate courts of New Mexico. From 1864 to 1912, the records were handled by county probate courts. 1912 to present, records such as wills, claims, administrations, case files, and calendars are kept in the custody of the clerk of the superior court in the county courthouse.
Each Arizona county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including the address of the county courthouse: Arizona Counties
For more information, see Arizona Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 10: Search land records online.
These records will give the
- names of the buyer (grantee) and seller (grantor),
- previous or new residence of the parties to the deed
- the date they obtained the land,
- the description of exact location of the land, sometimes mentioning neighbors.
They can contain clues to
- family members who shared ownership of the land,
- sold or gave land to a child, or
- officially witnessed the sale.
Online Records
- 1800-1955 United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Arizona Federal Land Patents at BLM.gov
- Public Document Search Site at The County Recorder; Online searchable land records for Arizona
Example of land record index
For more information, see Arizona Land and Property.
Step 11: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
- County or local historical or genealogical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
- Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
- Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county.
- Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area. Posts there from relatives might lead to additional family information.
- Find the society on the internet, where they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collections.
- For more information, see Arizona Societies.
The online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the list to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings.
Example of a local genealogical society home page.
Step 12: Use other FamilySearch tools.
Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
- Arizona, United States Historical Images, New Version
- Arizona, United States Historical Images, Old Version
Arizona Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Arizona Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Arizona Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 13: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Arizona.
This article focused more on Arizona state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Arizona. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.