Step-by-Step Arkansas Research, 1880-Present
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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.
Using clues to lead to census record searches.
A relative, Martha Childs, claims that her grandparents were John and Eva Huitt of Arkansas.
- The search goal would be to start in the most recent census, the 1950 census of Arkansas for John and Eva Huitt, then move back in time through the 1940, 1930, 1920, etc. censuses.
Martha Childs and her mother are living in her grandparents home in the 1940 census. This helps to verify correct family connection. John F. Huitt was born in about 1878 in Arkansas, his wife Eva in 1880, so they would be found probably in censuses back to 1880.
In the 1910 and 1900 census records, Eva's mother, Hannah Hudson is living with them. This verifies Eva's maiden name.
Identifying an earlier generation.
There is no 1890 census. In the 1880 census, John F. Huitt, born about 1877-78, is in the home of his parents, William D. and Georgia Huitt. His mother, Cynthia lives with him.
To complete the record, continue to look for the family of William and Georgia in later, 1900 and 1910, censuses. Then proceed back in time to find them in earlier censuses. It appears that William D. Huitt was born September 1841. He should be found in the 1870, 1860, and 1850 censuses.
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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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Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
- In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
- A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
- A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.
Example of a birth certificate.
Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
- establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
- find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
Example of an indexed marriage record.
Using census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
- birth date and place of the deceased
- maiden name of the wife
- names of the deceased's parents
- birth places of the deceased's parents.
Example of an indexed death record.
Some of 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 birth, marriage, and death records as possible.
How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
- Online databases
- Writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
- Purchasing them through the mail at at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
Online databases, usually indexes, with some images
Records at the County Courthouse.
These 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: Arkansas Counties.
Order Certificates from Arkansas Vital Records Department.
Almost always 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 Arkansas Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Arkansas, see How to Find Arkansas Birth Records, How to Find Arkansas Marriage Records, and How to Find Arkansas Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
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Obituary Collections
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Arkansas Newspapers and Obituaries at LDS Genealogy — index
- Arkansas Obituaries at ObitsArchive.com — index
- Arkansas Obituaries Help and Genealogy Resources at ObituariesHelp.org — index
- Online Arkansas Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
Cemetery Record Collections
- 1867-2013 Arkansas, Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery Records, 1867-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Arkansas Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Arkansas Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project at ArkansasGravestones.org
- Arkansas Tombstone Transcription Project at at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Online Arkansas Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 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
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see Arkansas Obituaries and Arkansas Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
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.
- 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 Arkansas 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 Historical Records
- 1812-1965 Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1812-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1860-1976 Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch; Emphasis on Columbia and Woodruff Counties — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1882-1929, 1945-1963 Arkansas Deaths and Burials, 1882-1929; 1945-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Presbyterian
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For help with church records kept in Arkansas, see Arkansas Church Records.
To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 7: Search for online 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.
- 1817-1979 Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1818-1998 Arkansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1818-1998 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Arkansas county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Arkansas Counties
For more information, see Arkansas Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Arkansas Immigration Records
- 1500-Onward All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry, includes those with Destination of Arkansas — index & images ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage, includes those with Destination of Arkansas — index & images ($)
Cultural Groups
- 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index; includes those with Destination of Arkansas ($)
- Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
- Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
- Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
Arkansas Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1872-1987 Arkansas, Sebastian, Fort Smith, Naturalization Record, 1872-1987(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1903-1981 Arkansas, Pulaski County, Little Rock, Naturalization Record, 1903-1981(*) United States, National Archives and Records Administration, Southwest Region at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1907-1968 Arkansas, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1907-1968 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For more information, see Arkansas Emigration and Immigration and Arkansas Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Arkansas; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Arkansas" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories:*Internet Archive.Use keywords "Arkansas" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Arkansas and the name of the county.
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
- 1819-1950 Arkansas Biographical Card File Index, 1819-1950(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Arkansas Biographical History at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Arkansas Biographies by County at My Genealogy Hound — index
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas, Comprising a Condensed History of the State, a Number of Biographies of Distinguished Citizens of the Same, a Brief Descriptive History of Each of the Counties. Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890. Online at: Internet Archive; HathiTrust
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, Comprising a Condensed History of the State, Biographies of Distinguished Citizens... a Brief Descriptive History... of the Counties... Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. Online at: Internet Archive; HathiTrust; Ancestry — index ($)
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas, Comprising a Condensed History of the State... Biographies of Distinguished Citizens... Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. Online at: Internet Archive
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, Comprising a Condensed History of the State, a Number of Biographies of Distinguished Citizens of the Same, a Brief Descriptive History of Each of the Counties Mentioned, and Numerous Biographical Sketches of the Citizens of Such Counties. Chicago and Nashville: Southern Publishing Company, 1891. Online at: Internet Archive; HathiTrust
- Biographical and Pictorial History of Arkansas at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Central Arkansas Counties Biographical and Historical Memoirs at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. Online at: Google Books
- Shinn, Josiah H. Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas. Washington, D. C.: Genealogical and Historical Publishing Company, 1908. Online at: HathiTrust
- Southern Arkansas Biographical and Historical Memoirs at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Western Arkansas, Biographies and Historical Memoirs at Ancestry — index ($)
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
- County historical 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 from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.
- If you can find the society on the internet, 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, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.
- For more information, see Arkansas 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.Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.
Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
- Arkansas, United States Historical Images, New Version
- Arkansas, United States Historical Images, Old Version
Arkansas Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Arkansas.
This article focused more on Arkansas state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Arkansas. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.