Step-by-Step Idaho 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.
Using clues to lead to census record searches.
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This newspaper obituary states that Lawrence Lemmon was born in 1914 in Idaho to Richard and Mary Lemmon. He married Lillie Loretta Wheeler in 1937.
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Finding an earlier generation.
In 1920, R. Lawrence Lemon is listed in the home of his parents, Richard and Mary Lemon.
By the 1930 census, his mother has passed away and his father has remarried to Violet Lords.
Finding yet an earlier generation.
In 1910 and 1900, Richard S. Lemon lives with his mother, Sarah C. Lemon.
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 Idaho Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
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.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.
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.
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.
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 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: Idaho Counties.
Order Certificates from Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho, see How to Find Idaho Birth Records, How to Find Idaho Marriage Records, and How to Find Idaho Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.
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Obituary Collections
- 1864-2007 Idaho, Southeast Counties Obituaries, 1864-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Pre-1929 Idaho USGenWeb Obituary Project at USGenWeb Archives — index
- 1943-2013 Idaho, Southern Counties Obituaries, 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Native American Obituaries : A Project of the Farmington, NM Family History Center. by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Farmington, New Mexico Family History Center . Farmington, New Mexico : Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Farmington, New Mexico Family History Center, 2001 Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
Cemetery Record Collections
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Idaho Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- Idaho Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Idaho Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy — index
- Idaho Death Records and Idaho Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Online Idaho Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
- Utah and Idaho cemetery records at Ancestry — index & images ($)
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 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 Idaho Obituaries and Idaho 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 Idaho 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.
- 1856-1965 Idaho Births and Christenings, 1856-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1878-1942 Idaho Marriages, 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1907-1965 Idaho Deaths and Burials, 1907-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
For help with church records kept in Idaho, see Idaho 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.
- 1857-1989 Idaho, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1857-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Idaho county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Idaho Counties
For more information, see Idaho Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Idaho Immigration Records
- 1500-Onward All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry — index & images; includes those with destination of Idaho ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index & images; includes those with destination of Idaho ($)
- 1895-1960 U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1904-1944 U.S., Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Atlantic and Pacific Seaports, 1904-1944 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1924-1956 Idaho, Eastport, Arrival Manifests, 1924-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Cultural Groups
- 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of Idaho
- Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($) ; includes those with destination of Idaho
- Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of Idaho
- Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of Idaho
Passport Records Online
- 1795-1925 United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
Idaho Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1861-1974 Idaho, County Naturalizations, 1861-1974 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1892-1990 Idaho Naturalization Records, 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1903-1982 Idaho, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1903-1982 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1944-2003 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files, 1944-2003 at Ancestry — index ($)
- Idaho State Archives Naturalization Index at Google Docs
For more information, see Idaho Emigration and Immigration and Idaho Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Idaho; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Idaho" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "Idaho" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Idaho 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
- 1846-1869 Trails of Hope: Overland Diaries and Letters, 1846-1869 at BYU Library — index
- 1883-1893 Register of the Histories of Pioneers who Settled in the Upper Snake River Valley, 1883-1893 at BYU Library — index
- A Guide to Overland Pioneer Names and Documents at Paper Trail — index & images ($)
- An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1899. Online at: HathiTrust
- Biographies of the State of Idaho at AccessGenealogy — index
- Brief Histories of Founders of the Snake River Valley at BYU Library — index & images
- County and Town Histories at LearnWebSkills — index
- History of Idaho : The Gem of the Mountains, by James H. Hawley. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1920. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 3 - HathiTrust; Vol. 4 - HathiTrust
- Idaho Biographical Index (IBI) at Idaho State Archives — index
- Idaho County Biographies at Idaho Genealogy — index ($)
- Oral History Interview collection at BYU-Idaho Special Collections and Family History — index
- Pioneer Histories at BYU-Idaho Special Collections and Family History — index
For more information, see Idaho Biography.
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 Idaho 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.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.
Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
- Idaho, United States Historical Images, New Version
- Idaho, United States Historical Images, Old Version
Idaho Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho.
This article focused more on Idaho state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Idaho. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.