Step-by-Step New Mexico 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.
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By analyzing this obituary, clues can be found as to where and when to search in census records for the family records of Emelina Medina Ortega.
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Placido and Emelina Ortega living in the home of his parents in 1940
Emelina's parents, Jose Demetrio Medina and Benerica in 1940.
The Medina Family from 1930 back to 1880
Jose Demetrio Medina living next door to his brother Gustave and his widowed mother, Manuelita Medina.
Here in 1910, Jose Demetrio Medina is living next door to his parents Seledon and Manuela Medina.
The family was too hard to find in the 1900 census, and the 1890 census no longer exists, but here are Seledon and Manuelita Medina in the 1885 New Mexico Terrirorial census with their baby Demetrio, and in the 1880 census as a young couple.
In 1870, Seledon (Celedon) is living with his siblings. Apparently the parents are deceased at this point.
In 1860 and 1850, Seledon Medina lives with his parents Augustin and Soledad Medina.
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New Mexico Territory Census
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 New Mexico Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
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 birth 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.
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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 the 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. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.
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: New Mexico Counties.
Order Certificates from New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico, see How to Find New Mexico Birth Records, How to Find New Mexico Marriage Records, and How to Find New Mexico 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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OBITUARIES Isabel Medina, age 93, a resident of Peñasco passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2009 following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Juan Andres Medina; sons, Gilbert, Benito and Orlando Medina; sons-in-law, James Belshaw, and James McDowell. Isabel enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and making rosaries. She also enjoyed cooking. She is survived by her children, Jose D. Medina and wife Melba of Albuquerque, Andy Medina and wife Sarah of Longmont, CO., Johnny Medina and wife Doris of Vadito, Seraphine Montoya and husband Elefio of Chimayo, Mary Irene McDowell of New Orleans, LA., Eva Belshaw of Albuquerque, Michael Medina and wife Adrianna of Arroyo Seco (Taos), and Robert (Bobby) Medina and wife Sharon of Chimayó; sisters, Annie Romero, and Prescilla Martinez, both of Vadito, and Elsie Sánchez of Velarde; daughter-in-law, Carmen Medina of Taos; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends. Public visitation & rosary took place on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory; rosaries were also recited on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at St. Anthony's CatholicChurchin Peñasco. Massof Christian Burial willbecelebrated on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the St. Anthony's Cemetery. Assisting the family as pallbearers are, Eddie Medina, Elizabeth Medina Latino, Peggy Mares, David Medina, Robert Medina Jr., David Gonzales, Kevin Belshaw, and Tony Medina. The family in Isabel Medina has placed their trust in DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.comSee pdf's for exact rendition, caption, graphics and photographer info. Copyright 2009, The Taos News, All Rights Reserved.
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Obituaries
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- New Mexico Obituaries at ObitsArchive.com — index & images ($)
- Native American Obituaries : A Project of the Farmington, NM Family History Center, by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Farmington, New Mexico Family History Center. n.p.: n.p., n.d. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Online New Mexico Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
Cemeteries
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- Cemeteries of Some New Mexico Counties at Cemetery Census — index & images
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- New Mexico Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- New Mexico Death Records and New Mexico Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Online New Mexico Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — 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 New Mexico Obituaries and New Mexico Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War 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 New Mexico 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 Indexes
- 1726-1918 New Mexico, Births and Christenings, 1726-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1751-1918 New Mexico, Marriages, 1751-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1788-1955 New Mexico Deaths and Burials, 1788-1798; 1838-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Ancestry.com Indexes
- 1727-1900 New Mexico, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1727-1900 at Ancestry — index ($)
Catholic
- 1678-1869 New Mexico Roots Ltd. Diligencias Matrimoniales (1678-1869) at Digital Repository, University of New Mexico — index & images; Also at: FamilySearch Digital Library — index
- 1694-1875 Navajos in the Catholic Church Records of New Mexico, 1694-1875, by Brugge, David M. Window Rock, Arizone: The Navajo Tribe, 1968. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- 1701-1956 New Mexico, Catholic Church Records, 1701-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Dutch Reformed
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
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 Kinsolving at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Lutheran
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Methodist
- 1870-1970 New Mexico and Texas, U.S., Select United Methodist Church Records, 1870-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Presbyterian
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For help with church records kept in New Mexico, see New Mexico Church Records.
To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to [[United States Church Records#Searching for Church Records by Denomination|Searching for Church Records by Denomination.]
Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.
- 1801-1993 New Mexico, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1993 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each New Mexico county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: New Mexico Counties
For more information, see New Mexico 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.
New Mexico 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 New Mexico ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index & images; includes those with destination of New Mexico ($)
- 1895-1964 All U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 Results at Ancestry — index & image; includes those with destination of New Mexicos ($)
- 1917-1954 New Mexico Alien Arrivals, 1917-1954 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Cultural Groups
- 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of New Mexico
- Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($) ; includes those with destination of New Mexico
- Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of New Mexico
- Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of New Mexico
Passport Records Online
- 1795-1925 United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
New Mexico Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1881-1983 New Mexico, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1881-1983 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1882-1983 New Mexico Naturalization Records, 1882-1983 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1918 United States Index to Naturalizations of World War I Soldiers, 1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1944-2003 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files,1944-2003 at Ancestry — index ($)
For more information, see New Mexico Emigration and Immigration and New Mexico Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: New Mexico; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use New Mexico 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
- 1530-1890 History of New Mexico : From the Spanish Conquest to the Present Time, 1530-1890 : With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent People, by Haines, Helen. New York: New Mexico Historical Pub. Co., 1891. Online at: Internet Archive
- Collections at New Mexico State Library
- County and Town Histories, New Mexico at LearnWebSkills — index & images
- History of New Mexico : Its Resources and People, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York: Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust
For more information, see New Mexico Biography.
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map 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 ImagesRecords collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
New Mexico Online Genealogy RecordsSearch any other online records listed in New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico.This article focused more on New Mexico state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in New Mexico. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records. |
