Step-by-Step Utah Research, 1900-Present
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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.[edit | edit source]
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?[edit | edit source]
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?[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
- 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.[edit | edit source]
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In this obituary are clues to when and where to search in census records for Laura Swallow.
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Swallow Family 1900 and 1910:
Clifton and Laura Swallow Beckstrand:
Charles and Isabel Swallow Additional Records:
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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.[edit | edit source]
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For more information, see Utah Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
How to Find the Records[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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Search Sites for Utah Birth Records and Indexes
Also, see How to Find Utah Birth Records. |
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Search Sites for Utah Marriage Records and Indexes
Also, see How to Find Utah Marriage Records. |
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Search Sites for Utah Death Records and Indexes
Also, see How to Find Utah Death Records. |
Records at the County Courthouse.[edit | edit source]
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: Utah Counties.
Order Certificates from Utah Vital Records Department.[edit | edit source]
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 Utah 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 Utah, see How to Find Utah Birth Records, How to Find Utah Marriage Records, and How to Find Utah Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 1850-2003 Utah Newspapers, 1850-2003 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1850-2005 Utah, Obituaries from Utah Newspapers, 1850-2005 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1933-1939 Utah, U.S., Daughters of Utah Pioneers Obituary Scrapbook, 1933-1939 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 2010-2013 Utah, ObitsUtah Obituary Index, 2010-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 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
- Online Utah Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
- The Salt Lake Tribune Obituaries at Legacy.com — index & images
- Utah Newspapers and Obituaries at LDS Genealogy — index
- Utah Obituaries at ObitsArchive.com — index & images ($)
- Utah Obituaries Help and Genealogy Resources at ObituariesHelp.org — index
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 1847-2021 Utah, U.S., Cemetery Inventory, 1847-2021 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1848-2001 Utah, State Archives Records, 1848-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- Pre-1966 Utah, Veterans with Federal Service Buried in Utah, Territorial to 1966 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($), Findmypast ($), MyHeritage ($)
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Names in Stone Cemetery Maps at NamesInStone — index & images
- Online Utah Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
- Utah and Idaho Cemetery Records at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Utah Cemeteries and Burials Database at Utah State Historic Preservation Office, Utah.gov — index
- Utah Cemeteries at I Dream of Genealogy — index
- Utah Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project — index
- Utah Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy — index
- Utah Death Records and Utah Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Utah: Family History and Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records and More at Linkpendium — index
- Utah Gravestone Photo Project at UtahGravestone.org — index & images
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007[edit | edit source]
- 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 Utah Obituaries and Utah Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
- 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 Utah Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records online.[edit | edit source]
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.[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch[edit | edit source]
- 1915-1972 Utah, Church Records, 1915-1972 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[edit | edit source]
- 1830-1900 Utah, FamilySearch, Early Church Information File, 1830-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1835-1846 Seventy Quorum Membership, 1835-1846 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1836-1921 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record of Members (Worldwide), 1836-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, index
- 1839-1913 Historian's Office Record of Members : Known as the "Minnie Margetts" File(*) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church History Library and Minnie Isabella Margetts at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1860-1937 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Missionary Registers (Worldwide), 1860-1937 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1877-1918 Utah, LDS Mission Calls and Recommendations, 1877-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1887-1935 Utah Marriages, 1887-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1887-1966 Utah, U.S., Select Marriages, 1887-1966 ($) index; Also at: MyHeritage ($))
- 1892-1941 Utah Births and Christenings, 1892-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- 1914-1940 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census Records (Worldwide), 1914-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1915-1972 Utah, Church Records, 1915-1972 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Utah historically was founded as a settlement for early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). There are many varieties of records kept by the Church and published online:
- vital records,
- membership records,
- missionary records,
- migration records,
- Mormon Battalion records.
A comprehensive list of links can be found at Latter-day Saint Online Genealogy Records.
Dutch Reformed[edit | edit source]
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Lutheran[edit | edit source]
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Presbyterian[edit | edit source]
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1995 Deceased Membership Files, 1877-1995(*) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at FamilySearch Catalog — images
For help with church records kept in Utah, see Utah 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 wills and probate packets.[edit | edit source]
- 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.[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1985 Utah, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1800-1985 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1848-2001 Utah, State Archives Records, 1848-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1851-1961 Utah, Probate Records, 1851-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Probate Records at Utah Division of Archives and Records, Utah.gov — index & images
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]
Each Utah county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Utah Counties
For more information, see Utah Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.[edit | edit source]
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.[edit | edit source]
Utah Immigration Records[edit | edit source]
- 1840-1932 Mormon Migration Database, 1840-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1846-1868 Utah, Sons of Utah Pioneers, Companies Index, 1846-1868 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1847-1850 Sons of Utah Pioneers - Card Index, 1847-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1847-1868 Utah Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database, 1847-1868 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1847-1868 Utah, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1847-1868 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1850 Utah, U.S., Pioneer Index, 1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — index & images
- Pioneer Immigrants to Utah Territory at Ancestry — index ($)
- Saints by Sea, Latter-Day Saint Immigration to America at BYU Library — index & images
- Sons of Utah Pioneers Membership Applications, Utah, U.S. at Ancestry — index ($)
Utah Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records[edit | edit source]
- 1858-1959 Utah, U.S., Naturalization and Citizenship Records, 1858-1959 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1868-1869 Box Elder County, Utah, U.S., Certificates of Citizenship Record Books, 1868-1869 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1878-1895 Utah, U.S., Declarations of Intent for Naturalization, 1878-1895 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1906-1930 Utah Naturalization Records, 1906-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Research Naturalization and Citizenship Records at Utah Division of State Archives, Utah.gov — index & images
For more information, see Utah Emigration and Immigration and Utah Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.[edit | edit source]
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Utah; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Utah" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "Utah" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Utah and the name of the county.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- 1548-1995 Sons of the Utah Pioneers, Biography Files at Ancestry — index ($); Online at: (A-G), 1584-1995; (H-P), 1548-1947; (R-Z), 1548-1947
- 1830-1900 Utah, FamilySearch, Early Church Information File, 1830-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; includes "Mormons and Their Neighbors"
- 1847-1850 Sons of Utah Pioneers - Card Index, 1847-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1847-1868 Utah, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1847-1868 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Daughters of Utah Pioneers and Their Mothers at Ancestry — index ($)
- More than Petticoats: Remarkable Utah Women, by Karras, Christy. Guilford, Conn. : Globe Pequot Press, 2010. Online at: Internet Archive
- Pioneer Immigrants to Utah Territory at Ancestry — index ($)
- Pioneer Index - History Card at International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers — index & images
- Pony Express Riders at National Pony Express Association — index & images
- Portrait, Genealogical and Biographical Record of the State of Utah : Containing Biographies of Many Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Chicago: National Historical Record Co., 1902. Online at: HathiTrust
- Sons of Utah Pioneers Membership Applications, Utah, U.S. at Ancestry — index ($)
- Utah Since Statehood; Historical and Biographical, by Warrum, Noble. Chicago-Salt Lake: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1919. Online at: HathiTrust
- Utah, the Inland Empire : The Story of the Pioneers, Resources and Industries of the State, Attractions of Salt Lake City, Leading Men of the Community, by Sargent, Arthur T. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Deseret News, 1902. Online at: HathiTrust
- Worth Their Salt, Too : More Notable but Often Unnoted Women of Utah, by Whitley, Colleen. Logan, Utah: State University Press, 2000. Online at: USU.edu
For more information, see Utah Biography.
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.[edit | edit source]
- 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 Utah 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.[edit | edit source]
Historical Images[edit | edit source]
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
- Utah, United States Historical Images, New Version
- Utah, United States Historical Images, Old Version
Utah Online Genealogy Records[edit | edit source]
Search any other online records listed in Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah.[edit | edit source]
This article focused more on Utah state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Utah. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.