Montana Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions

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=== Montana Research Strategies  ===
| link1=[[Montana, United States Genealogy|Montana]]
 
| link2=
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Montana<br>
| link3=
 
| link4=
:[[Montana Online Genealogy Records|Montana Online Genealogy Records]]  
| link5=[[Montana Research Tips and Strategies|Research Tips and Strategies]]
:[[How to Find Montana Birth Records|How to find Montana Birth Records]]
}}__TOC__
:[[How to Find Montana Marriage Records|How to find Montana Marriage Records]]
{|style="float:right; margin-right:030px; background-color:#acd9f9" " width="25%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" border="1"
:[[How to Find Montana Death Records|How to find Montana Death Records]]
|
 
<center><font size = "4"><br>'''Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page'''</font></center><br>
=== Montana Research Tips  ===
<center>''The Montana Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Montana. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.''</center><br>
|}


== Montana Research Strategies  ==
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Montana.
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Montana:<br>
<br>


===Finding Montana Birth, Marriage or Death Records===
*'''Birth information:''' Montana statewide registration of births began in 1907 with general compliance by 1920. The best substitute record for locating birth information is [[How to Find United States Death Records|death records]]&nbsp;(the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|substitute records]].
*[[GuidedResearch:Montana|Finding Montana Births, Marriages, and Deaths using Guided Research]]
*'''Finding Parents:''' Registration of deaths on the state level began in 1907. By 1910 the registration of deaths reached about 90 percent. It was not until about 1915 that the registration of Montana deaths became reasonably complete. &nbsp;They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Montana death records]]
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]].


===Finding Montana Records===
=== Montana Record Finder  ===
*[[Montana Record Finder]]


===Montana Statewide Databases===
This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.
*[[Montana Online Genealogy Records|Montana Online Genealogy Records]]


===Montana Research Process===
{| width="65%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1"
*[[Step-by-Step Montana Research, 1880-Present]]
|-
*[[Step-by-Step Montana Research, 1850-1910]]
| style="vertical-align:top; width:20%;"| '''1. What you are looking for:'''
*[[Montana Descendancy Research]]
| style="vertical-align:top; width:40%;"| '''2. Try these records first:'''
*[[How to Find Montana Birth Records|How to Find Birth Records]]
| style="vertical-align:top; width:40%;"| '''3. Other useful records'''
*[[How to Find Montana Marriage Records|How to Find Marriage Records]]
|-
*[[How to Find Montana Death Records|How to Find Death Records]]
| Birth information
| [[How to Find Montana Birth Records|Birth records]], [[How to Find Montana Death Records|Death records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Montana Church Records|Church records]]
| [[Montana Cemeteries|Cemeteries]], [[Montana Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[United States Bible Records|Bible records]], [[Montana Military Records|Military records]] (pension)
|-
| Marriage information
| [[How to Find Montana Marriage Records|Marriage records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[United States Bible Records|Bible records]]  
| [[Montana Church Records|Church records]], [[Montana Probate Records|Probate records]], [[Montana Military Records|Military records]]
|-
| Death information
| [[How to Find Montana Death Records|Death Records]], [[Montana Cemeteries|Cemeteries]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]]  
| [[Montana Probate Records|Probate Records]], [[Montana Church Records|Church Records]], [[United States Bible Records|Bible Records]]
|-
| Parents
| [[How to Find Montana Birth Records|Birth records]],&nbsp;[[How to Find Montana Death Records|Death records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Montana Census|Census]], [[Montana Church Records|Church records]]
| [[Montana Biography|Biography]], [[Montana Genealogy|Genealogy]]
|-
| Maiden name
| [[How to Find Montana Marriage Records|Marriage Records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Montana Probate Records|Probate records]]
| [[Montana Church Records|Church Records]], [[Montana Military Records|Military Records]] (pension)
|-
| Immigration date
| [[Montana Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]], [[Montana Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[Montana Census|Census]]
| [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[Montana Biography|Biography]], [[Montana History|History]]
|-
| Naturalization
| [[Montana Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[Montana Census|Census]], [[Montana Court Records|Court Records]]  
| [[United States Voting Records|Voting Registers]], [[Montana Biography|Biography]], [[Montana Periodicals|Periodicals]]
|-
| Physical description
| [[Montana Military Records|Military Records]], [[Montana Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]] (after 1906)
| [[Montana Biography|Biography]], [[Montana History|History]]
|}


== Montana Research Tips ==
=== Further Montana Research  ===


These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Montana:<br>
For more research on Montana, including research at the county level, visit the [[Montana Genealogy|Montana]] page on the Research Wiki.  
<br>
'''Birth and Death information:'''<br>
----
*'''''Statewide birth registration:''''' Statewide registration of births began in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920.<ref>''Montana Research Outline.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 1997, 16. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). '''''Online at:''''' [http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/Montana.pdf BYU University - Provo]</ref>
*'''''Local registration:''''' Some counties began recording births and deaths as early as 1864, but registration was inconsistent.<ref>''Montana Research Outline.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 1997, 16. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). '''''Online at:''''' [http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/Montana.pdf BYU University - Provo]</ref>
*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Montana Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Montana.
<br>
'''Substitute Records:'''
----
*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Montana Substitute Records|Montana Substitute Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Finding Parents:''' 
----
*'''''Death records:''''' State recorded deaths starting in 1907 required birth and parent information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory. 
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Montana Newspapers]] and [[Montana Obituaries]] for more information.
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[Montana Church Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Census Records:'''
----
*'''''Check all census years:''''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See [[Montana Census|Montana Census Records]] for more information.
*'''''Clues to other records:''''' There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
*'''''Finding families:''''' Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.


== Further Montana Research  ==
Search all of the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/location/19?region=United%20States%20of%20America Montana record collections] at FamilySearch.<br>
*[http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/Montana.pdf Montana Family History Library Research Outline]
*[http://www.mtgenweb.com/ MTGenWeb] - Montana GenWeb Project
*[http://genealogytrails.com/mon/ Montana Genealogy Trails] - collection of transcribed data for the state of Montana
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/mt/ Cyndi's List] - Montana genealogy websites
*[http://www.raogk.org/Montana-genealogy/ Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness] - State of Montana Records Guide


==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Montana, United States]][[Category:United States Research Strategies]]
[[Category:Montana, United States]][[Category:United States Research Strategies]]
[[Category:Research Tips and Strategies]]

Revision as of 14:22, 1 April 2016

Montana Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Montana

Montana Online Genealogy Records
How to find Montana Birth Records
How to find Montana Marriage Records
How to find Montana Death Records

Montana Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Montana.

  • Birth information: Montana statewide registration of births began in 1907 with general compliance by 1920. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
  • Finding Parents: Registration of deaths on the state level began in 1907. By 1910 the registration of deaths reached about 90 percent. It was not until about 1915 that the registration of Montana deaths became reasonably complete.  They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Montana death records
  • Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.

Montana Record Finder[edit | edit source]

This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

1. What you are looking for: 2. Try these records first: 3. Other useful records
Birth information Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Church records Cemeteries, Naturalization and Citizenship, Bible records, Military records (pension)
Marriage information Marriage records, Obituaries, Bible records Church records, Probate records, Military records
Death information Death Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries Probate Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Parents Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Census, Church records Biography, Genealogy
Maiden name Marriage Records, Obituaries, Probate records Church Records, Military Records (pension)
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Obituaries, Biography, History
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records Voting Registers, Biography, Periodicals
Physical description Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship (after 1906) Biography, History

Further Montana Research[edit | edit source]

For more research on Montana, including research at the county level, visit the Montana page on the Research Wiki.

Search all of the Montana record collections at FamilySearch.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

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