Alaska Descendancy Research

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Alaska Descendancy Research

Alaska Descendancy Research As families believe they have researched their pedigrees back in time as far as possible, they sometimes choose to gather information on all the descendants of a particular ancestor or even all of their ancestors. This article explains possible steps to take on such a project in Alaska online records. Here, the emphasis is on online records with good to fair coverage and indexes, making searches as efficient as possible.

1. Online census records. 2. Birth, marriage, and death records online. 3. Obituary and cemetery records online. 4. FamilySearch Historical Images online. 5. Alaska Online Genealogy Records.

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.

Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.

1870 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1880 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1900 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1910 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com

1920 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1930 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1940 census: FamilySearch Ancestry.com 1950 census: NARA Index FamilySearch Images

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For more information on census records, see Alaska Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.

Government records, known as civil registration, were kept in Alaska beginning in 1913. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however.

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Births

• 1816-2005: Alaska Vital Records at FamilySearch; index & images; incomplete.
• 1818-1963: Alaska Vital Records at Ancestry; index & images ($)
• 1895-1944: US Marriages – Alaska at Findmypast; index only ($)

Marriages

• 1816-2005: Alaska Vital Records at FamilySearch; index & images; incomplete.
• 1895-1944: US Marriages – Alaska at Findmypast; index only ($)

Deaths

• 1816-2005: Alaska Vital Records at FamilySearch; index & images; incomplete.
• 1935-2014: US Social Security Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
• 1936-2007: US Social Security Applications and Claims Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
• A Watery Grave - Drownings in the Yukon & Alaska at ExploreNorth; index only
• Online Alaska Death Records & Indexes at DeathIndexes
• US Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch; index only

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For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Alaska, see How to Find Alaska Birth Records, How to Find Alaska Marriage Records, and How to Find Alaska Death Records.

Step 3: Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.

These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1913. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers.

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Obituaries

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• 1980-2014: US GenealogyBank Obituaries at FamilySearch; index & images
• Alaska Newspaper Obituaries Listings at ObituariesHelp.org
• Alaska Obituary Links at ObitLinksPage
• Online Alaska Death Indexes, Records & Indexes at DeathIndexesThe Bureau of Vital Statistics has microfilmed local Church Records for the purpose of creating delayed birth records.
  
• ObitsArchive.com - Alaska ($)
• Alaska Obituaries
  
  

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Cemetery Records

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'Online Cemetery Resources of Alaska
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find-A-Grave Find A Grave Index at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at at Ancestry Billion Graves BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($) FamilySearch Places United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection Alaska Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy Alaska Cemetery Records at Interment Alaska Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project Online Alaska Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
List of Cemeteries in the State	The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy. Alaska Cemeteries at Find-A-Grave Billion Graves- type Alaska in the search box. Alaska Cemeteries at Hometown Locator Alaska Cemeteries at I Dream of Genealogy Alaska Cemeteries at LDSGenealogy
Jewish Cemeteries	Alaska Jewish Cemetery Project at International Jewish Cemetery Project JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry at Ancestry - grave search JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry by JewishGen Click the USA folder, State folder, City folder and cemetery name
Military Cemeteries	Fort Richardson National Cemetery — transcription at Find-A-Grave Sitka National Cemetery — transcription at Find-A-Grave For more military burial databases.

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For more information, see Alaska Obituaries and Alaska Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.

Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.

• Alaska, United States Historical Images, New Version
• Alaska, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Alaska 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 Alaska 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.

• Alaska Online Genealogy Records

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

Dates listed are estimated. Use Explore Historical Images to browse the newest collections available on FamilySearch. More information