Montana Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions

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These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Montana:<br>  
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Montana:<br>  
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*'''Birth information:''' Montana statewide registration of births began in 1907 with general compliance by 1920. A helpful substitute record to find birth information is a death record. However, date and place of birth on a death record is considered secondary information, as it was not recorded at the time of the birth event. The birth information should be corroborated with other [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|substitute records]] to improve accuracy.   
'''Birth and Death information:'''<br>
*'''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. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Montana death records]]  
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*'''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]].
*'''''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 Delaware.
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'''Substitute Records:'''
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*'''''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.
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'''Finding Parents:'''  
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*'''''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.
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'''Census Records:'''
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*'''''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|Delaware 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  ==
== Further Montana Research  ==

Revision as of 17:38, 20 February 2025

Montana Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Montana Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

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.

Montana Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

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

Montana Research Tips[edit | edit source]

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

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide birth registration: Statewide registration of births began in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920.[1]
  • Local registration: Some counties began recording births and deaths as early as 1864, but registration was inconsistent.[2]
  • Access to records: See Montana Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Delaware.


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 for more information.


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.


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 Delaware 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[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Montana Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 1997, 16. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ Montana Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 1997, 16. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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