Alaska Church Records
United States 
Alaska Church Records
Introduction
Before 1900 the largest religious group in Alaska was the Russian Orthodox Church, which was introduced to the Alaskan natives in the eighteenth century by Russian fur traders.[1]
The early records of this church are the single most important source of vital records information for the state. Copies of all surviving Russian Orthodox records (in Russian) are at the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
During World War II many records of Russian Orthodox baptisms, marriages, and deaths were sent to the Library of Congress to be translated and indexed. The originals are still there. Microfilm copies for 1816 to 1936 are on 25 films at the National Archives—Alaska Region, the Rasmuson Library, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and through FHL film 944197 (first of 4 films)
Moravian, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other denominations have more recently established missions, schools, and hospitals in Alaska. The Moravians, the second largest denomination in Alaska, settled predominantly in Bethel and along the Kuskokwim River.
Records for all of these groups are at the Bureau of Vital Statistics, but for Catholic and Presbyterian information, write to the local church instead because the Bureau's records are restricted. Most Methodist records are also at the local churches. The Family History Library has a few Presbyterian records.
The Bureau of Vital Statistics collects church records in order to create delayed birth certificates for individuals whose births were not officially recorded. They borrow the original church records to microfilm and return the originals to the church. The staff will do research and make copies for a fee, but requests may be denied if the information is needed for genealogical purposes.
Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located.
Moravian
Alaska Moravian Church
P.O. Box 545
Bethel, AK 99559
Headquarters:
Bethlehem, PA
Phone: (610) 867-7566
Fax: (610) 866-9223
Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516
Phone: (215) 627-1852
Fax: (215) 627-0509
Roman Catholic
Diocese of Juneau
419 Sixth Street
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-2227
Fax: (907) 463-3237
The diocese includes the geographic areas of: Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway, Prince of Wales Outer Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway Yakutat-Angoon and Wrangell Petersburg.[2]
Chancery Office
Diocese of Fairbanks
1316 Peger Road
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: (907) 474-0753
Fax: (907) 474-8009
The diocese includes the geographic areas of: Bethel, Fairbanks North Star, Nome, North Slope, North West Artic, Southeast Fairbanks, Wade Hampton, Yukon-Koyukuk.[2]
Archdiocese of Anchorage
225 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 258-7898
Fax: (907) 279-3885
The Archdiocese includes the geographic areas of: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bristol Bay, Dillingham, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska Susitna and Valdez Cordova.[2]
The Sisters of Providence Archives
(Hospital Records)
4800 37th Avenue S.W.
Seattle, WA 98126
Phone: (206) 937-4600
Fax: (206) 938-6193
Russian Orthodox
St. Herman's Theological Seminary
414 Mission Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-3524
Fax: (907) 486-5935
Missions
Iqurmuit Mission (Russian)
References
- ↑ Sydney E. Ahlstrom, A Religious History of the American People (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1972). At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 K2ah.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wikipedia article, "List of Catholic Diocese of the United States.
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