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New Mexico Research Tips and Strategies

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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The New Mexico Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for New Mexico. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

New Mexico Research Strategies

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

Finding New Mexico Birth, Marriage or Death Records

Finding New Mexico Records

New Mexico Statewide Databases

New Mexico Research Process

New Mexico Research Tips

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in New Mexico:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1920 and general compliance was by 1930.[1]
  • County registration: Counties were required to keep birth and death records in 1907, although some counties started as early as the 1880s. Registration was inconsistent and few exist.[2]
  • Access to records: See New Mexico Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in New Mexico.


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 New Mexico Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: As early as 1907, counties were required to record deaths and requested 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 New Mexico Newspapers and New Mexico Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico Research

References

  1. ↑ New Mexico Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 18. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ New Mexico Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 18. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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