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Alaska Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
CHURCH RECORDS 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. 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 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 Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located.
District courts The areas served by these districts are as follows:
•Juneau, District 1: Southeastern Alexander Archipelago and the cities of Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, and Juneau.•Nome, District 2: North, including Nome and Barrow.•Anchorage, District 3: South, including Anchorage, Kodiak, and the Aleutian Islands.•Fairbanks, District 4: Central, including Fairbanks, Bethel, and Toksook Bay.
Since 1959 district court jurisdiction has been limited to minor civil and criminal matters such as issuing marriage licenses A superior court The Family History Library does not have copies of any court records from Alaska. The Alaska State Archives has most of the territorial court records (except probate records) for the first district and some for the second and fourth districts. The archives has the court journals but not the complete case files The case files of the first district, the records of the third district (1900-59), and some miscellaneous records of the other districts are at the National Archives—Alaska Region. Copies of documents not at these two archives can be obtained by writing to the appropriate local clerk's office.
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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 the Family History Library (index on FHL film 944197).
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.
Moravian
Alaska Moravian Church
P.O. Box 545
Bethel, AK 99559
Headquarters:
Bethlehem, PA
Telephone: 610-867-7566
Fax: 610-866-9223
Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516
Telephone: 215-627-1852
Fax: 215-627-0509
Roman Catholic
Diocese of Juneau
419 Sixth Street
Juneau, AK 99801
Telephone: 907-586-2227
Fax: 907-463-3237
Chancery Office
Diocese of Fairbanks
1316 Peger Road
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Telephone: 907-474-0753
Fax: 907-474-8009
Archdiocese of Anchorage
225 Cordova St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-258-7898
Fax: 907-279-3885
The Sisters of Providence Archives
(Hospital Records)
4800 37th Avenue S.W.
Seattle, WA 98126
Telephone: 206-937-4600
Fax: 206-938-6193
Russian Orthodox
St. Herman's Theological Seminary
414 Mission Rd.
Kodiak, AK 99615
Telephone: 907-486-3524
Fax: 907-486-5935
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COURT RECORDS
had jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters before statehood. Federal district judges were appointed as early as 1884. The entire territory had only one district, administered by a judge in Sitka, until 1903, when three districts were created with judges at Juneau, Saint Michaels, and Eagle City. The fourth district was added in 1909, and the four seats were placed in Juneau, Nome, Valdez (moved to Anchorage in 1943), and Fairbanks.
and arrest warrants, hearing misdemeanor cases, and acting as the temporary custodian of the property of deceased persons.
, a supreme court, and magistrate courts have also served Alaska since 1959.
for the first district.
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Version of Data: 6/8/2001]