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Louisiana Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Notarial Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
LAND AND PROPERTY The French and the Spanish kept the earliest land records of Louisiana, and the documents are in their languages. Since most of these records were filed with notarial records The Family History Library has microfilm copies and indexes of the records kept by the French Conseil Superieur When Louisiana was ceded to the United States, the landowners registered private claims McMullin, Phillip W., ed. Grassroots of America, Salt Lake City: Gendex Corp., 1972. (FHL book 973 R2ag index; fiche 6051323.)
Maduell, Charles R., Jr. Federal Land Grants in the Territory of Orleans: The Delta Parishes. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1975. (FHL book 976.33 R2m.)
Unclaimed land became public domain The Family History Library and the Division of Archives, Records Management, and History have microfilms of the nineteenth-century claims and original land sales recorded by the United States District Land Offices, such as those in Ouachita, Opelousas, St. Helena, and New Orleans. The original records are in:
Since statehood, subsequent transfers of land between private owners have been recorded by the local clerk of court in each parish. Some records are filed in notarial books. They are often called “conveyances” and have vendor/vendee indexes.
The Family History Library has microfilm copies of the deeds
Libraries at Louisiana State University have the most complete collection of maps for the state. The Family History Library has a few historical maps A helpful set of maps is County Parish Boundaries in Louisiana (New Orleans: Historical Records Survey, 1939; FHL book 976.3 E3h; film 1425651, item 5). This includes information on the laws affecting the development of the state.
The U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) provides more information on federal military records and search strategies. Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives
Spanish military records are on FHL film 1156353. Published sources include a list of men serving in the militia, found in Winston DeVille, Louisiana Troops, 1720-1770 (Fort Worth: American Reference Publishers, 1965; FHL book 976.3 M2dv).
An alphabetical list of soldiers, their rank, and their company is in Marion J. Pierson, Louisiana Soldiers in the War of 1812 (N.p.: Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society, 1963; FHL book 976.3 M23p).
Troop rosters are in Powell A. Casey, Louisiana in the War of 1812 (Baton Rouge: Casey, 1963; FHL book 976.3 M2c).
An index to compiled service records of Louisiana soldiers who served in the War of 1812 is on FHL films 880010-12. The service records and pension files are at the National Archives.
Indexes to compiled service records of Louisiana soldiers in the Florida War
An index to compiled service records is on FHL films 1205336-57. The service records have not been filmed and are available at the National Archives.
Louisiana soldiers served in both the Union Pension records In 1911 a special census was taken of Confederate veterans or their widows. The census is arranged alphabetically by parish and is on FHL film 483489 and 1704157 item 14. The original census and similar records are at the New Orleans Public Library.
The following books also list names of veterans:
Booth, Andrew B. Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands. 3 vols. New Orleans: N.p., 1920. (FHL films 1305383 item 10, 1305383-85.)
Bartlett, Napier. Military Record of Louisiana: Including Biographical and Historical Papers Relating to the Military Organizations of the State. 1875. Reprint. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. (976.3 M2b.)
An index to service records of Louisiana soldiers in the War with Spain is on FHL film 880013. The service records are at the National Archives.
World War I draft registration cards United States Selective Service System, Louisiana. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On FHL films beginning with 1653576.)
To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board United States Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)
The Adjutant
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, refer to the section on “Notarial Records” in this outline.
and the Spanish cabildo.
to verify their ownership. Most of these claims have genealogical value and have been published. Useful indexes to pre-1837 claims in the American State Papers (on microfilm at the Family History Library), are:
and was surveyed and sold to private owners.
State Land Office
625 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Telephone: 504-342-4586
Fax: 504-342-5458
Mailing Address:
Each office created several sets of records and indexes. Land tract books arranged by ranges and townships
Box 44124
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
for the years 1807 to 1870 are also at the State Land Office and the Family History Library.
for most parishes. For example, for New Orleans the Family History Library has 181 microfilms covering the years 1827 to 1887 and an index to 1900.
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MAPS
, including maps of early land districts. Ward maps for New Orleans (1829, 1834, 1845, 1854, and 1898) are on FHL film 1377700 or fiche 6016695-99.
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MILITARY RECORDS
, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more information on federal records. For Louisiana the following are among the many sources at the Family History Library:
Colonial Wars (1787-1794)
War of 1812 (1812-1815)
Indian Wars
of 1836 and the War of 1837 to 1838 are on FHL film 880843.
Mexican War (1846-1848)
Civil War (1861-1865)
and the Confederate armies. Indexes to the service records and the compiled Confederate service records are at the Family History Library. The service records for both armies are at the National Archives.
for Confederate veterans are at the Division of Archives, Records Management, and History. Union army pensions are available at the National Archives.
Spanish-American War (1898)
World War I (1917-1918)
for men ages 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For registration cards for Louisiana, see:
, and then alphabetically by surname within each draft board. Most counties had only one board; large cities had several. A map showing the boundaries of individual draft boards is available for most large cities. Finding an ancestor's street address in a city directory will help you in using the draft board map. There is an alphabetical list of cities that are on the map. For a copy of this map see:
Additional Records
General's Office (Building 53, Jackson Barracks Military Library, New Orleans, LA 70146-0330, Telephone: 504-278-8241) has records of state military units from the late 1700s to the present and twentieth century service files, but not federal records.
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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]