R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Montana
Research Outline
   

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
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

PROBATE RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

Probate courtsLook this term up in the glossary. existed in the counties from 1864 to 1889. Their records and jurisdiction were then transferred to the district courts. Montana probate records include administrators'Look this term up in the glossary. books, probate proceedings, registersLook this term up in the glossary., filesLook this term up in the glossary., willsLook this term up in the glossary., bondsLook this term up in the glossary., and exhibits. The Family History Library does not have copies of Montana probate records. They are available at the various county courthouses.


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VITAL RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.


County RecordsLook this term up in the glossary. of BirthsLook this term up in the glossary. and DeathsLook this term up in the glossary.

Some counties began recording births and deaths as early as 1864. These records have been kept by the clerk of the court in each county. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records. A few of the early county records have been transcribed and published, and these are available at the Family History Library.


State RecordsLook this term up in the glossary. of Births and Deaths

Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1907 and was generally complied with by 1920. Delayed registrations of birthsLook this term up in the glossary. are included in the indexes maintained by the state office. All of the records are available to relatives by writing to:

Montana Vital Records
State Department of Health
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
Telephone: 406-444-2685
Fax: 406-444-1803
The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's vital records are listed in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993; FHL book 973 V24wv). Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many Family History Centers. The Family History Library does not have copies of the state records.


MarriageLook this term up in the glossary. and DivorceLook this term up in the glossary. Records

There is no centralized registration of marriage records. Each county generally began keeping marriage records soon after its organization. Write to the clerk of the district court for copies of marriage and divorce records.

The State Department of Health has an index to marriages beginning in 1943. This index helps to identify the county in which the marriage occurred. The records are available only in the county. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of some county marriage records.


Inventory of Vital Records

More information about the history and availability of vital records is in Guide to the Public Vital Statistics in Montana . . . (Bozeman: Historical Records Survey, 1941; FHL book 978.6 V2h; film 1036403 item 7; fiche 6046712).


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FOR FURTHER READING

An excellent source of more detailed information about research and the records in each county is:

Richards, Dennis Lee. Montana's Genealogical and Local History Records. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1981. (FHL 978.6 A3r; fiche 6019973.)

Another helpful source is:

Eichholz, Alice, ed. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.


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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:

Publications Coordination
Family History Library
35 N. West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3400
USA
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.

Paper publication: Second edition July 1997. English approval: 7/97.

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