R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Oregon
Research Outline
   

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

LAND AND PROPERTY RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.


TerritorialLook this term up in the glossary. and Land OfficeLook this term up in the glossary. Records

Land records during the territorial period, 1845 to 1849, were filed with the territorial recorder. These papers are now in the Oregon State Archives.

The thousands of settlers who arrived in the Oregon TerritoryLook this term up in the glossary. between December 1850 and December 1855 were eligible to receive donation landLook this term up in the glossary. claims. The applications for these free lands may provide birth, marriage, citizenship, and migration information.

Records of the original donation land claims are in the National Archives. Microfilm copies of the records are available at the National Archives—Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle) and at the Family History Library; Oregon and Washington Donation Land Files, 1851- 1903 (FHL films 1028543 and 1490152-242). Abstracts with indexes for 1852-1903 are also available at the Family History Library (FHL films 847554-59).

Abstracts of the donation land claims are in Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims, 5 vols. (Portland: Genealogical Forum of Portland, 1957-1975; FHL book 979.5 R2g; vol. 4 on film 823831 item 7; vols. 1-5 on fiche 6051173). An alphabetical index to the claims is available at the Oregon State Library. A published index to the claims is Oregon State Archives, comp., Index to Oregon Donation Land Claims (Portland: Genealogical Forum, 1953-57; FHL film 874373 item 2; fiche 6051271).

Distribution of the remaining unoccupied land was administered by the General Land OfficeLook this term up in the glossary. (FHLO) through land offices in Oregon. Most of the local FHLO records are now kept in the National Archives—Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle). PatentsLook this term up in the glossary. and copies of the tract booksLook this term up in the glossary. and township platsLook this term up in the glossary. are at:

Oregon State Office of the Bureau of Land ManagementLook this term up in the glossary.
1515 S.W. 5th Ave.
Portland, OR 97208-2965
Telephone: 503-952-6287
Fax: 503-952-6333
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208-2965
The original tract books, plats, and land entry case files are at the National Archives.


County RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions are recorded by the county auditor in the form of deedsLook this term up in the glossary. and mortgagesLook this term up in the glossary.. These may be obtained from the appropriate recorder or clerk in each courthouse. The Family History Library has not acquired land records from the counties, except for the deed indexes of Douglas County for 1857 to 1974.


Return to top of page


MAPSLook this term up in the glossary.

A statewide collection of maps is Ralph N. Preston, Historical Maps of Oregon: Overland Stage Routes, Old Military Roads, Indian Battle Grounds, Old Forts, and Old Gold Mines (Corvallis, Ore.: Western Guide Publishers, 1972; FHL book Q 979.5 E3h).

A useful source on county boundaries is Erma Skyles Brown, Oregon County Boundary Change Maps, 1843-1916 (Lebanon, Ore.: End of Trail Researchers, 1970; FHL book 979.5 E7b; film 908033 item 2; fiche 6051182).

The Family History Library has a few Oregon maps. Large collections of maps are available at the University of Oregon in Eugene and at Oregon State University in Corvallis.


Return to top of page


MILITARY RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

The U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) provides more informationon federal military records and search strategies.

Many military records are found at the Genealogical library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more information on the federal records. For Oregon the following sources are also very helpful.


Civil War (1861-1865)Look this term up in the glossary.

A published roster that provides each volunteer's name, rank, dates of service, place of enlistment, place of birth, age, occupation, and company is M.A. Pekar and Edna Mingus, comps., Soldiers Who Served in the Oregon Volunteers, Civil War Period, Infantry and Cavalry (Portland: Genealogical Forum of Portland Oregon, 1961; FHL book 979.5 A1 No. 16 also 979.5 M2p; film 928088 item 8; fiche 6051234).

A published list of deaths reported to the Oregon department of the Grand Army of the Republic is Jane Myers, Honor Roll of Oregon Grand Army of the Republic, 1881-1935 (Cottage Grove, Ore.: Cottage Grove Genealogical Society, 1980; FHL book 979.5 A1 No. 53).

The Family History Library has an index to service records of Union Army soldiers (FHL film 821947) and a nationwide index to pension records. The actual service and pension records are available only at the National Archives.


Spanish-American War (1898)Look this term up in the glossary.

A published roster of soldiers that provides name, age, place of birth, occupation, physical description, and service is C. U. Gantenbein, The Official Records of the Oregon Volunteers in the Spanish War and Philippine Insurrection, 2nd ed. (Salem, Ore.: J.R. Whitney, 1903; FHL fiche 6051175).

The Oregon State Archives has the following:

  • Early service records from the Indian WarsLook this term up in the glossary.
  • National GuardLook this term up in the glossary. records through 1920
  • Records of the Roseburg State Soldiers' Home
  • An index to World War ILook this term up in the glossary. veterans
  • World War I files from the State Historian of the Defense Council (biographical questionnaires)
  • Records of the state bonuses and loan applications of World War I veterans


World War I (1917-1918)Look this term up in the glossary.

World War I draft registration cardsLook this term up in the glossary. 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 Oregon, see:

United States. Selective Service System. Oregon, 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 1851979.)

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, 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:

United States. Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/9/2001]