Genealogy

Records in the Alaska State Archives document the functions and activities of the State and Territorial government. None of the records kept at the Archives were created for the purpose of genealogical research. However, the Archives does hold many records that contain information on individuals such as:

• Naturalization records (1888-1972) [spreadsheet]
• Pioneer Home Residents (1913-1980)
• Probate Index (1883-1960) [spreadsheet]
• Teacher records (1917-1959)
• World War I Veterans (1913-1923) [spreadsheet]
• Vital Statistics (1816-1998) [spreadsheet]
  Note: Adoption records are sealed, confidential records and require written permission from a Judge or Probate Master to disclose them. Alaska marriage and death certificates are closed to the general public for 50 years; birth certificates are closed for 100 years. Marriage license applications, however, are open to the public with the exception of the results of blood tests, when included.

How to Request information from the Archives

To respond promptly to your request for a person you are looking for, we need some of the following information:

• His/her full name (maiden name)
• Time and place of birth in Alaska
• Time and place of death
• The school he/she attended
• Marriage/divorce in Alaska
• Land ownership status, mining.
• Business ownership
• Involvement in a lawsuit
• Alaska naturalization status
• Possible military service

If you have some of the above information, use our Research Inquiry Form to ask us a question.

Individual researchers may provide you with their help. Acurrent list of independent researchers is available.

Web Resources

Adoption

• Alaska Court System, Probate Master.

Alaska Native

• Native and Indigenous Peoples

Birth, death, marriage, divorce

• Health Analytics & Vital Records

Burial place

• Alaska State Library
• Tombstone Transcription Project

Census records

• National Archives & Records Administration
• Alaska State Library - Alaska Census records only

Civil/criminal cases after 1959

• Alaska Court System
• National Archives

Historical photos

• Alaska Historical Collections
• Alaska's Digital Archive

Land ownership

• Bureau of Land Management Alaska Land Records

Obituary

• Alaska State Library newspaper collection

School certificates, diploma, transcripts, and GED records

• appropriate school district or state department. Also see How to Find School Records

State Trooper

• National Archives & Records Administration