Alaska Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked. - For more information on census records, see Alaska Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration or vital records, were kept in Alaska beginning in 1913. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however.

Births
 * 1816-2005: at FamilySearch; index & images; incomplete.
 * 1818-1963: Alaska Vital Records at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1895-1944: US Marriages – Alaska at Findmypast; index only ($)

Marriages
 * 1816-2005: at FamilySearch; index & images; incomplete.
 * 1895-1944: US Marriages – Alaska at Findmypast; index only ($)

Deaths  - For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Alaska, see How to Find Alaska Birth Records, How to Find Alaska Marriage Records, and How to Find Alaska Death Records.
 * 1816-2005: at FamilySearch; index & images; incomplete.
 * 1935-2014: US Social Security Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1936-2007: US Social Security Applications and Claims Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * A Watery Grave - Drownings in the Yukon &amp; Alaska at ExploreNorth; index only
 * Online Alaska Death Records & Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * at FamilySearch; index only

Step 3: '''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1913. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers.

Obituaries


 * 1980-2014: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * Alaska Newspaper Obituaries Listings at ObituariesHelp.org
 * Alaska Obituary Links at ObitLinksPage
 * Online Alaska Death Indexes, Records & Indexes at DeathIndexesThe Bureau of Vital Statistics has microfilmed local Church Records for the purpose of creating delayed birth records.
 * ObitsArchive.com - Alaska ($)
 * Alaska Obituaries

- Cemetery Records
 * Find-A-Grave
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * FamilySearch Places
 * at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection
 * Alaska Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Alaska Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Alaska Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Alaska Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * Alaska Jewish Cemetery Project at International Jewish Cemetery Project

For more information, see Alaska Obituaries and Alaska Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants..
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Alaska, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Alaska, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Alaska Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Alaska Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Alaska Online Genealogy Records