Step-by-Step Louisiana Research, 1880-Present

Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What should be asked?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * Fifty Questions for Family History Interviews What to Ask the Relatives
 * Genealogy: 150 questions to ask family members about their lives
 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military.

Using the clues to lead to census record searches.
'''Here are the census records for Ernest A. and Anna Laurent Becnel, living in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The expected children are all listed except for their daughter, who preceded Anna in death according to the obituary, so she may have died as a child. A great clue appears in the 1930 census: Anna's father, Cyrille Laurent, and sister, Olga are living with them. Cyrille Laurent was born in about 1865 in Louisiana.'''

Finding the next earlier generation.
The next step would be to search in the 1910 and 1900 census for Ernest A. Becnel, born about 1890-92, living in his parents' home, names so far unknown.

'''In the 1910 and 1900 censuses, Ernest Becnel is listed as the con of Hermogene and Mary Becnel. Also in 1900 we find his birth date, September 1894, along with birth dates for his parents, his brother, and sisters.'''

Finding another even earlisr generation.
(The 1890 census was destroyed.) The next step would be to search for Hermogene Becnel, father of Ernest) in the 1880 census. In the 1880 census, Hermogene Becnel, with several siblings, is listed living in the home of an aunt and uncle. Apparently, his parents are deceased. It will be necessary to search the 1870 census hoping they are alive then, in order to find his parents' information. In the 1870 census, Hermogene is listed in the home of Telesmar and Esilde Becnel, presumably his parents.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
 * A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using the census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents. Example of a birth index search and results. -

Using the census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.



The examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.

How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
 * online databases
 * writing to a county courthouse (prior to state civil registration beginning in 1867)
 * purchasing them through the mail

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Louisiana Counties.

Order Certificates from Louisiana Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for Louisiana Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Louisiana, see How to Find Louisiana Birth Records, How to Find Louisiana Marriage Records, and How to Find Louisiana Death Records.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Obituaries

 * Online Louisiana Death Records Indexes
 * Louisiana Obituaries
 * Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index
 * — index and images

Cemeteries

 * Find-A-Grave
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * Louisiana Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Louisiana Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Louisiana Gravestone Photo Project
 * Louisiana Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Louisiana Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * Louisiana, Orleans Parish, State Museum Historical Cntr, Cemetery Records, 1805-1944 at FamilySearch
 * Louisiana, Tombstone Inscriptions, 1812-1970 at Ancestry - index ($)

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

For more information, see Louisiana Obituaries and Louisiana Cemeteries. -

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.



'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Louisiana Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



'''Follow the instructions and links in these articles to search for possible church records that might fill in any gaps.

 * 1695-1954 U.S., French Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1695-1954, index, incomplete ($).
 * 1720-1734 Louisiana (French) Civil Registration and Parish Registers, 1720-1734, index and images.
 * 1836-1938 - index and some images, incomplete - How to Use this Collection
 * Collection of Louisiana early court and church records, DAR


 * 1796-1900 Alphabetical Birth Indexes for Orleans Parishes 1796 - 1900
 * 1811-1830; 1854-1934 - index, incomplete. - How to Use this Collection
 * Louisiana Birth Records.
 * 1718-1925, 1946-1961 Louisiana, Compiled Marriage Index, 1718-1925, 1946-1961, index, incomplete. ($)
 * 1720-1733 The New Orleans French, 1720-1733 ($)
 * 1718-1925 Louisiana Marriages, 1718-1925 Index only ($)
 * 1728-1850 Louisiana, Compiled Marriages, 1728-1850, index, incomplete ($).
 * 1816-1906 - index, incomplete. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837-1957 - index, incomplete. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1851-1900 Louisiana, Compiled Marriage Records, 1851-1900, index, incomplete ($).
 * Orleans Parish Marriage Records.


 * 1840-1906 Southwest Louisiana, Deaths Index, 1840-1906 Index only ($)
 * 1850-1875; 1894-1956 Index only. - How to Use this Collection

Catholic

 * Digitized Sacramental Records Online, Archdiocese of New Orleans

Presbyterian
-
 * U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index & images ($). Incomplete.
 * For help with church records kept in Louisiana, see Louisiana Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.



Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Louisiana
 * Louisiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1756-1984, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * Images only.
 * Louisiana, Orleans Parish Estate Files, 1804-1846, ($), index.
 * Louisiana, Orleans Parish Estate Files 1804-1846, ($), index.
 * Louisiana, Orleans Parish Estate Files, 1804-1846, ($), index.
 * Images only.

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Louisiana county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Louisiana Counties

For more information, see Louisiana Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.



Louisiana Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records
 * One Step Webpages by Stephen Morse Links to free and $ online passenger lists
 * New Orleans, Louisiana, Slave Manifests, 1807-1860 Index and images ($)
 * Partial index and images.
 * New Orleans, Passenger Lists, 1813-1963, index/images.
 * Images.
 * Atlantic Ports, Gulf Coasts, and Great Lakes Passenger Lists, Roll 7:1820-1835 Abstracts ($)
 * New Orleans, Passenger List Quarterly Abstracts, 1820-1875 Index and images ($)
 * New Orleans, Passenger Lists, 1820-1945 Index and images ($)
 * New Orleans Ship Passenger List Online Index - January to July 1851
 * Louisiana, New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1903-1945, ($), index.
 * Italian Passengers to Louisiana, 1905-1910 Abstracts ($)

Louisiana Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * Images.
 * Records of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans Division: Petitions, 1838-1861 ($)
 * , index/images.
 * Louisiana, Naturalization Records,1836-2001 ($)
 * Selected U.S. Naturalization Records for Louisiana - Original Documents, 1790-1974 ($)
 * Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - U.S. District Court at New Orleans, Naturalization Petitions, 1838-1861 ($)

For more information, see Louisiana Emigration and Immigration and Louisiana Naturalization and Citizenship.

Local histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories:
 * Hathi Trust Digital Library. Don't use the keywords Louisiana; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Louisiana" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "Louisiana" and the county name.
 * Genealogy Book Links, Louisiana. Browse list; county histories are interspersed.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Louisiana and the name of the county.


 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find out about local histories the library has by checking the FamilySearch Catalog. In the "place" field, type the name of your county and select it from the drop down list, then click "Search". A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, and History - Indexes.

Biographies
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
 * County and Town Histories, with biographies
 * Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index.
 * Old Louisiana Plantation Homes and Family Trees ($)
 * Louisiana Biographical and Historical Memoirs ($)
 * Dictionary of Louisiana Biography
 * Louisiana; comprising sketches of parishes, towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form, ed. by Alcée Fortier ... v.1, e-book, Vol. 2, Vol. 3
 * The story of Louisiana. v.1, e-book, Vol. 2, Vol. 3
 * Southwest Louisiana, biographical and historical, e-book
 * Biographical and historical memoirs of northwest Louisiana, e-book
 * Louisianians and their state, e-book
 * Who's who in Louisiana and Mississippi: biographical sketches of prominent men and women of Louisiana and Mississippi, e-book

Step 10: Contact a county historical or genealogical society.
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 * County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.


 * If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Louisiana, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Louisiana, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Louisiana Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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.
 * Louisiana Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Louisiana.
This article focused more on Louisiana state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Louisiana. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.