Alaska Vital Records

United States &gt; Alaska &gt; Alaska Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Introduction to Alaska Vital Records

Alaska Vital Records include birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. A copy or extract of the original record may be purchased from the Alaska Burea of Vital Statistics or the Clerk's office where the event occurred. An overview of United States Vital Records offers additional insight into researching vital records in general.

Alaska Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online
=== Alaska Vital Records Online  ===

A few Alaska Vital Record indexes are available online. These online resources usually consist of indexes or extracts of original records. After locating a person in the Alaska Vital Record Indexes, original records should always be consulted. No known digitized images of original Alaska Birth, Marriage or Death Records are available online.

Alaska Quick Links:

 * Alaska State Archives genealogy sources - Free
 * Alaska Links from the SLC FHL Online Favorite Links for the World - Free
 * Alaska Databases from Rootsweb.org - Free
 * USGenWeb.org Alaska Site - Free
 * Tombstone Transcription Project for Alaskan Cemeteries - Free
 * Statewide Alaska Indexes from Research Guidance
 * Vital Records Search and Information Directory for Alaska - Free/$
 * Linkpendium Alaska Genealogy and History, including Boroughs &amp; Census Areas- Free/$
 * Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics manages all vital records - $
 * Ancestry.com Alaska Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Records - $
 * Address to Order Alaska Certificates - $

Birth Records
1804 - 1913

Sitkawas the center of government in Alaska until 1906 when Juneau became the capital. Before territorial registration of records began in 1913, church records may be consulted.

1913 - Present

Territorial registration of Birth records began in 1913 and was generally complied with by 1945. The Alaska State Bureau of Vital Statistics has a few records from 1913 but most of the collection is after 1930. Only persons listed on the birth records recorded in the past 100 years are allowed to order a copy due to privacy laws.

Adoption
General information on adoption may be found at the United States Adoption.

Marriage Records
1804 - 1930 

Sitka was the center of the government in Alaska until 1906 when Juneau became the capital. Alaska functioned as a U.S. District after 1884 and became a U.S. Territory in 1912. Territorial registration of Marriage Records began in 1913 and was generally complied with by 1945. Church records would be a good source for marriages not found at the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics.

1930 - Present

The Alaska State Bureau of Vital Statistics has a number of Marriage Records beginning in 1890 but most are after 1930.

The Western States Marriage Index has collected a few Alaska marriages between 1896 -1911. This index may be searched online at no cost. Eventually the Western States Marriage Index plans to include all marriage records for the western states.

Divorce Records
Early - 1950

Pre-1950 divorce records may be obtained from the Clerk of Superior Court in the judicial district where the divorce was granted.

1950 - Present

Divorce records after 1950 may be obtained from Bureau of Vital Statistics. There is a 50 year privacy law.

Death Records
1804 - 1913

Sitka was the center of the government in Alaska until 1906 when Juneau became the capital. Alaska. Territorial registration of Death Records began in 1913 and was generally complied with by 1945. Church records are a good source for marriages not found at the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics.

1913 - Present

The Death Record collection at the Alaska State Bureau of Vital Statistics starts in 1890 but most of the records in their files are after 1930.

The U.S. Social Security Death Index contains information on persons receiving Social Security whose deaths were reported to the government. The index contains data from 1962 to the present, however, the Social Security Administration also has additional records dating to 1936.

Alaska Native Population
Native Tribes of Alaska


 * Athabascan
 * Tlingit
 * Haida
 * Eskimos: Inuit and Yupik

Substitute Records
Delayed Birth records were created by the Bureau of Vital Statistics from borrowed microfilms of original Russian Church records. Request for genealogical inquires of this collection are refused. However films of birth, marriages and deaths recorded by the Russian Greek Orthodox Catholic Church from 1816 to 1936 and LDS member records from 1885 to 1951 are available at the Family History Library and may be borrowed and viewed at a local Family History Center. These church records are the best source of Alaska Births, Marriages, and Deaths prior to 1950.


 * Alaska Census Records Early Census were taken and survive for parts of Alaska.
 * Alaska Cemetery Records
 * Church Records should be utilized in the pre civil registration time period.
 * Alaska History
 * Military Records : enlistment, service and pension records
 * Newspapers Records : obituary, birth and marriage announcements, death notices
 * Alaska Periodicals

Tips

 * Information given on a birth or death certificate is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to determine the accuracy of the record.


 * If you are unable to locate a vital records recorded by civil governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, burial or death. A family Bible may have been used to record family births, marriages and deaths.


 * Privacy laws restrict access to the records of living individuals. The individual must apply for their own records. Parents may be permitted to obtain a record for a child.

= Archives, Libraries and Societies =

Alaska Archives, Societies and Libraries

Important Dates
Governmental Jurisdictions: (RedBook)


 * 1799-1861 Russian American Company
 * 1861-1867 Russian Imperial Administration
 * 1868-1877 U.S. War Department -Customs
 * 1877-1884 U.S. Treasury Dept.
 * 1884-1912 U.S. District Status
 * 1912-1959 U.S. Territorial Status
 * 1943 Military Personnel stationed in Alaska.
 * After statehood (Jaunuary 3, 1959) twenty-seven civil jurisdictions were created: fourteen divisions called municipalities and boroughs and another thirteen Alaska Native Claims Settlement Acto Corporations (ANCSA)