Alaska Church Records

Russian Orthodox Church
Before 1900 the largest religious group in Alaska was the Russian Orthodox Church, which was introduced to the Alaskan natives in the eighteenth centuryby Russian fur traders.

The early records of this church are the single most important source of vital records information for the state.
 * Copies of all surviving Russian Orthodox records (in Russian) are at the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
 * These have been microfilmed (401 rolls), and there is an online Inventory: The Alaskan Russian Church Archives (Washington, D.C.: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, 1984).
 * Microfilm copies of the Russian Orthodox Church Archives are available at the National Archives' Pacific Alaska Region; the University of Alaska, Rasmuson Library, Fairbanks, Alaska; the Alaska State Library, Juneau; University of Alaska Library in Anchorage; and the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City.
 * There is an online Index to baptisms, marriages and deaths in the archives of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in Alaska, 1900-1936
 * During World War II many records of Russian Orthodox baptisms, marriages, and deaths were sent to the Library of Congress to be translated and indexed. The originals are still there.
 * Microfilm copies for 1816 to 1936 are on 25 films at the National Archives—Alaska Region, the Rasmuson Library, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and online from FamilySearch:


 * Marriage records are available in the FindMyPast United States Marriages – Alaska, 1895-1944 collection ($). FindMyPast can be searched free-of-charge at any Family History Center

Bureau of Vital Statistics
Moravian, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other denominations have more recently established missions, schools, and hospitals in Alaska. The Moravians, the second largest denomination in Alaska, settled predominantly in Bethel and along the Kuskokwim River.
 * Records for all of these groups are at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Bureau of Vital Statistics collects church records in order to create delayed birth certificates for individuals whose births were not officially recorded. They borrow the original church records to microfilm and return the originals to the church. The staff will do research and make copies for a fee, but requests may be denied if the information is needed for genealogical purposes.
 * A person may obtain only his or her own birth certificate, except for parents who may obtain their own child's certificate. Access to birth records becomes available to the public 100 years after the event.
 * Access to death records filed in the Bureau of Vital Statistics office is restricted for 50 years after the date of the event to family members, their legal representatives, and persons who can prove they are legally entitled.
 * Access to marriage records filed in the Bureau of Vital Statistics office is restricted for 50 years after the date of the event to the persons named on the certificate, their legal representatives, and persons who can prove they are legally entitled.
 * For Catholic and Presbyterian information, write to the local church instead because the Bureau's records are restricted.
 * Most Methodist records are also at the local churches.
 * The Family History Library has a few Presbyterian records.

Writing to a Local Church

 * Some records are still held in the local churches. Contact the current minister to find out what records are still available. If possible, make an appointment to look at the records. Or ask the minister of the church to make a copy of the record for you. A donation ($25-$40) for their time and effort to help you would be appropriate. If the church has a website, you may be able to e-mail a message.

How to Write a Letter

 * See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.

Address Lists
Each denomination page offers an online address directory of local churches for that denomination.

Archives
Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located.

Moravian
Alaska Moravian Church P.O. Box 545 Bethel, AK 99559 Headquarters: Bethlehem, PA Phone: (610) 867-7566 Fax: (610) 866-9223

Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 Phone: (215) 627-1852 Fax: (215) 627-0509

Roman Catholic
Diocese of Juneau 419 Sixth Street Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: (907) 586-2227 Fax: (907) 463-3237

The diocese includes the geographic areas of: Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway, Prince of Wales Outer Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway Yakutat-Angoon and Wrangell Petersburg.

Chancery Office Diocese of Fairbanks 1316 Peger Road Fairbanks, AK 99701 Phone: (907) 474-0753 Fax: (907) 474-8009

The diocese includes the geographic areas of: Bethel, Fairbanks North Star, Nome, North Slope, North West Artic, Southeast Fairbanks, Wade Hampton, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Archdiocese of Anchorage 225 Cordova Street Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 258-7898 Fax: (907) 279-3885

The Archdiocese includes the geographic areas of: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bristol Bay, Dillingham, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska Susitna and Valdez Cordova.

The Sisters of Providence Archives (Hospital Records) 4800 37th Avenue S.W. Seattle, WA 98126 Phone: (206) 937-4600 Fax: (206) 938-6193

Russian Orthodox
St. Herman's Theological Seminary 414 Mission Road Kodiak, AK 99615 Phone: (907) 486-3524 Fax: (907) 486-5935

Missions
Iqurmuit Mission (Russian)