Step-by-Step Arkansas Research, 1850-1910

Arkansas Step-by-Step Research 1850--1910 Step-by-Step Research 1880--present Step-by-Step Research 1850--1910

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 are the best questions to ask?
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 :
 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History


 * 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.
Example of a census record.
 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (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 can be listed.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.





Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
- For more information, see Arkansas Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Try to find additional details about your ancestors in death certificates, Social Security, obituary and cemetery records online.
When a person dies, several records will be created: death certificates, Social Security records, obituaries, and cemetery records.
 * Birth records were not available until 1905. Death certificates can give birth information for people born before then. Death certificates frequently give the birth date and place, parents' names, and birth places of parents.


 * The Social Security Death Index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits. The index entries give the person's full birth date, last known residence, and residence at the time they first enrolled.


 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index provides information filed in the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names.


 * Cemetery records can be as simple as the information on the headstone or, in some FindAGrave records, they can report more thorough information about birth, parents, spouses, children, and siblings.


 * Obituaries can also vary from simple announcement of the death, to birth and marriage information, parents, siblings, descendants, and residence and occupation histories.

Example of a FindAGrave cemetery record.



Death Indexes

 * Index only.
 * Arkansas Digital Archives - Arkansas Death Records Index, 1812-2006
 * Index only.
 * Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950 ($)
 * Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961, index ($)

Writing for Full Death Certificates
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 Arkansas Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

U.S. Social Security Records

 * 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.

'''Obituaries

 * ObitsArchive.com - Arkansas ($)
 * ObituariesHelp.org - Arkansas Newspaper Obituaries Listings
 * Online Arkansas Death Indexes, Records &amp; Obituaries
 * The Obituary Link Page - Arkansas Obituary Links
 * Arkansas Obituaries
 * — index and images

Cemeteries

 * Findagrave.com
 * 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
 * Arkansas Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Arkansas Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project at Arkansas Gravestones
 * Arkansas Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Arkansas Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * Arkansas, Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery Records, 1867-2013 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * at FamilySearch; index & images

For more information, see Arkansas Obituaries and Arkansas Cemeteries.

Step 4: Search for county birth and marriage records online.
'''Vital records registration of births and marriages at the state level started in 1914. Prior to that the individual counties kept some records. The starting dates of those records vary from county to county, depending on when the county was formed.''' Example of county birth indexes.

Example of an indexed county marriage entry.

Online Records
Births (and Deaths) Marriages
 * Index only.

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: Arkansas Counties.

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

Step 5: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration. Example of an indexed christening record.
 * 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.



FamilySearch Historical Records

 * 1812-1965, index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection
 * 1860-1976, index, incomplete. Emphasis on Columbia and Woodruff Counties — How to Use this Collection
 * 1882-1929; 1945-1963, index, incomplete — How to Use this Collection

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

Step 6: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards online.
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 Arkansas Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 7: 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.



Arkansas Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records
 * 1500s-1900s All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry; index only ($); Also at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
 * 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas

Cultural Groups

 * 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
 * Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
 * Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas
 * Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Arkansas

Passport Records Online

 * 1795-1925 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection
 * 1795-1925 U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at Ancestry ($); index and images

Arkansas Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * Research in Arkansas Immigration and Naturalization Records
 * USA citizenship requirements
 * Arkansas, Naturalization Records, 1907-1968 ($)
 * Sebastian, Fort Smith, naturalization record, 1872-1987
 * Pulaski County, Little Rock, naturalization record, 1903-1981

For more information, see Arkansas Emigration and Immigration and Arkansas 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 Arkansas; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Arkansas" 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 "Arkansas" and the county name.
 * Genealogy Book Links, Arkansas. Browse list; county histories are interspersed.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Arkansas 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.


 * Also, in  Step 11, you will be contacting a county history society. Societies often have a good selection of printed histories about the area. Some may be search history for you for a fee.

Biography Collections

 * Arkansas History Commission. Biographical card file index, 1819-1950
 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. . . . 1890
 * Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs ($)
 * [Biographical and Historical Memoirs: of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Springs Counties, Arkansas. . ..
 * Southern Arkansas Biographical and Historical Memoirs($)
 * Western Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs($) ''
 * My Genealogy Hound
 * Arkansas Biographical History at Ancestry ($)
 * Central Arkansas Counties Biographical Historical Memoirs at Ancestry ($)
 * Biographical and pictorial history of Arkansas at Ancestry ($)

For more information, see Arkansas Biography.

Step 9: Search for 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: Arkansas
 * 1783–1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1817–1979 at FamilySearch; images - How to Use this Collection
 * Arkansas, Wills and Probate Records, 1818-1998 at Ancestry ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1879 at FamilySearch; images.

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

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

Step 10: Search land records online.
These records will give the They can contain clues to
 * names of the buyer (grantee) and seller (grantor),
 * previous or new residence of the parties to the deed
 * the date they obtained the land,
 * the description of exact location of the land, sometimes mentioning neighbors.
 * family members who shared ownership of the land,
 * sold or gave land to a child, or
 * officially witnessed the sale.

Search for any ancestor's land records .

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Arkansas
 * See United States Land and Property for more databases and resources.
 * Pre-1908 Land Patents - Arkansas at MyHeritage ($)
 * Pre-1908 Arkansas, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry; abstracts ($)
 * 1743-1955 Arkansas, State Land Registries at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1788-1960s U.S. Land Patent Search at Bureau of Land Management, index and some records
 * 1820-1908 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1822-1986 Arkansas State Land records, 1822-1986 (Arkansas Digital Archives)
 * 1861-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, images
 * 1863-1908 U.S., Homestead Records, 1863-1908 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * Arkansas County Data at Arkansas County Data
 * Survey Plats and Field Notes at Bureau of Land Management - index
 * Arkansas Land Records-Interactive Search
 * Land Owner Search at Historygeo.com ($), index to maps of original land owners

For more information, see Arkansas Land and Property.

Step 11: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.

 * County or local historical or genealogical 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. Posts there from relatives might lead to additional family information.


 * Find the society on the internet, where 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, one of their members can be hired to search the collections.
 * For more information, see Arkansas Societies.

The online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the list to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings.

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

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

Step 13: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Arkansas.
This article focused more on Arkansas state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Arkansas. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.