Alaska Church Records

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

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 the Family History Library (index on FHL film 944197).

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, but 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.

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.

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 Telephone: 610-867-7566 Fax: 610-866-9223 Internet: http://alaskamoravian.org/artman/publish/

Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 Telephone: 215-627-1852 Fax: 215-627-0509 Internet: http://www.history.pcusa.org/

Roman Catholic
Diocese of Juneau 419 Sixth Street Juneau, AK 99801 Telephone: 907-586-2227 Fax: 907-463-3237 Internet: http://www.dioceseofjuneau.org/

Chancery Office Diocese of Fairbanks 1316 Peger Road Fairbanks, AK 99701 Telephone: 907-474-0753 Fax: 907-474-8009 Internet: http://www.cbna.info/

Archdiocese of Anchorage 225 Cordova Street Anchorage, AK 99501 Telephone: 907-258-7898 Fax: 907-279-3885 Internet: http://www.archdioceseofanchorage.org/

The Sisters of Providence Archives (Hospital Records) 4800 37th Avenue S.W. Seattle, WA 98126 Telephone: 206-937-4600 Fax: 206-938-6193 Internet: http://www.sistersofprovidence.net/150years/index.php?page=history&amp;h=timeline

Russian Orthodox
St. Herman's Theological Seminary 414 Mission Road Kodiak, AK 99615 Telephone: 907-486-3524 Fax: 907-486-5935 Internet: http://dioceseofalaska.org/shs/html/home.html