Search Alaska Genealogy Records
Alaska genealogy records span vital statistics, probate files, naturalization papers, military records, and land documents held by the state archives, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and partner repositories across the country. Whether you are tracing a family line through the gold rush era, researching Alaska Native heritage, or looking up a birth certificate from the territorial period, this guide covers the key sources and how to reach them. From the Alaska State Archives in Juneau to 1.1 million digitized documents available through FamilySearch, Alaska genealogy research has more depth than most people expect.
Alaska Genealogy at a Glance
Alaska State Archives Genealogy Resources
The Alaska State Archives in Juneau is the primary starting point for Alaska genealogy research. The archives holds government records from both the territorial period and the state era, stretching back to the 1800s. None of these records were created for genealogy, but many contain rich individual-level information that researchers depend on. The archives is located at 141 Willoughby Avenue, Juneau, AK 99801. Phone: 907-465-2270. A public research room is available for in-person work, and staff can help you navigate collections.
A landmark partnership resulted in 1.1 million documents being scanned by FamilySearch.org together with the Alaska State Archives, making vital statistics, probate, and naturalization records accessible online. These records go back to the mid-1800s and form the backbone of Alaska genealogy research. The collection guides and indexes at the archives website list every major holding with finding aids. The Vital Statistics by Name spreadsheet links directly to document images at FamilySearch.
Key collections held at the archives include naturalization records from 1888 to 1972, available as a downloadable spreadsheet index with thousands of entries. The Pioneer Home Residents index covers 1913 to 1980 and documents individuals who lived in Alaska's state-run care homes for the elderly. The Probate Index spans 1883 to 1960 with roughly 17,000 cases downloadable as a spreadsheet. Teacher records from 1917 to 1959 document educators across rural and remote Alaska. A WWI Veterans index lists Alaska Territory residents who served between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918, including those who died in service.
The Research Inquiry Form lets you submit specific questions to archives staff. To get a useful response, provide the full name (including maiden name), time and place of birth or death in Alaska, school attended, land ownership history, mining interests, and any known military service.
Note: Adoption records at the Alaska State Archives are sealed and require written permission from a judge or probate master under Alaska Statute 25.23.150. Adult adoptees may be able to access non-identifying information through the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Alaska Vital Records for Family History Research
The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics is the official source for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for events that happened in Alaska. The office also handles delayed birth certificates, legal name changes, and apostilles for international document use. Under Alaska Statute 18.50.290, birth records are closed for 100 years from the date of birth. Death, marriage, and divorce records are closed for 50 years under Alaska Statute 18.50.300. Access to records within those time frames is restricted to the person named, immediate family members, legal representatives, and those who can show a demonstrated legal right.
Orders can be placed in person at the Anchorage office at 3601 C Street, Suite 128, or at the Juneau office at 5441 Commercial Blvd. Online orders go through VitalChek, the state-authorized vendor. Mail and fax requests typically take two to three months. Online requests run two to three weeks. The first copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate costs $30. Additional copies of the same record cost $25 each. For questions about certified copies, contact the Records Processing Unit at BVSOffice@alaska.gov. Changes and corrections to vital records go through BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov.
Alaska's statewide vital records registration started in 1913. General compliance came gradually, and many records from the 1920s and 1930s are still incomplete. Records before 1913 do exist in some form through church registers, federal records, and missionary archives, but they are scattered across multiple repositories. The FamilySearch collection of Alaska vital statistics covers 1816 through 1998 and includes more than a million documents.
Alaska State Library and Historical Collections
The Alaska State Library Historical Collections holds a different set of genealogy materials than the state archives. The library focuses on non-government sources and compiled indexes. The physical collection is at 395 Whittier Street, Juneau, AK 99801. Hours are 10 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Phone: 907-465-2910. Interlibrary loan services let researchers at other Alaska libraries access materials they cannot reach in person.
The Alaska People Index stands out as a core resource. It was compiled to help genealogists, librarians, and historians find biographical information about Alaskans and individuals in nearby Canadian communities. The index contains over 20,000 names and covers 1935 to 1985 across two volumes. The Alaska-Yukon Gold Book from 1930 documents Sourdoughs from the Klondike Gold Stampede era. Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers in four volumes pulls content from newspaper obituaries and magazine articles, with sources cited for each entry. An index to Alaska directories and business gazetteers from 1901 to 1912 covers more than 105,000 personal names with occupations and addresses.
Alaska Territorial Telephone Books from 1906 to 1958 are held on microfiche. The collection contains 287 directories from a wide range of communities. These are useful when you know a person lived somewhere in Alaska but lack more specific documentation. The library also holds newspaper collections searchable through the newspaper indexes database.
Alaska Genealogy Records Online
FamilySearch is the most complete free source for digitized Alaska genealogy records. The Alaska Online Genealogy Records wiki page lists dozens of specific collections. Vital records from 1816 to 2005 are indexed there, with images for most collections. Census records go back to 1870 and include Alaska Village Census Rolls from 1919 to 1972. Immigration records from 1906 to 1956 include Alaska alien arrivals with images. Military records include World War II draft registration cards from 1940 to 1945. Naturalization records run from 1884 to 1991 with images at FamilySearch. Probate records span 1883 to 1978 indexed with images at both FamilySearch and Ancestry.
The Alaska Digital Archives holds historical photographs, oral histories, moving images, maps, and documents from archives, museums, and libraries throughout the state. Content focuses mainly on the territorial period, 1867 to 1959. The project is a collaboration between the Alaska State Library, University of Alaska Anchorage, and University of Alaska Fairbanks. Filters on the left side of the search interface help narrow results by institution, record type, and subject.
Military Records and Alaska Genealogy
Military records for Alaska are split across several repositories. The National Archives at Seattle holds federal records including census, military service records, naturalization records, and federal court records for Alaska. Records from before 1912 are at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. Records from World War I forward are held at the National Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. The Alaska State Archives holds a separate index of WWI-era enlistment records and military service discharge records from 1898 to 1934. In 1923, the Alaska Territorial Legislature passed an act to compile a list of all Alaskans who served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps during World War I. That register is searchable online.
The probate index from the Alaska State Archives covers 1883 to 1960 with roughly 17,000 cases. Full probate estate files are available at FamilySearch and Ancestry for 1883 to 1978 with images. Probate records are among the most genealogically detailed documents because they name family members, list assets, and sometimes include letters and diaries. Every borough and census area had its own probate court during the territorial period, so records vary by location.
Note: The National Archives at Seattle can be searched online through the National Archives Catalog. The catalog lists records that have been digitized and shows finding aids for those that have not.
Land Records and Property Research in Alaska
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska maintains federal land records including land patents, mining claims, and homestead records going back to the Alaska Purchase in 1867. The Alaska Land Records Information System allows free online search by name, location, or document type. Deed and tract books from 1906 to 1975 are available through Ancestry with images. Land patent records from the same period are also indexed there. These records often include family relationships and prior residences that do not appear in vital records.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources maintains land records through recording districts across the state. Each district holds deeds, mortgages, mining claims, and other property documents for its area. Certified copies of recorded documents are available from DNR District Recorder offices. The DNR land records page explains how to search and request records from specific districts.
Alaska Newspaper Indexes for Genealogy
The Alaska Newspaper Index covers several major papers from 1966 through the 1970s and beyond. Papers indexed include the Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage Daily Times, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Juneau Alaska Empire, and the Tundra Times. A separate obituary index covers the Alaska Weekly and Alaska Sportsman from 1901 to 1966, drawing from more than a dozen historical papers including the Cordova Daily Alaskan, Ketchikan Daily News, Wrangell Sentinel, and Juneau Empire predecessors. These indexes are worth checking when vital records and probate files do not give you enough detail.
Special Alaska Genealogy Databases and Societies
The Lost Alaskans database is one of the most distinctive resources for Alaska family history. It documents residents who were declared legally insane or who had disabilities and were sent to Morningside Hospital in Portland, Oregon, from 1904 through the 1960s. Many families lost all contact with relatives shipped to Morningside. The database includes names, dates, and whatever biographical information survives from hospital records. If you have a family member who disappeared from Alaska records during those decades, this database is worth searching.
Alaska has a network of active genealogical societies that provide research assistance and local expertise. The Alaska Historical Society maintains a directory of these groups. The Anchorage Genealogical Society serves the Anchorage area at PO Box 212265, Anchorage, AK 99521. The Fairbanks Genealogical Society is at PO Box 60534, Fairbanks, AK 99706-0534. The Gastineau Genealogical Society in Juneau operates out of the Family History Center at 5100 Glacier Highway and can be reached at 907-723-2608 or ggs@ggsalaska.org. The Genealogical Society of Southeast Alaska is at PO Box 6313, Ketchikan, AK 99901. The Kenai Totem Tracers serve the peninsula at PO Box 4380, Kenai, AK 99611, email totemtracers@hotmail.com.
Alaska statutes governing vital records access are codified at Title 18.50 of the Alaska Statutes. The law sets out access rules, fees, and the time frames before records become public. Violation of confidentiality provisions can result in civil and criminal penalties.
Browse Alaska Genealogy by Borough and Census Area
Alaska is organized into boroughs and census areas rather than counties. Each has its own set of local records and research resources. Pick a location below to find genealogy resources specific to that area.
View All 30 Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas
Alaska City Genealogy Records
Larger Alaska cities are home to genealogical societies, public library collections with Ancestry.com access, local archives, and historical society records. Pick a city below to find resources near you.