Tanaina Genealogy Records
Genealogy research for Tanaina, Alaska draws on a strong set of Mat-Su Valley records that cover the Wasilla precinct area where Tanaina is located, including probate case files, vital records, land records, and naturalization documents spanning from the 1920s through the present. Wasilla Probate Records from 1923 to 1961 and Wasilla Births, Marriages, and Deaths from 1923 to 1950 are digitized at FamilySearch. The Alaska State Archives in Juneau and the National Archives at Seattle both hold additional materials that can extend your Tanaina family history research into the earliest settlement era of the Mat-Su Valley.
Tanaina Overview
FamilySearch Collections for Tanaina
The FamilySearch Matanuska-Susitna Borough genealogy guide is the primary online resource for Tanaina research. Tanaina is a census-designated place near Wasilla, and its records fall under the Wasilla precinct collections as well as the broader Mat-Su Borough holdings. FamilySearch has digitized these records as part of a partnership with the Alaska State Archives that produced 1.1 million scanned documents covering statewide records from 1816 to 1998.
Key collections relevant to Tanaina genealogy research include:
- Wasilla Probate Records (1923-1961)
- Wasilla Probate Case Files (1944-1960)
- Wasilla Births, Marriages, and Deaths (1923-1950)
- Palmer Precinct Probate Records (1920-1974)
- Palmer Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (1935-1959)
- Talkeetna Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (1910-1959)
- Palmer-Wasilla-Talkeetna Town Lots Index (1905-1970)
Because Tanaina is located near Wasilla, the Wasilla precinct collections are the most directly relevant. However, the Palmer precinct records are also worth checking, since the borders between precincts were not always clear and families often had dealings across multiple jurisdictions. The Palmer Precinct Probate Records from 1920 to 1974 cover a long span and name family members from throughout the Mat-Su Valley.
Palmer Historical Society Resources
The Palmer Historical Society at palmerhistoricalsociety.org is a strong local resource for Tanaina area genealogy. Palmer is the Mat-Su Borough seat and has been the center of borough record-keeping since the borough was created in 1964. The historical society holds materials on settlement history, agricultural development, and community life throughout the Mat-Su Valley. For Tanaina research, Palmer is the nearest major community with significant historical collections.
The Palmer Historical Society preserves records and artifacts from the Mat-Su Valley region. See palmerhistoricalsociety.org for contact information and research services.
Mat-Su Borough was created on January 1, 1964, and before that time records were kept at the territorial precinct level. The Wasilla and Palmer precincts are the two most important for Tanaina research. Records before 1964 may require checking both precinct collections, since precinct boundaries shifted over time and families moved between communities. The Wasilla-Knik Historical Society at 300 N Boundary Street, Wasilla, AK 99654 (phone 907-376-7755) also holds photographs and documents covering this area and can assist with research by appointment.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough provides government services and maintains records for the Mat-Su Valley. See matsugov.us for borough records and contact information.
Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, Divorces
Certified copies of vital records for Tanaina residents must be ordered through the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. Orders can be placed in person at the Anchorage office at 3601 C Street, Suite 128, or online through VitalChek at health.alaska.gov. All vital records in Alaska are handled at the state level. There is no local Tanaina office that issues certified copies.
State law sets access restrictions. Alaska Statute 18.50.290 closes birth records for 100 years from the date of birth. Alaska Statute 18.50.300 restricts death, marriage, and divorce records for 50 years from the event date. Birth records from before 1926 and other vital records from before 1976 are now fully open. The Wasilla Births, Marriages, and Deaths collection at FamilySearch covers 1923 to 1950 and is free to search online. A first certified copy costs $30, and each additional copy is $25.
Note: The Talkeetna Birth, Marriage, and Death Records from 1910 to 1959 are a useful supplementary source for families who moved between communities in the Mat-Su Valley during those decades.
Probate and Court Records
Tanaina sits in the Wasilla precinct area, so the most directly relevant probate collections are the Wasilla Probate Records from 1923 to 1961 and the Wasilla Probate Case Files from 1944 to 1960. Both are available at the Alaska State Archives and listed in the FamilySearch catalog. The Palmer Precinct Probate Records from 1920 to 1974 are also relevant, since many Mat-Su families had dealings with the Palmer court. Probate files name heirs, creditors, and family members, making them one of the most useful record types when vital records are incomplete.
The statewide Probate Index at the Alaska State Archives covers 1883 to 1960 and holds about 17,000 cases. You can download the index as a spreadsheet. For probate cases filed after 1960, the Matanuska-Susitna Superior Court in Palmer handles borough probate. Federal records for the Tanaina area are held at the National Archives at Seattle, which includes federal court records, census records, and naturalization documents.
Alaska State Archives Records
The Alaska State Archives in Juneau holds records covering the Tanaina area as part of the Matanuska-Susitna territorial collection. Key holdings include naturalization records from 1888 to 1972 available as a downloadable name index, the statewide Probate Index from 1883 to 1960, Vital Statistics from 1816 to 1998, and Military Service Discharge Records from 1898 to 1934. A Research Inquiry Form is available for specific record requests, and archives staff will search their holdings and respond by mail or email.
Additional collections at the archives include Teacher Records from 1917 to 1959, a Pioneer Home Residents index from 1913 to 1980, and a World War I Veterans index covering Alaska territory residents. The archives also hold the Palmer-Wasilla-Talkeetna Town Lots Index from 1905 to 1970, which documents early land transactions throughout the Mat-Su Valley including the Tanaina area. This is a good source for confirming when and where a family acquired land in the region.
Alaska's Digital Archives at vilda.alaska.edu provides free online access to historical photographs, maps, oral histories, and documents from archives and museums statewide. Searching for Tanaina or the broader Wasilla area can surface images and documents that help place your family in context during different periods of Mat-Su Valley development.
Land and Property Records
The Palmer-Wasilla-Talkeetna Town Lots Index from 1905 to 1970 is a key record for the Tanaina area. It is available at FamilySearch and shows early property transactions across the Mat-Su Valley. Borough property records are also available through the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assessor. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources ALRIS system provides free online access to deeds, mortgages, and other recorded property documents and is a good starting point for land searches.
Federal land patents and deed records from 1906 to 1975 are available through Ancestry. Bureau of Land Management records hold homestead claims for the Mat-Su Valley, and the National Archives at Seattle holds additional federal land records. Cemetery records for the Tanaina area are available through Find a Grave and BillionGraves, and local church records may provide additional confirmation of family events not captured in official vital records.
Census Records and School Records
Federal census records are available from 1900 onward for the Mat-Su Valley area. Earlier censuses for the Alaska territory are more sparse, but the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses cover the Wasilla precinct area that includes Tanaina. These records list all household members by name, age, birthplace, and relationship to the head of household. The 1940 census is fully released and shows Mat-Su Valley families in detail. For families in Tanaina from the 1950s through 1970s, the 1950, 1960, and 1970 censuses provide further documentation.
School records through the Mat-Su Borough School District can help confirm when children were enrolled in area schools. The Alaska State Archives also holds school census records for some early territorial periods. Directory listings for residents of the Wasilla and Mat-Su Valley area appear in Alaska business directories and city directories held at the Alaska State Library. These can help confirm a person's presence and occupation in the area during a specific year.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Records
Tanaina is located within Matanuska-Susitna Borough. All borough-level genealogy records, including courthouse details, FamilySearch collections, and state archive resources for the broader Mat-Su Valley, are covered on the borough page.
Cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
These qualifying cities in Mat-Su Borough have dedicated genealogy pages on this site: