Find Anchorage Genealogy Records
Genealogy research in Anchorage Municipality benefits from one of the richest collections of Alaska family history records in the state, including digitized birth records going back to 1900, marriage records from 1924, death records from 1915, a school census collection, and local obituary indexes covering nearly a century of Anchorage newspapers. The Anchorage Public Library, the Anchorage Museum, and state-level archives in Juneau all hold materials that are hard to find anywhere else.
Anchorage Municipality Overview
FamilySearch Collections for Anchorage
The FamilySearch Anchorage Municipality genealogy guide lists an impressive set of local collections available as free digital images. These records were created when Anchorage was a territorial precinct and are now scanned and searchable online. Key collections include:
- 1900-1960 Anchorage Birth Records
- 1924-1959 Anchorage Marriage Records, including certificates and license dockets
- 1915-1985 Anchorage Death Records, including death certificates and coroner's records
- 1920-1942 Anchorage Probate Records from the 3rd Division Anchorage Precinct
- 1916-1955 Anchorage School Census documenting students in Anchorage area schools
- 1930-1938 Anchorage Voter Records
These collections are part of the larger FamilySearch partnership with the Alaska State Archives, which produced 1.1 million scanned documents covering statewide records from 1816 to 1998. For Anchorage research, having these precinct-level records digitized and indexed means you can often find a record in minutes rather than making a trip to Juneau.
Anchorage grew fast. In 1940 the population was just 4,229. By 1980 it hit 174,431. That fast growth means records from different eras look very different. Early records from the 1910s and 1920s reflect a small railroad town. By the 1950s and 1960s, Anchorage had become a full city with modern record-keeping. The school census records from 1916 to 1955 are a good bridge between eras, often naming both students and their parents.
Anchorage Public Library Genealogy Resources
The Anchorage Public Library at 3600 Denali Street (phone 907-343-2975) is a strong research hub. The library's Alaska Collection includes Ancestry Library Edition for in-library use, giving you access to census records, vital records, immigration records, military records, and family histories. HeritageQuest Online is also available for census and Revolutionary War records. Both databases require you to be physically at the library, but the collection is extensive and well worth a visit.
The library's Anchorage Obituary Index Online covers 1981 to 2001 and draws from Anchorage newspaper sources. The Anchorage High School Yearbook Index Online spans 1917 to 1978. Yearbook indexes can confirm a person's presence in Anchorage at a certain time, and they sometimes list home addresses or parents' names in older editions. The library also links to the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery Master Burial List, which is searchable by last name.
The Alaska State Library in Juneau holds the Anchorage Times Obituaries Index, Volumes 1 and 2, covering 1915 to 1980. This was compiled by Tohksook P. Chang and covers all obituaries of persons who at the time of death were in Alaska or who had once lived in Alaska. Many people have multiple entries because it was common for papers to list a person in three or more editions. Each entry may have different name spellings or details, so checking all entries is worth the time.
Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, Divorces
Certified copies of Anchorage vital records must be ordered through the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Anchorage office is at 3601 C Street, Suite 128. You can also order online through VitalChek via health.alaska.gov. The state handles all vital records centrally; no local Anchorage office issues certified copies.
Access rules are set by state law. 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. This means birth records from before 1926 and other vital records from before 1976 are now fully open to the public. Many of these older records are already digitized at FamilySearch. A first certified copy costs $30, with additional copies at $25 each. Expect two to three weeks for online orders and two to three months for mail requests.
Probate, Court, and Military Records
Anchorage probate records from 1920 to 1942 are in the FamilySearch Catalog under the 3rd Division Anchorage Precinct. The statewide Probate Index at the Alaska State Archives covers 1883 to 1960 and holds about 17,000 cases total. These files name heirs, creditors, and family members, making them valuable even when vital records are thin. You can download the index as a spreadsheet from the archives website.
Federal records for Anchorage are held at the National Archives at Seattle. This includes federal court records, census records, and naturalization documents. Naturalization records from 1884 to 1991 are also at FamilySearch, and a downloadable name index covering 1888 to 1972 is available from the Alaska State Archives. Military discharge records from 1898 to 1934 are indexed at the archives, and World War II Draft Registration Cards from 1940 to 1945 are searchable through FamilySearch.
Local Historical Societies and Museums
The Anchorage Genealogical Society, at PO Box 212265, Anchorage, AK 99521, holds meetings with educational programs and offers research assistance for members working on Anchorage and Alaska family history. If you are new to Alaska genealogy research, connecting with this society is a practical first step. They can point you to local resources and help interpret records that require knowledge of Alaska's unique history.
The Chugiak-Eagle River Historical Society is located at 18606 Old Glenn Highway, Chugiak, AK 99567, phone 907-688-4706 (email cerhs1@gmail.com). This society serves the communities that are part of Anchorage Municipality but have their own distinct histories, including homesteading and agricultural records, Alaska Railroad history in the Eagle River area, records of the military presence at Fort Richardson, and Native Alaskan history of the Eklutna area. If your family came to Anchorage from Eagle River or Chugiak, this is a good contact.
The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center holds historical collections related to Anchorage and Alaska history. See anchoragemuseum.org for research services and collection information.
State-Level Archives and Digital Collections
The Alaska State Archives in Juneau holds Anchorage area records as part of its territorial collection. Beyond vital records, the archives hold 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 who served between April 1917 and November 1918. The archives also maintain collection guides and indexes that can help you navigate the holdings before making a trip or submitting a research inquiry form.
Alaska's Digital Archives at vilda.alaska.edu provides searchable access to historical photographs, maps, oral histories, and documents from archives and museums statewide. For Anchorage, this can turn up early photographs of neighborhoods, schools, and individuals that may help confirm identities or place ancestors in context. The collection was built collaboratively by the Alaska State Library, University of Alaska Anchorage, and University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The Anchorage Public Library at 3600 Denali Street offers in-library access to Ancestry, HeritageQuest, and the Anchorage Obituary Index. See anchoragelibrary.org for hours and contact information.
Land and Property Records
Land records for Anchorage Municipality are searchable through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources ALRIS system, which offers free online access to deeds, mortgages, and other recorded property documents. Federal land patents and deed records from 1906 to 1975 are also available through Ancestry. These records often contain family information including relationships to previous landowners and prior residences that can extend your research.
Cities in Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality includes several communities. These qualifying cities have dedicated genealogy pages on this site:
Nearby Boroughs
Family histories often extend into neighboring areas. Check these boroughs for related genealogy records: