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Beginning Your Genealogical Research at the National Archives and Records Administration

Conducting family research? Learn how to start your genealogical research at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the nation's recordkeeper, and discover records of genealogical interest such as census records, passenger arrival records, naturalization records, land records, and military records. Compile information about your family, ask relatives for family history, and look in family records before visiting NARA. Remember that NARA maintains only permanent records of the Federal Government and does not hold vital records. Begin your family research journey at NARA today!

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Beginning Your Genealogical Research at the National Archives and Records Administration

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  1. Beginning Your Genealogical Research at The National Archives and Records Administration Revised 2017 > MAIN MENU

  2. The National Archives and Records Administration Family Research at the National Archives Census Records Native Americans Washington, DC, Area Research Facilities Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) African Americans Beginning Your Research at Japanese Americans Regional Archives Naturalization Records Chinese Americans Land Records To Contact Us Hispanic Americans Military Records Rules for Using Records < > MAIN MENU

  3. Conducting Family Research Don’t know where to start? Looking for records of your family? The National Archives may be able to help. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  4. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) NARA is the nation’s recordkeeper, preserving and making available the permanently valuable records of the Federal Government. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  5. National Archives more > > < > MAIN MENU

  6. Conducting Family Research is useful for family research. Records of Genealogical Interest Any record that gives a: • Name • Place • Date more > > < > MAIN MENU

  7. Before visiting the National Archives . . . Compile as much information as possible about your family. Start with yourself, parents, and grandparents 1 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  8. Before visiting the National Archives . . . Compile as much information as possible about your family. Ask your relatives about your family history 2 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  9. Before visiting the National Archives . . . Compile as much information as possible about your family. Look in family records (letters, family Bibles, scrapbooks, diaries, photographs, baptismal certificates, newspaper clippings, etc) 3 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  10. As you begin your family research at NARA Remember • The National Archives maintains only the permanent records of the Federal Government. • NARA does not hold birth, marriage, divorce, or death records. We also do not have deeds and wills. Check with the appropriate state or county. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  11. As you begin your family research at NARA Remember • Since these records are arranged as the agencies created them, • there is no master subject or name index • most are not digitized more > > < > MAIN MENU

  12. As you begin your family research at NARA Remember • Records keeping practices vary over time. For example: • The 1790 Federal census lists only the head of the household. • The 1880 Federal census lists everyone in the household and their relationship to the head of the household. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  13. Start with the relationship to the Federal Government Think of possible ways your ancestor interacted with the Federal Government. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  14. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest • Census Records • Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) • Naturalization Records • Land Records • Military Records more > > < > MAIN MENU

  15. Records of Groups Interacting with the Government • Native Americans • African Americans • Japanese Americans • Chinese Americans • Hispanic Americans < > MAIN MENU

  16. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Census Records more > > < > MAIN MENU

  17. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Census Records Article 1, Section 2, of the Constitution requires the government to conduct aFederal census every 10 years(beginning in 1790). Thepurposeof the Federal census is to count the population of the United States for apportioning representatives to the House of Representatives. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  18. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Census Records Arrangement 1790–1870 • The Federal Census is arranged by state, county, township, or city 1880–1930 • The Federal Census is arranged by enumeration district. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  19. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Census Records Access • There is a 72-year restriction on access to population census information. • Currently, the National Archives has open Federal census records on microfilm from 1790 to 1930. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  20. Census Records 1790–1840 Lists head of household only Example: Paul Revere, 1810 Census in Suffolk County, Massachusetts more > > < > MAIN MENU

  21. Census Records Records everyone in the household, but not the relationship to the head of the household 1850–1870 Example: Abraham Lincoln is enumerated on page 140 of the Sangamon County, Illinois, 1860 Census Schedule more > > < > MAIN MENU

  22. Census Records Records everyone in the household and the relationship to the head of the household. Enumeration districts are noted. 1880–1930 Example: Laura Ingalls Wilder is enumerated on page 2A of the Wright County, Missouri, (Enumeration District 152) 1900 Census Schedule more > > < > MAIN MENU

  23. Census Records Nearly all of the 1890 census was destroyed as a result of a Department of Commerce fire in 1921. 1890 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  24. Census Records You may view Census Records at: • National Archives Building, Washington, DC • NARA’s Regional Archives < > MAIN MENU

  25. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) more > > < > MAIN MENU

  26. U.S. Customs Service arrival lists, 1820–1890 Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) arrival lists, 1891–1957 Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) Types Arrival lists are arranged by port of entry and date of arrival more > > < > MAIN MENU

  27. Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) • Philadelphia passenger lists begin in 1800. Most other lists begin in 1820. • Pre-1820 records may be on file at the Port of Entry or the State Archives, in the state where the port is located. • For more information, see Passenger and Immigration List Index by P. William Filby (available in the NARA Library). more > > < > MAIN MENU

  28. Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) • New York arrival lists are not indexed from 1847 to 1896. • Canadian border crossings, also called St. Albans lists, begin in 1895. • Mexican border crossings records, 1924–1954, are arranged by port of arrival. The complete series has not yet been microfilmed. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  29. Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) INS Manifest 1907 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  30. Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) INS Manifest 1953 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  31. Passenger Arrival Records (Immigration) Availability • The National Archives, Washington, DC, has a complete microfilm set of available passenger lists. • NARA’s Regional Archives microfilm copies of passenger arrival records that cover the ports in their area. < > MAIN MENU

  32. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Naturalization Records more > > < > MAIN MENU

  33. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Naturalization Records • Naturalization was a two-step process, generally requiring a five-year minimum residency in the United States. Step 1 –Declaration of Intention (First Papers) Step 2 –Petition for Naturalization (Granted Citizenship) • The only copy of the certificate of naturalization was sent to the applicant. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  34. Naturalization Records Declaration of Intention for Albert Einstein, June 4, 1943 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  35. Naturalization Records Declaration of Intention for Greta Garbo, September 9, 1948 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  36. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Naturalization Records • For Federal court naturalizations, contact the appropriate NARA Regional Archives. • The National Archives in Washington, DC, holds naturalization records for Federal courts in Washington, DC. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  37. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Naturalization Records Federal Contact the NARA Regional Archives that serves the state where naturalizations occurred to request a search of Federal court records. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  38. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Naturalization Records State Contact the State archives for the state where the naturalizations occurred to request a search of state, county, and local court records. Local Contact the appropriate State archives or the county. < > MAIN MENU

  39. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Land Records more > > < > MAIN MENU

  40. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Land Records • The Federal Government documented the transfer of public lands from the U.S. Government to private ownership. • Land patent certificates document only the first transfer of title of land from the United States to another party. • Records of later transfers may be found in county or state records. more > > < > MAIN MENU

  41. Land Records Land records consist of: • Tract Books(documenting land transactions) • Patent Books (documenting official transfer from the Federal Government to the individual) Tract books cover two geographical areas: • Eastern states • Western states more > > < > MAIN MENU

  42. Land Records The Eastern Statesconsist of: For Tract Books covering these states Contact: Eastern States Office Bureau of Land Management 7450 Boston Boulevard Springfield, VA 22153-3121 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  43. Land Records TheWestern Statesconsist of: For Tract Books covering these states Contact: National Archives and Records Administration 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20408-0001 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  44. Land Records Availability Contact: National Archives and Records Administration 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20408-0001 for the following: • Land patent case files • Mineral entry case files, 1800–1908 • Railroad land case files • Mineral patent case files • Timber patent case files more > > < > MAIN MENU

  45. Land Records Availability Check the appropriate State Archives for the following areas that are not public land states: Connecticut Delaware Georgia Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Virginia • Any state that was part of the original 13 colonies • Hawaii • Kentucky • Tennessee • Texas • West Virginia < > MAIN MENU

  46. Principal Records of Genealogical Interest Records about Military Service more > > < > MAIN MENU

  47. Records about Military Service Repositories • NARA holds Federal records of military service in tworepositories: • National Archives Building, Washington, DC (Revolutionary War – 1912) • The National Archives at St. Louis and the National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO (Late 19th century – Present) more > > < > MAIN MENU

  48. Records about Military Service To locate military records, you need to know as much information as possible about the soldier’s service including: • Dates of service • Branch of service • Conflict fought in • Volunteer unit • Regular Army (Officer or enlisted personnel) more > > < > MAIN MENU

  49. Records about Military Service Repositories The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, holds records relating to: A. • Volunteer enlisted men and officerswhose military service was performed during a particular war or emergency, 1775–1902 • Regular Army: • Officers, 1789–June 30, 1917 • Enlisted personnel, 1789–October 31, 1912 • U.S. Navy: • Officers, 1798–1902 • Enlisted personnel, 1798–1885 more > > < > MAIN MENU

  50. Records about Military Service Repositories The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, holds records relating to: A. • U.S. Marine Corps: • (Some) Officers, 1798–1895 • Enlisted personnel, 1798–1904 • Those who served in predecessor agencies of the U.S. Coast Guard, i.e., the Revenue Cutter Service (Revenue Marine), the Life-Saving Service, and the Lighthouse Board 1791–1919 more > > < > MAIN MENU

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