Your Guide to Researching Alaska Ancestors

Postal Code: AK Abbreviation: Alaska
State Capital: Juneau
1784 First non native settlement by the Russians 1804 Sitka formed; served as the center of government until 1904
1867 Russia sold Alaska to the United States
Became a Territory in 1912
Admitted as the 49th state in 1959.

There is nothing more helpful that a handy reference book with information specific to the area you are researching. I've listed below those that I know about.
(find in a library) will give you a link to help you find the book in the library closest to you. Most will show libraries near Ann Arbor... to change the location, type in your zip code and you can find libraries near you.

All of the three books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state.

1. Handybook for Genealogists ( 11th edition) (find in a library) (note: some libraries may have earleir editions; those are perfectly usable)
2. Ancestry's Redbook (you'll want the 3rd edition) (find in a library)
3. The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogical Research (find in a library)

Bradbury. Alaska Sources: A Guide to Historical Records and Information Sources , 2001.

Parham. How to Find Your Gold Rush Relative: Sources on the Klondike and Alaska Gold Rushes (1896-1914)

First bookmark or print out the FHL Alaska Research Outline , the Alaska Historical Background and Alaska Statewide Indexes and Collections. Notice the latter 2 have pdf versions (icon in upper right corner).

Check the FHL catalog for Alaska to see what is available on film. Click view related places (upper right) to select counties you are interested in checking and once in a county, click view related places (upper right) to see what material is avaialable for the cities and townships. Remember... you want to check all three jurisdictions, although most people check for county records first, city and township material next and find out what's available for the whole state last.

Bookmark or printout this county map.

Visit the county page of the Alaska Gen Web, the ALHN Alaska page and Alaska History and Genealogy

Visit the website of the Alabaska State Library
- notice especially their Alaska Resource Guide

The Alaska State Archives also has a Genealogy Guide.

Ther is no statewide Genealogy society, but find local ones at the Alaska Genealogy Society Directory

Find what newspapers have been filmed through the Alaska Newspaper Project

Get vital records from Alaska Vital Records (official) or Vitalrec's Alaska Page

Interment.net: Alaska Cemeteries
CemSearch: Alaska Cemeteries

Check out the Yukon-Alaska.com Genealogy Centre, which offers information on its own pages and links to other relevant pages.

And don't forget your Alaska Black Sheep Ancestors.

Leave a query on a Alaska county message board or see if one of the volunteers at Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: Alaska can help you. If you need an obituary, see if there is a volunteer for your area at Obituary Lookup Volunteers: Alaksa.

More Links
* Ancestors Alaska Resource Guide
* Rootsweb Alaska Resources
* Genealink's Alaska Page
* Access Genealogy's List of Alaska Links
* Linkpendium : Alaksa
* Cyndi's List Alaska Page