Researching at the National Archives

Submitted by Host GFS Heather

This evening we will discuss what is available at the National Archives to help with your research. I personally worked as a volunteer at the Seattle National Archives a few years back. They have volunteers there to help you learn the ropes. Many of their records you will find are on Microfilm. So you will need to view them on a Microfilm reader, which is simple to use.

The National Archives, also known as NARA (National Archives Records Administration), has several different regional locations in the US. Each Region covers particular areas of the US. The NARA has holdings of Federal Records, including all Census Records from 1790-1920; the 1890 census records were burned, however there is a census record for 1890 for those who fought in the Civil War.

There are Military and Pension index records of those who served in the different Wars... such as the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Mexican American War, Indian Wars, etc. They have a separate index for each War, with individuals listed alphabetically. Pensions are on a separate index file for the different wars. The only names listed on the Pension index are those who received a Pension or the Widow of individual. For military records, there are some records for individual companies of the Revolutionary War. When you find a record of your individual, it will list what company \ regiment they were in and when they enlisted. Once you have this information you can send away for the actual Military and Pension records.

Other records one can find at NARA are as follows:

~ 1 ~ Naturalization
~ 2 ~ Immigration
~ 3 ~ Ship and Passenger Lists
~ 4 ~ Homestead Applications
~ 5 ~ Various City Directories
~ 6 ~ Territorial and State Census Records, for that area

~ 7 ~ Native American Records, including census records of Reservations, which in many areas was done yearly. You will also find many other types of records.

In preparation for a visit to the National Archives here are a few pointers.

1 - Gather your information on the families you want to do research on. Decide what type of records you want to look up; such as Census Records, Naturalization, Passenger Lists, Military Records, Land Records, Native American Research etc. One way to do this is print up a Family Record Group Sheet on the families you want to look up, including the notes, so you can see what information you need on them.

2 - The National Archives has many books you can order to help you with your research there. One group of catalogs, which is very useful, is the Census Books. These are catalogs that list all the counties and the film numbers. All you have to do is look through the catalogs and write down the film numbers you need. So when you get there you can go to the films directly. This will save you hours of research time. I just visited the National Archives Website and they now have all the Census Books on the Internet for you to view. (1790-1920.)

Visit the website listed below, then click on Census year you want, and search for the film # you want. If you don't know the county your ancestor was in, search the actual census index books at the National Archives which will list the Head of the Household, county, and page number of the film it can be found on. Then go through the catalog and search for that county and film number. You may also view Census index books at many public libraries and some of the Family History Centers.

Microfilm Catalogs available: www.nara.gov/publications/microcat.html

They have catalogs online for the following: ($ sign means you can purchase them also)

American Indians - A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications, (rev. 1998), 140 pp. $

Black Studies - A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications, ( rep. 1996), 97 pp. $

Diplomatic Records - A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications, (1986), 245 pp. $

The Federal Population Censuses - 1790-1890 (rev.2001), 123 pp. $

The 1900 Federal Population Census - (rev. 2000), 80 pp. $

The 1910 Federal Population Census - (rev. 2000), 76 pp. $

The 1920 Federal Population Census - (1992), 96 pp. $

The 1930 Federal Population Census - (to be published 2001)$

Immigrant & Passenger Arrivals - A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications, (rev. 1991), 183 pp. $

Microfilm Resources for Research - A Comprehensive Catalog (rev. 2000), 124 pp. $

Military Service Records - A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications, (1985), 330 pp. $

Each Archive has their own time when they are open; all of them are open M-F. You might want to call ahead of time before going, for some require you to reserve a Microfilm reader.

You can also check out the NARA website at: www.nara.gov

To find the nearest NARA near you go to: www.nara.gov/nara/gotonara.html#DC

I took the liberty of getting all the addresses of the National Archive Branches in the US, here they are:

NARA - Northeast Region (Boston)
380 Trapelo Rd.
Waltham, MA 02154-6399
Ph# 617-647-8104
Covers CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT

NARA - Northeast Region (Pittsfield)
100 Dan Fox DR.
Pittsfield, MA 01201-8230
PH# 413-443-6885.
Has no Original records-only microfilmed records relating to genealogy

NARA - Northeast Region (New York City)
201 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014-4811
PH# 212-337-1300
Covers NY, NJ, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands

NARA - Mid Atlantic Region (Center City, Philadelphia)
900 Market St., Room 1350
Philadelphia, PA 19107-4292
PH# 215-597-3000
Covers DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV

NARA - Southeast Region
1557 St. Joseph Ave.
East Point, GA 30344-2593
PH# 404-763-7477
Covers AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, and TN
(This archive will be moving to a different location within 1-2 years, down to Clayton Co., GA)

NARA - Great Lakes Region (Chicago)
7358 S. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL. 60629-5898
PH# 773-581-7816
Covers IL, IN, MI, MN, OH and WI

NARA - Central Plains Region
2312 E. Bannister Rd.
Kansas City, MO. 64131-3011
PH# 816-926-6934
Covers IA, KS, MO, and NE

NARA - Southwest Region
501 W. Felix St.
P.O. Box 6216
Fort Worth, TX 76115-0216
PH# 817-334-5525
Covers AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX

NARA - Rocky Mountain Region
Building 48, Denver Federal Center
P.O. Box 25307
Denver, CO. 80225-0307
PH# 303-236-0801
Covers CO, MT, ND, SD, UT and WY

NARA - Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)
24000 Avilia Rd.
P.O. Box 6719
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-6719
PH# 714-360-2641
Covers AZ, Southern CA, and Clark County, NV

NARA - Pacific Region (San Francisco)
1000 Commodore Dr.
San Bruno, CA 94066-2350
PH# 415-876-9015
Covers CA (except southern CA), HI, NV (except Clark Co.), American Samoa, and Guam

NARA - Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle)
6125 Sand Point Way N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115-7999
PH# 206-526-6501
Covers ID, OR and WA

NARA - Pacific Alaska Region (Anchorage)
654 W. 3rd. Ave.
Anchorage, AK. 99501-2145
PH# 907-271-2443
Covers AK

© 2002 GFNEWS, a monthly publication of the Golden Gate Genealogy Forum, Inc. of Franklin, MA.
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