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Montana Area Key to Genealogical Records
Introduction
One of the necessary tasks for all family history researcher is to learn about the
history and the records for the States and Counties where their ancestors lived.
My mother called this developing an "Area Key". In other words you need to know
the territory. This page represents what I have located for an Area Key for Montana
so far.
Area Keys
need to contain a little history, how the area began to be settled and
organized, beginning dates of counties and parent
counties, maps, a list of towns,
information about the state records including when various types of records such
as vital records began to be kept, a list of repositories
such as archives, libraries, and internet sources that contain records,
publications and databases for the state and how we can gain access to them, and
other statewide collections such as for church organizations and lineage
societies.
If you have ancestors in Montana, you would be wise to
make this make this Area Key one of your favorites so you can come back often. I
hope you will find these pages helpful in locating your ancestors.
Sincerely, Donna K. Clark
Montana Counties
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Beaverhead |
Broadwater |
Carbon |
Cascade |
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Chouteau |
Custer |
Dawson |
Deer Lodge |
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Fergus |
Flathead |
Gallatin |
Granite |
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Hill |
Jefferson |
Judith Basin |
Lake |
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Lewis & Clark |
Liberty |
Lincoln |
Madison |
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Meagher |
Missoula |
Park |
Powell |
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Ravalli |
Richland |
Rosebud |
Sanders |
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Silver Bow |
Sweet Grass |
Teton |
Valley |
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Yellowstone |
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Montana Statewide Genealogical
Publications
Montana became a territory
in 1864 and a state in 1889.
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Montana
Biography
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pub. 1899
Montana Pioneers Society
- online at Ancestry.com |
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The following census links at Ancestry.com
take you to the page where you can enter your ancestor's name and search
for that ancestor. To search the original census page by page, scroll down
to the bottom, click on the desired state, then county, and then township. |
1850-1880 Mortality Schedules
 - online at Ancestry.com |
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1870 U.S. Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1880 U. S. Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1890 U. S. Veteran Census - online at Ancestry.com |
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1900 U.S. Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1910 U.S. Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1920 U.S. Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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1930 U.S. Census
- online at Ancestry.com |
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As I was using
Ancestry's
Free Family Tree I noticed there
were three possible historical records that the search engine found
pertaining to my grandfather. As I checked them out, I discovered that the
1900 Montana Census contained more information about my grandfather. I
learned that before grandfather married grandmother, he worked and boarded
at a boarding house in Great Falls Montana. This was information that
verified what my father said before he died. I knew grandpa had been in
Montana, but I did not know where in Montana. I am grateful the
Free Family Tree filled me in on
more details. |
Montana
Church
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pub. 1941
A Directory of churches & religious organizations in Montana, 1941 - online at Ancestry.com |
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pub. 1942
Inventory of the vital statistics records of churches and religious organizations in Montana, 1942
- online at Ancestry.com |
Montana
History
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pub. 1894
An illustrated history of the state of Montana: containing a history of the state of Montana from the earliest period of its
discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious
future, illustrations and full-page portraits of some of its eminent men,
and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and prominent citizens of
to-day. - online at Ancestry.com
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pub. 1913 A history of Montana
- online at Ancestry.com |
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pub. 1921
Montana, its story and biography: a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood
- online at Ancestry.com |
Montana
Land
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1864-1918
U.S. County Land Ownership Atlases, c. 1864-1918
- online at Ancestry.com |
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MONTANA Most of the collection for the Montana
Historical Society Research Center are books in their library. However
there are some links to records that are available over the internet.
Montana Historical Society Research Center Online Catalog - free
online |
WORLD-WIDE
www.FamilySearch.org - free index
online by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The largest collection of genealogy records is in Salt
Lake City, Utah. Their web site includes a free index to an online database
currently called the Ancestral File and other major collections including
the 1880 US Census and the 1881 United Kingdom Census.
The web site also
contains an online catalog to their massive genealogy collection. Local,
state, and country records have been gathered throughout the world. Individual lists of
U.S. statewide records can be viewed online
including one for
Montana. If the record has been microfilmed it can be rented and viewed
at a Family History Center near you. Hours and addresses are available on
the Find
a Family History Center Near You web page. Access is open to everyone. |
WORLD-WIDE
Montana State Database
- online at Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com began gathering, indexing, and placing
genealogical records on the internet in the 1990's. Their collection not
includes thousands of genealogical records and publications. Compared to
how much they have and what you pay, the cost is reasonable. It is a great
pleasure to find your ancestors in their databases. And now with their
Free Family Tree that you
can establish on their site, their search engine can and will Search Billions of Names at Ancestry.com.
All you have to do is enter a few names and a few dates and your on your
way to discovering your ancestors. It is so easy, it is just plain fun. |
Montana
Maps
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1895
1895 U.S. Atlas (Montana map) - free online |
2000
Montana State Map Collection - free online at geology.com
This page shows county outlines, elevations, rivers
with names, a political map showing 15 county names, and a road map with
the numbers of major highways. |
Montana
Military
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1917-1918
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Can search by given name, even middle name)
- online at Ancestry.com |
Montana
Prison Records
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1881-1973
Guide to the Montana State Prison records 1869-1974 This is mainly a
list of prisoner description cards at the Montana State Prison. Some of
the records may be restrictive. - free online by the Montana Historical
Society Research Center Archives |
Montana
Vital
Records
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1907-2002
Montana Death Index, 1907-2002 - online at Ancestry.com |
1937-present
United States Social Security Death Index
- free online at RootsWeb |
Towns and Cities in Montana
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A B C D E F G
H I J
K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z
H
Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, USA
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