In addition to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., there are several Regional Archive Centers located in various cities around the country. The regional centers all have United States census data and a variety of other research materials. There is no inter-center loan, so you must go to the regional center that has the records that you need to search. If you have a very specific request, you may be able to get a photocopy of the record instead. In addition, the National Archives has a microfilm rental program for census records.

Ronald Reagan's family history begins in Ireland before his ancestors settled in Illinois, where he was born several generations later and put his family on the map. James Monroe Genealogy President James Monroe was instrumental in gaining Florida for the U.S., issuing the Missouri Compromise and creating the Monroe Doctrine during his tenure. Puerto Rico genealogy is not affiliated with any public or private association. This is a personal blog sharing my discoveries on Puerto Rican genealogy. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to write me in my Contact Page. In order to research your family in Puerto Rico, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. You must know the city, town, or parish that they came from. A few records are indexed, but many records will require going directly to photocopied local records, which are only available by town name. It will be difficult to identify the place of origin by going directly. Maria wiped out 100% of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, and a report from the Federal Communications Commission revealed that over 95% of cell sites were out of service. Puerto Ricans are quite. Your Puerto Rican ancestors are probably listed on the U.S. Residents of Puerto Rico have been counted in the following Federal Census years: 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950–present. There are a few things to remember: first, Puerto Rico's Census records are in Spanish! The Puerto Rico Genealogy Guide provides some helpful.

In addition to microfilm reading rooms and limited research assistance, many regional centers offer a variety of services, including genealogy workshops, exhibits, films, and group tours. Select one of the topics below to get addresses and more complete information about the National Archives in Washington D.C. or one of the regional centers. You can also visit their Web site for more information.

National Archives -- Washington, D.C.

The National Archives holds historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, architectural drawings, video and sound recordings, and textual records relating to United States history; including subjects such as the expansion of the United States, wars and military history, Native Americans, slavery, the judicial system, immigration, and the activities of government agencies. The most heavily used records are on microfilm. These include U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records; passenger arrival lists; and naturalization records after September 1906.

National Archives -- Alaska Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Alaska. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 9,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1780's to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as forestry, Native American history, land and resource management, weather, shipping, and transportation. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records; various passenger arrival lists; Native American records; Freedmen's Bureau records; and naturalization records.

National Archives -- Central Plains Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 35,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as frontier history, American Indians, and local court cases. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records, pensions and bounty land warrant applications; Freedmen's Bureau records; and Native American records.

National Archives -- Great Lakes Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. This branch of the National Archives holds approximately 62,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1780's to the present. Their original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as American Indians, agriculture, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are United States population censuses for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; Indian censuses from 1885-1940; various passenger lists and indexes to passenger lists; military records from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Patriot War of 1838, the Mexican War, as well as records of volunteer soldiers for the Civil War, The War with Spain, and the Indian Wars.

National Archives -- Mid-Atlantic Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 40,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as Chinese-Americans, life in the United States, the National Parks, and the Merchant Marine. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records, pensions and bounty land warrant applications; naturalization records from Federal courts in the region; passenger arrival lists from Philadelphia and Baltimore; as well as documents related to pre-Federal and early Federal history; military history; and U.S. diplomacy.

National Archives -- Northeast Region (Boston)

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This branch of the National Archives holds historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the 1970s. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as natural resources, local court records, and engineering. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records, pensions, and bounty land warrant applications, especially from the Revolutionary War and for volunteer soldiers in the War of 1812; naturalization records for selected courts; and a variety of passenger arrival lists.

National Archives -- Northeast Region (New York)

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 9,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as regional court records, U.S. customs records, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records; passenger arrival lists for 1820-1847 and 1897-1948; naturalization records for 1792-1906; concentration camp records; and New York City directories.

National Archives -- Pacific Northwest Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 28,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as Native Americans of the area, regional court records, fishing, and the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; censuses of Native Americans; naturalization records for selected courts; and various military service records.

National Archives -- Pacific Sierra Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Northern California, Hawaii, Nevada (except Clark County), the Pacific Trust Territories, and American Samoa. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 40,000 cubic feet of original historical records dating from 1850 to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as gold mining, Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, and regional court records, including naturalizations. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; Native American and Samoan censuses; and various military service records, and pension and bounty land warrant applications.

National Archives -- Pacific Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Arizona, Southern California, and Clark County, Nevada.This branch of the National Archives holds more than 20,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as Native Americans of the Southwest, ports and naval bases on the Pacific coast, smuggling, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records; various passenger arrival lists; Native American records; Freedmen's Bureau records; and naturalization records.

National Archives -- Pittsfield Region

This branch of the National Archives holds approximately 60,000 microfilm rolls. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service, pension, and bounty land records and indexes; selected naturalization records for New England, passenger arrival lists for selected ports, including Boston, New York, and Philadelphia; various Native American census records; and selected African-American records, including indexes to deposit ledgers in branches of the Freeman's Savings and Trust Co., 1865-1874.

National Archives -- Rocky Mountain Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and a portion of New Mexico. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 20,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records consist mainly of local court records. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records, pensions, and bounty land warrant applications; IRS assessment lists; an extensive collection of Native American censuses; and various passenger arrival lists.

National Archives -- Southeast Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 65,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as regional court records and World War I Draft Registration Cards. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records, especially those related to the Civil War; passenger arrival lists for Southern and Gulf Ports; and various Native American censuses.

National Archives -- Southwest Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and a portion of New Mexico. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 65,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as homesteading, Native American history, mining, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records, pensions, and bounty land warrant applications; IRS assessment lists; an extensive collection of Native American censuses; and various passenger arrival lists.

What is in the National Archives Catalog?

The National Archives Catalog vs. Online Genealogy Databases

• The Catalog is keyword searchable like many genealogy databases.
• You can narrow searches with filters.
• The Catalog allows you to search for records in all NARA facilities – not just selected databases.
• The current focus is on breadth of NARA's holdings (at the series level) and not individual records.
• Most Catalog descriptions do not include individual names.

The National Archives holds historical U.S. government documents (federal, congressional, and presidential records) that are created or received by the President and his staff, by Congress, by employees of Federal government agencies, and by the Federal courts in the course of their official duties.

The National Archives Catalog contains descriptions for NARA's nationwide holdings in the Washington, DC area; regional facilities; and Presidential Libraries. The Catalog is a work in progress and currently contains descriptions for 95% of our records, described at the series level. This means you can find basic information about the records, including size and location, from the description. Additionally, every week we are adding more file unit and item descriptions, many of which include digital files.

Typically descriptions in the Catalog do not include individuals' names; however, the National Archives still might have records about your ancestors. It may be necessary to closely read records of interest to see if a particular individual is mentioned.

The Catalog contains many descriptions of records that are of interest to genealogists and family historians, including:

• Applications for enrollment in Native American tribes
• Court records
• Fugitive slave cases
• Land records
• Military personnel records
• Naturalization records
• Federal employees

How Do I Search in the National Archives Catalog?

The Catalog contains descriptions of records held by the National Archives. Researchers can conduct keyword searches and filtered searched in the Catalog.

To perform a simple keyword search:

1. Go to https://catalog.archives.gov
2. Enter some keywords of your choice in the search box in the center of the page. If you are looking for an exact phrase using two or more words, put them in quotation marks example: “bounty land”
3. Press the magnifying glass button to run your search.
4. When hits are returned for your search, the results will be returned starting with best results at the top. Use the filters on the left side to narrow down your results.
   • Tips for Using Filters
     • Are you looking only for a photograph? Select Photographs and Other Graphic Materials
     • Many of our descriptions do not include digital images of the records, click on the filter Archival Descriptions with Digital Objects to see only descriptions with images attached
5. To view a description, click on the blue title. View our video Anatomy of a Description to learn about the features of a description.

Tips for Searching for an Individual's Name

There isn't a specific field for names in the Catalog; as a result you many need to try several different searches using different strategies when searching for a name.

• Search on the person's full name in first name-last name order.
• Search on the surname only. The records might only include a first initial or a variant spelling of the first name.
• Search on variant spellings of the surname using OR, for example: Luchetti OR Lucetti.
• Search on variant spellings of the first name, including 'Americanized' versions, for example: Joseph Maggio OR Guiseppe Maggio.
• Keep in mind that most descriptions in the National Archives Catalog do not include the names of individuals in that record. However, the National Archives still might have records about your ancestors. If you know an individual participated in event, search for that search term and look within the records for your ancestor.

Naturalization Record for Morres Dick, National Archives Identifier 7551610

Tips for Searching by Topics

One of the best ways to identify records of genealogical interest in the National Archives Catalog is by topic. If you find a description without digital images attached in the National Archives Catalog, that may contain records about your ancestor, contact the staff in that unit. The contact information appears in the Contact(s) section at the bottom of the description.

Suggested Keywords

In these examples, we use quotations in Catalog searches around multiple words, phrases or words that we want to appear exactly as we have written them. For more in depth information on how to search the Catalog visit National Archives Catalog Search Tips.

Follow the Clues!

The family history research you already compiled could contain valuable clues. Use these clues to identify National Archives records that would be useful to your research and go beyond the most common genealogical sources.

Three examples:

Clue: A significant decrease in income appears when you compare your ancestor's net worth between the 1860 Census and 1870 Census.
Records Worth Checking: Bankruptcy court records might contain a file on your ancestor. The Bankruptcy Act of 1867 allowed greater numbers of people to file for voluntary bankruptcy. Search in the National Archives Catalog for bankruptcy AND [state where you ancestor lived at the time].

Clue: You find a passenger list with your ancestor's name on it, and there is a Board of Special Inquiry stamp.
Records Worth Checking: The records of an Immigration and Naturalization Service inquiry might exist for your ancestor. Records related to deportation are also a possibility. Search in the National Archives Catalog for immigration AND 'special inquiry'.

Clue: Your ancestor was tried for a crime.
Records Worth Checking: A criminal case file might exist for the U.S. District Court in the state where your ancestor committed the crime. If your ancestor served a sentence in a Federal prison, there might be an inmate case file in the records of that Federal prison. Search in the National Archives Catalog for 'criminal case' OR inmate.

Hot Topics

Many genealogists and researchers may find these detailed search pages helpful

• Resources for Genealogists https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy
• Census Records https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• Deck Logs https://www.archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy-online
• Dawes Rolls https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/dawes/tutorial/intro.html
• Land Records https://www.archives.gov/research/land
• Military Service Records https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records#toc-instructions
• Office of Strategic Services (OSS) https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/oss
• Alien Files (A-Files) https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/aliens/a-files-kansas-city.html
• Naturalization https://www.archives.gov/research/naturalization/naturalization.html
• Microfilm Publications and Original Records Digitized by Our Digitization Partners https://www.archives.gov/digitization/digitized-by-partners
• Record Reproductions and Microfilm https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/

Frequently Asked Questions

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The National Archives has billions of records and that number grows larger every year. We are carefully and systematically digitizing our records to include in the National Archives Catalog. Tens of millions are already available in the Catalog. Luckily more and more records are arriving from government agencies already in a digital format, which helps to accelerate their ingest into the Catalog.

In general naturalization records are not available online. They are held in our regional archives. Contact the reference staff that holds the records of the state where the citizen lived when naturalized.

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When requesting a search, please provide the full name of the person and, if known, their date of birth, the city/state they were living at the time of naturalization, date they naturalized, and spouse's name, if they had one. All of this information helps to narrow the search and to confirm the correct record has been found. Once the record is located, the staff will provide you with information about the record and instructions on ordering copies.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

The National Archives at Atlanta
5780 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, Georgia 30260

Phone: 770-968-2100
Fax: 770-968-2547
Email: atlanta.archives@nara.gov

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

The National Archives at Boston
380 Trapelo Road
Waltham, Massachusetts 02452-6399

Toll Free Telephone: (866) 406-2379
Telephone: (781) 663-0144
Fax: (781) 663-0154
Email: boston.archives@nara.gov

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin

The National Archives at Chicago
7358 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60629-5898

Email: chicago.archives@nara.gov

Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota (after 1972), South Dakota (after 1972), Utah, Wyoming

The National Archives at Denver
17101 Huron Street, Broomfield, CO 80023
303-604-4740

Email: denver.archives@nara.gov

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas

The National Archives at Fort Worth
1400 John Burgess Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76140

Email: ftworth.archives@nara.gov

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota (before 1972), and South Dakota (before 1972)

The National Archives at Kansas City
400 West Pershing Road
Kansas City, MO 64108

Phone: 816-268-8000
Email: kansascity.archives@nara.gov

New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

The National Archives at New York City
One Bowling Green, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10004

Toll-free: 1-866-840-1752 or 212-401-1620
Fax: 212-401-1638
Email: newyork.archives@nara.gov

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

The National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096

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Telephone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2038
Email: philadelphia.archives@nara.gov

Southern California, Arizona and Clark County, Nevada

National Archives at Riverside
23123 Cajalco Road
Perris, CA 92570-7298

Telephone:(951) 956-2000
Fax: (951) 956-2049
Email: riverside.archives@nara.gov

California (northern and central), Nevada (except Clark County), Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands i.e. Marshall, Caroline, and Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Navy bases on foreign territory in the Pacific and Far East

The National Archives at San Francisco
Leo J. Ryan Memorial Federal Building
1000 Commodore Drive
San Bruno, California 94066-2350

Phone: (650) 238-3501
Email: sanbruno.archives@nara.gov

Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

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National Archives at Seattle
6125 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98115-7999

Email: seattle.archives@nara.gov