Family History/Genealogy Research
What's Available
Our Microfilm/Genealogy Room has over 60,000 rolls of microfilmed Federal records, most of which are valuable for researching family histories within the United State.
Resources Available to You
We have five computers available for your research:
- Three computers have Internet access, including free access to Ancestry Plus and Heritage Quest, two of the largest genealogy databases available online.
- Two computers access our collection of CD databases.
- A team of over twenty qualified volunteers are available to assist you with research needs and offer tips and tools for future research visits.
Additional Resources
- Microfilm Publications Catalog
— search the catalog for our microfilm publications.
- Genealogists/Family Historians
— find general information about the National Archives's genealogical resources.
- Genealogy Links
— lists links and web sites with searchable databases of genealogical interest.
- Library References
— offers guides, instructions, and links to databases of family trees.
- The 1930 Federal Population Census
— find microfilm that may contain your family's records.
- Contact Us
Records Available to You
Our microfilmed Federal records include the following types of materials:
Census Records
The Constitution requires that the Federal Government count the population of the United States every ten years. Census records provide basic facts about your ancestors and reveal clues to finding other records in the National Archives.
We have microfilm copies of the Federal population censuses for all states from 1790 to 1930, and also a comprehensive selection of indexes.
- Early censuses provide the name of the head of the household and the number of occupants.
- Later censuses reveal the names of each family member as well as age, marital status, occupation, state or country of birth, year of immigration, and year of naturalization.
- Census schedules are arranged by year and there under, by location.
- Most census schedules are searchable by head of household and some by any name provided on the census schedule.
Immigration Records (Ship's Passenger Lists)
With the creation of the Customs Bureau in 1820, the Federal Government began requiring passenger lists from ships docking at U.S. ports. Since then, over 55 million people have immigrated to the United States.
We have microfilm copies of ship's passenger lists from the following ports:
- Atlantic ports (small): Indexes 1820-1952, Passenger Lists 1820-1948
- Baltimore, MD: Index 1820-1952, Passenger Lists 1820-1909 (with gaps)
- Boston, MA: Index 1848-1891, 1902-1906, Passenger Lists 1820-1943 (with gaps)
- Galveston, TX: Index 1896-1951, Passenger Lists 1896-1951
- Gulf ports (small): Indexes 1890-1924
- New Orleans, LA: Index 1853-1899, Passenger Lists 1820-1902 (with gaps)
- New York, NY: Index 1820-1848, 1897-1943, Passenger Lists 1820-1957 (with gaps)
- Philadelphia, PA: Index 1800-1948, Passenger Lists 1800-1945 (with gaps)
- St. Albans, VT (Canadian entries): Indexes 1894-1952 (with gaps), Passenger Lists 1929-1949
Ship's Passenger Lists documentation varies:
- 19th century lists include the traveler's name, age, occupation, destination, and country of origin.
- Late 19th century and 20th century lists may include the traveler's place of birth, assets, health, last foreign residence, the name of a relative in the home town, information about previous journeys to the U.S., and their final U.S. destination.
Please call to verify we have the microfilm you need: (303) 407-5751
Naturalization Records
To order naturalization records for these states, please e-mail: denver.archives@nara.gov.
Also view the New Mexico Index of Naturalizations.
Immigrants become U.S. citizens through naturalization. Upon meeting residency requirements, immigrants petition the courts for citizenship and take an oath of allegiance. Under former laws, immigrants could petition for citizenship in Federal, state, or county courts. Naturalization records may include the:
- Declaration of Intention
- Petition for Naturalization
- Certificate of Naturalization
We have naturalization records from Federal courts in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Utah for the following time periods:
- Colorado: Denver, 1877-1972
- Montana: 1891-1929
- New Mexico: 1882-1917
- Utah: 1909-1930
The data in the naturalization records varies:
- Early naturalization records, from 1790 through 1906, typically provide an immigrant's name and country of origin.
- In 1906, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization standardized the naturalization process and began to require more detail on the naturalization forms.
Military Service Records
Order copies of WWI Draft Registration Cards
online.
We have several series of microfilm related to military service. The records:
- cover the Revolutionary War up to and including the Spanish American War.
- may be indexes, compiled service records, or pension files.
We also have microfilm copies of World War I Draft Registration Cards for:
- Colorado
- Montana
- North and South Dakota
- Utah
- Wyoming
PDF files require the free Adobe Reader.
More information on Adobe Acrobat PDF files is available on our Accessibility page.
