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Native American Genealogy Resources - Southwest Tribes

This guide will assist you in locating some of the useful Native American genealogical resources in New Mexico and the greater Southwest region.

 

County, State, and Territorial Records

Local level records -- such as property, marriage, and adoption records -- will be found in various offices including the County Clerk's office, the County Accessor's Office, the County Probate Office, or at the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives (SRCA). Records created prior to the establishment of the New Mexico Department of Vital Records in 1919 have been collected by a variety of agencies. If you don't know where to find the records that you need, contact the SRCA to see if they can help you. 

In addition to the Federal Census that was taken every ten years, there are a number of state censuses that may have information not included in the Federal Census. These Colonial and Spanish census are available on microfilm at the NMSL and have also been transcribed into two books:

  • Spanish and Mexican censuses of New Mexico, 1750-1830 by Virginia Langham Olmsted
  • Spanish and Mexican colonial censuses of New Mexico, 1790, 1823, 1845 by Virginia Langham Olmsted

 

Historic Newspaper Collection at the New Mexico State Library

The New Mexico State Library maintains a large collection of newspapers on microfilm, with some searchable online. The microfilm collection consists of thousands of reels of newspapers (including many that are now no longer being published) dating back to 1849. They can be useful in finding birth announcements, obituaries, and marriage records. 

Digital Records

Miscellaneous records, 1895-1924; index, 1895-1931 (Navajo County, Arizona). 2 reels of microfilm includes: bill of sale, satisfaction of mortgage, registration of stallion, exemption claim, notice of levy, appointment of agent, writ of attachment, appointment of office, marriage license and certificate, bishop's certificate, etc. Available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 

Naturalization records, 1910-1922 (Navajo County, Arizona)​. 1 reel of microfilm. Available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 

Births and deaths, Navajo County, Arizona, 1895-1912.​ 1 reel of microfilm. Available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 

Military discharges, 1940-1946; indexes, 1918-1980 (Navajo County, Arizona). 2 reels of microfilm available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 

Wills, 1921-1943 (Navajo County, Arizona). 1 reel of microfilm available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 

 

Additional Resources

Arizona territorial marriages, Navajo County, 1895-1912 Book is available at Family History Library in Salt Lake City Utah. 

Pedigree chart of a Navajo tribe, 1791-1953. Example of text: Bilii Daat l ìshi, "Man with Pinto Horses" was born by 1791. He is evidently the ancestor of the tribe. One wife was Asdzaa Dibé Łichii "Red Sheep Woman" (b. ca. 1791). One daughter was (Asdzaa) Dibé Łichii Bichí (b. by 1811). She was the wife of Da ghaa Yáshi "Little Mustache" (d. ca. 1899). Most recent marriage on the chart: Jane Begodi (Ute) was born in 1862 or earlier and died in 1932, "past 70 years". She was the child of Caroline Rentz (Ute) and Kewoosi "Bunion" (Navajo). Her husbands were Hn. Begódi Doh Kak'ehe (d. 1906) and Hn. Jellie (or Jelly) who was born in or before 1871 and died in 1953. Available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah