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Education, Family History, Genealogy, State resources, Websites

Mountain State Resources: Wyoming

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640px-Barns_grand_tetons
Photo by Jon Sullivan, PD

by Claire V. Brisson-Banks, BS, MLIS, AG®

The above picture shows the Teton Range rising above Jackson Hole, the barn is the “John Moulton Barn” on Mormon Row at the base of these mountains. Most of this state is covered in mountains with 48% of the land owned by U.S. government.

Wyoming became the 45th state admitted to the United States on 10 July 1890. Up until 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War, southwestern Wyoming was part of the Mexican Territory. Different parts of Wyoming were claimed by Spain, France and England, to see how it all came together read this in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. There are 11 Indian Tribes here, information on various record sources, collections and how to research members of these tribes is located here.

When doing research here, one needs to know who owned what to locate ancestral records. While the U.S. Census started in 1790, the first census to cover this area was the 1850 and it was enumerated as part of the Utah Territory in the ‘Green River Precinct’ at the end of Weber County. As the area known as Fort Laramie today was unorganized territory it was not enumerated. To fully understand what was enumerated for each census, review this FS wiki page.

Statewide registration of births and deaths began in July, 1909, while marriage records didn’t begin till May, 1941. Only a few counties kept records of births and deaths a few years before 1909, while many counties began recording marriages soon after the county was organized. Some county marriage records go back to the 1860s with more than 23,800 marriages indexed on the Western States Marriage Index website.

FamilySearch has four sets of online records here. The State Archives has a Death Certificate database covering 1909 to 1967. Ancestry.com has 27 databases with the Wills and Probate Records covering 1864-1915. For a look at what’s available online check here.

Major repositories for records not online are listed here, also the Family History Library’s collection is available through Family History Centers. Lastly, one needs to consider checking Emigration and Immigration when research in Wyoming. Fur traders first opened a trail through this area, it was the domain of the American Indians where about 200 men would barter with these Indians, who were they, what about their families?  Learn the history to obtain more records here. The Oregon Trail to California, Utah and other western states passed right through parts of Wyoming bringing families and your ancestors.

In closing, be sure to use the  FamilySearch  Wyoming Record Finder in your pursuit of family from Wyoming.

 

 

 

 

ICAPGen member spotlights

Meet Julia Oldroyd, AG® – Accredited for Research in the U.S. Gulf South Region

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Julia Oldroyd2What motivated you to pursue accreditation?

I have been fascinated by family history and genealogy since I was a very young child. Some of my happiest memories were formed as I learned about my heritage from my parents and grandparents. I studied History at BYU and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and University Honors in 1993. About half of my coursework was in Family History, which had recently been reintroduced as a major field of study. My senior research paper on Mary Jane Dilworth Hammond, a Mormon missionary wife in Hawaii in the mid-1800s, received an award from the History Department for the best paper in Family History for my graduating class. It was then that I began to consider genealogy as a possible career.

Post-graduation, I thought about becoming an accredited genealogist, but the timing just wasn’t right for me. About fourteen years later, I prepared to return to graduate school, but my intended fields of study—History and Library Science—had both been dropped from BYU, which was the closest university to where I lived. Shortly after this, ICAPGen began holding classes to prepare people to become accredited genealogists. I was drawn to the high standards of excellence and preparation involved in achieving the AG® credential, and I liked the focus of specific geographic areas of study. I also rejoiced in the fact that I didn’t need to pay large sums of money for classes or study in a classroom for a set time over a period of years. I could make a plan for success that fit perfectly with my lifestyle as a very busy mother of eight children. After working for nearly a decade (until I felt I was ready), I finished the ICAPGen testing process in December 2016 and received my credential in the United States Gulf South region.

What are some challenging or unique aspects to researching in your area of accreditation?

Southern research has its own unique challenges, from widely changing jurisdictions to extensive record loss in some locations, to slavery, to displaced Native Americans, and others. Many people trace their roots to the south, but then get lost trying to navigate the records. It is very rewarding to help clients break down their brick walls and connect them to their past.

What advice do you have for those pursuing accreditation?

For those pursuing accreditation, my advice is to never give up. The more you study and prepare, the better genealogist you will be—whether you work for clients or just pursue your own family lines. Some of my future goals include adding additional areas of expertise, specifically the United States Mid-South region and England. I was recently elected to the board of directors of the Utah Genealogical Association and look forward to working with such a great team. I also aim to help as many people as possible catch the spirit of family history so they can find as much joy in it as I do.