Genealogy Research in Riverside
The National Archives at Riverside welcomes family historians to our research room.
Available in our Research Room:
Resources available include free access to computer databases, microfilm publications containing records from across the National Archives, and one-of-a-kind records of genealogical value.
New to genealogy? Use our guide on How to Begin Genealogical Research and view the National Archives guide, Introduction to NARA Resources.
Our staff and volunteers are available to get you started!
Some of the most frequently used records are listed below.
Free at the National Archives, records for genealogy research online
Declaration of Intention for Peter Lorre, August 21, 1936; Petitions for Naturalization; U.S. District Court (Los Angeles).
- United States Federal Census, population schedules for all U.S. states and territories, 1790-1940.
- Military post returns for forts in California and Arizona, and regimental returns.
- Records of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Creek tribes.
- American Revolution military service records and pension and bounty land warrant application files.
- Select American Civil War Union service records and all Confederate military service records; and indexes to compiled military service records for other wars.
- Passenger arrival records and indexes for ships entering all major ports (New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, New Orleans and San Francisco) and most minor ports as well.
- Mexican border crossings from 1903 and Canadian border crossing records from 1895.
- Passport application files.
Learn more about the online databases with these records
Records from across the United States on microfilm.
Locate microfilm available to you here. For tips on finding the microfilm you need, see our guide, Using the National Archives Microfilm Catalog.
- 1928 Applications for Enrollment as a California Indian.
- Appointment of postmasters, 1789-1971, territorial officials and appointment by presidents.
- Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
- Records relating to Asian immigration to the United States.
Subject Index of Microfilm Publications at the National Archives at Riverside
Use the National Archives Catalog to search for one-of-a-kind records.
If your family lived in southern California, Arizona or Clark County, Nevada, we may have records about them.
Explore our National Archives Catalog. Find tips to help with your online catalog search with our guide, Using the National Archives Catalog.
- Federal land records for southern California and Arizona.
- Naturalization records.
- Records of sailors and merchant marines ported in southern California.
- Tax assessment lists from Territorial Arizona.
- District Court records and much more.
Use the catalog to search for records throughout the National Archives, including those in other regions of the United States, in the Presidential Libraries, and in the Center for Legislative Archives.
Additional Help
See the Resources for Genealogists section of the our web site for additional general information about genealogical resources at the National Archives.
Explore Other Genealogical Resources for links to genealogical web sites outside of the National Archives.
Still have questions?
E-mail your inquiry to riverside.archives@nara.gov
Call us at (951) 956-2000.
Visit us at:
23123 Cajalco Road
Perris, CA 92570