SAINT CROIX GENEALOGY

JOURNEY WITH US.

A research guide to ancestry, family history, and genealogy resources for St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.

Uncover with Ancestors of Paradise the untold stories of your Crucian ancestors!

”From Anegada to Virgin Gorda, tour the Caribbean in this gorgeous site packed with resources, historical photos and videos…”

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records.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through census records, court records, deeds, naturalization records, military records, ship passenger lists as well as birth, marriage, and death records.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • FAMILYSEARCH RESEARCH WIKI | USVI

    The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online genealogical guide created and maintained by FamilySearch, a non-profit organization. It contains links to genealogy databases, websites, other resources, research strategies, and genealogical guidance to assist in the search for your ancestors. Articles included are locality pages for countries around the world and topic pages that include pertinent genealogy record types explaining how to use the record, what it contains, and how to find it.

  • CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY LIBRARY

    The Caribbean Genealogy Library (CGL) is a unique and valuable research library located on the island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Established in 2000, CGL is a leading resource for family history research in the Virgin Islands and in the Caribbean at large.

  • DANISH FAMILY SEARCH | DANISH WEST INDIES

    Danish Family Search er stedet man finder sine danske aner. Søg i danske kirkebøger, folketællinger og lægdsruller.

    Danish Family Search is the place to find your Danish ancestors. Search in Danish church registers, censuses and parish registers.

  • Rigsarkivet - The Danish National Archives

    The Danish National Archives has digitized five million pages from the local and central administration of the Danish West Indies that you can browse through this website. But there are also archive groups and cases concerning the Danish West Indies in the archives of other authorities.

  • SHIPINDEX.ORG: A VESSEL RESEARCH DATABASE

    ShipIndex.org simplifies vessel research. Whether you’re a genealogist, a maritime historian, a researcher, or just curious, we can help you learn more about the ships that interest you. We tell you which maritime resources, such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, CD-ROMs, websites, and online databases mention the ships that interest you. We enhance these references by noting which ones include illustrations or crew and passenger lists, and where you can find or purchase the resource.

  • SlaveVoyages

    The SlaveVoyages website is a collaborative digital initiative that compiles and makes publicly accessible records of the largest slave trades in history. Search these records to learn about the broad origins and forced relocations of more than 12 million African people who were sent across the Atlantic in slave ships, and hundreds of thousands more who were trafficked within the Americas. Explore where they were taken, the numerous rebellions that occurred, the horrific loss of life during the voyages, the identities and nationalities of the perpetrators, and much more.

collections.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through our collection of diverse genealogical resources.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • ANCESTRY MESSAGE BOARDS | CARIBBEAN

    Ancestry message boards contain over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards.

  • ANCESTRY MESSAGE BOARDS | USVI

    Ancestry message boards contain over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards.

  • Chronicling America HISTORIC AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS | virgin islands

    Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.

  • DIGITAL LIBRARY OF THE CARIBBEAN

    The Digital Library of the Caribbean is a cooperative digital library for resources from and about the Caribbean & circum-Caribbean.

  • THE EARLY CARIBBEAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE

    The Early Caribbean Digital Archive is an open access collection of pre-twentieth-century Caribbean texts, maps, and images. Texts include travel narratives, novels, poetry, natural histories, and diaries that have not been brought together before as a single collection focused on the Caribbean. The materials in the archive are primarily authored and published by Europeans, but the ECDA aims to use digital tools to "remix" the archive and foreground the centrality and creativity of enslaved and free African, Afro-creole, and Indigenous peoples in the Caribbean world.

  • HISTORY HUB | Virgin Islands

    History Hub is a research support community for everyone, including genealogists, historians, and citizen archivists.

  • A List of Inhabitants in The Danish West Indies from 1650 -1825 | ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE

  • Sion Farm to Bugby Hole, St Croix : history, owners & inhabitants, span of over 200 years

    History of two estates that were established for colonists on St. Croix island. Includes some history of the Christmas and Moorhead families.

  • The Virgin Islands Daily News (1930s-1980s)

    The Virgin Islands Daily News is a daily newspaper in the United States Virgin Islands headquartered on the island of Saint Thomas.

  • Virgin Islands Exodus: 1917 Identity Cards

    Virgin Islands Exodus contains material extracted from the first one hundred and seventy-three (out of an orginal one hundred and eighty-four) United States Citizen's Identification Card applications submitted by Virgin Island residents between May 21, and October 9, 1918.

Ancestry US

Ancestry US

cemeteries + memorials.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through cemetery records, grave records, tombstone inscriptions, and funeral booklets.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • THE DANISH CEMETERIES OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS | ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE

    The book of The Danish Cemeteries of the Virgin Islands was commissioned and paid for by the Danish Cemetery Restoration Fund, a fund with the sole purpose of maintaining, repairing and restoring the three Danish Cemeteries located in the United States Virgin Islands. Through the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and generous donations from both corporate and private benefactors, the Danish Cemetery Restoration Fund has been able to continue the monumental tasks of preserving these historical grave sites so they may be visited and studied for years to come.

  • FIND A GRAVE | Saint Croix

    Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials or add photos, virtual flowers and a note to a loved one's memorial. Search or browse cemeteries and grave records for every-day and famous people from around the world.

  • INTERNATIONAL JEWISH CEMETERY PROJECT | ST. CROIX

    We have successfully collected information about thousands of Jewish cemetery sites all over the world along with information on the location of the cemetery, and how to obtain more information. Each Jewish cemetery or burial site listed in the project by town or city, country, and geographic region is based on current locality designation. Some listings include links to other websites with additional information such as burial lists or a name to contact by email or snail-mail.

  • UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS: FUNERAL BOOKLETS

    The Enid M. Baa Library of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DLAM) has acquired an extensive collection of memorial booklets since the early 1970's for U. S. Virgin Islands residents. Booklets are usually more than 10 pages long and give details of the life and family connections of the deceased.

  • Virgin Islands Funeral Booklets

    The Caribbean Genealogy Library's Funeral Booklet Collection currently includes almost 4000 funeral booklets for people originally from, or who lived in, the U.S. Virgin Islands and some from the British Virgin Islands also.

historic images.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through early photographs, studio portraits, and historic landscape images.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • DANSK VESTINDISK SELSKAB GALLERY

    In the Gallery you will find photos, postcards and illustrations from the time both before and after the handover to the USA in 1917.

  • DEADFRED GENEALOGY PHOTO ARCHIVE

    Trace your roots for FREE with our searchable database containing thousands of identified and mystery photos for genealogy enthusiasts looking for long-lost family. Anyone who finds a photo of a direct ancestor that is owned by the archive will receive the photo for free.

  • HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library

    HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library is an archive of images from the Jewish world. Jewish communities in the Caribbean featured include Aruba, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Eustatius, St. Thomas, and Trinidad.

  • HARRY ALVERSON FRANCK PHOTOGRAPHS | USVI

    Harry A. Franck (1881-1962) was a University of Michigan graduate (1903), avid traveler, and veteran of both world wars. He wrote thirty-three travel books describing Europe, South and Central America, China, Japan, and many other places. His most popular books include A Vagabond Journey Around the World (1910) and Zone Policeman 88 (1913). His books routinely featured photographs he took during his journeys: landscapes, street scenes, working people with the tools of their trade, portraits, and snapshots.

  • JACK DELANO FSA PHOTO COLLECTION

    Hired by the FSA in 1940 as an itinerant photographer, Jack Delano was assigned in 1941 to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Delano captured moments of daily life on the islands in both black and white and color.

  • The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs | Saint Croix

    The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs is a singular collection of more than 3,500 historical images from 34 countries including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. This visual record contains studio portraits, landscapes and tourist views and brings to life the changing economies, environments and communities that emerged post-emancipation. The Collection includes nearly every photographic format available during the years 1840 to 1940, including prints, postcards, daguerreotypes, lantern slides, albums, and stereographs.

  • M/S Museet for Søfart (M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark) | Image Archive

    M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark tells the story of Denmark as one of the world's leading maritime nations in an evocative and dramatic way.

    You can visit the digital image archive here where more than 60.000 photos are digitalized (in Danish).

  • New York Public Library STEREOGRAPH COLLECTION | St. Croix

    This digital compilation was developed in support of the NYPL website, "The African American Migration Experience," a sweeping 500-year historical narrative from the transatlantic slave trade to the Western migration, the colonization movement, the Great Migration, and the contemporary immigration of Caribbeans, Haitians, and sub-Saharan Africans.

  • VIVID-PIX

    Easy-to-use software that helps you fix your pics and documents fast! Free to try - no credit card required.

HISTORIC MAPS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through historic maps.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • David Rumsey Map Collection | Saint Croix

    The David Rumsey Map Collection was started over 35 years ago and contains more than 200,000 maps. The collection focuses on rare 16th through 21st century maps of North and South America, as well as maps of the World, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. The collection includes atlases, globes, wall maps, school geographies, pocket maps, books of exploration, maritime charts, and a variety of cartographic materials including pocket, wall, children's, and manuscript maps. Items range in date from around 1550 to the present.

  • OLD MAPS ONLINE | VIRGIN ISLANDS

    Our mission is to give old maps a new life in the online world via the Old Maps Online search catalog that allows visitors to explore and discover the beauty of historical maps depicting a past geographical place of their interest.

  • PERRY-CASTAÑEDA LIBRARY MAP COLLECTION | Virgin Islands 1920

    The Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) Map Collection website is archived as of 2021 and no longer being updated. Links to external sites may no longer work as expected. Please visit the Texas GeoData portal and Collections portal for map files and the UTL Map Collections LibGuide for additional information.

cultural institutions.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through libraries, museums, historical societies, and community cultural centers dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Caribbean culture.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • Athalie McFarlane Petersen Public Library

    This Library’s historical building built in 1803, at the south end of Strand Street houses Frederiksted's small library. The Library houses original and microfilm collections of V.I. Archives, records, newspapers and other materials; it is capable of reproducing images via microfilming and photocopying. Microfilm reader/printers are available at certain libraries.

  • Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism

    Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Inc. (CHANT) is committed to preserving Crucian culture and heritage and promoting sustainable community development with a focus on tourism, traditional skills, and heritage-focused workforce development.

  • DANSK VESTINDISK SELSKAB | DANISH WEST INDIAN SOCIETY

    Dansk Vestindisk Selskab with the English subtitle "Danish Westindien Society" was founded on Valentine's Day 15 June 1917 as the club "Danish Westindien" and later reorganized. In 1969, the name was changed to Dansk Vestindisk Selskab, which is nationwide with its headquarters in Copenhagen.

    One of our hallmarks of the Danish West Indian Society is to help and guide members in finding their way back in history. This is done partly by means of information and links on this page, partly by personal contacts with other members with experience and partly by contacts with our sister organizations on the islands.

  • Estate Whim Museum | Family History Center

    The Library's Family History Center provides both resources and guidance to researchers tracing their ancestors. Census, vital statistics, and other government and church records document the path of people across St. Croix, the Caribbean, and abroad to Africa, Denmark, greater Europe and the Americas.

    Holdings include Danish West Indian and Virgin Islands census records from 1841 through 1940, as well as slave lists, matricals, "free colored" lists and other government generated statistical records.

    A current project involves the copying of church records and the St. Croix Vital Statistics records to add to the collections. An extensive vertical file collection on all aspects of Virgin Islands history includes unique genealogy materials.

  • Florence A. Williams Public Library

    The Florence Augusta Stephens Williams Public Library (FWPL) building was previously the location of the public school for Christiansted.. The Library houses original and microfilm collections of V.I. Archives, records, newspapers and other materials; it is capable of reproducing images via microfilming and photocopying. Microfilm reader/printers are available.

  • Friends of Virgin Islands National Park

    Friends of Virgin Islands National Park programs aimed at sharing and preserving the island's rich cultural heritage and history include funding the Park’s archeological program, restoring and maintaining ruins, supporting the Folk Life Festival, and hosting cultural seminars and workshops.

  • INDO-CARIBBEAN CULTURAL CENTRE

    Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre (ICC) is a non-profit, independent, educational organization recognized by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. ICC was established in 1999 with its axiom being “Celebrating unity in cultural diversity in the Caribbean.” It is dedicated to publishing two magazines every year – a Divali souvenir magazine, and an Indian Arrival Day commemorative magazine. ICC is primarily committed to the production of information about people, issues and events affecting Hindus and Indians in multi-ethnic Trinidad and the Caribbean.

  • M/S MUSEET FOR SØFART | M/S MARITIME MUSEUM OF DENMARK

    M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark tells the story of Denmark as one of the world's leading maritime nations in an evocative and dramatic way.

  • Museum of Danish America | Genealogy

    The Museum of Danish America explores the Danish-American experience, the historic and modern influences of Denmark on the United States, and the continuing story of how a nation of immigrants shape American identity.

  • ST. CROIX FRIENDS OF DENMARK

    The mission of the St. Croix Friends of Denmark is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the Danish heritage of St. Croix through education, community outreach, and civic engagement while preserving a unique cultural bond and supporting that connection.

  • St. Croix Landmarks Society

    The research program at St. Croix Landmarks Society’s Research Library & Archives aids scholars, researchers, and genealogists (family historians) with their personal, academic, and various other projects. The Society’s vast collections contain books, manuscripts, and graphics that you won't find anywhere else.

  • US Virgin Islands Maritime Museum

    The US Virgin Islands Maritime Museum was created in order to promote the understanding of the maritime history from the time of the Danish West Indies (pre-March 31.1917) to the present-day US Virgin Islands (March 31.1917, Transfer Day, to present).

  • Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center

    In harmony with the mission of the University of the Virgin Islands and its College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center collaboratively serves as a liaison designated to create a reservoir of resources and initiatives for faculty, students, administration, staff and the community to maintain and sustain access to materials that nurture, preserve, research, document, restore, promote, protect and respect Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture.

virgin islands DIASPORA.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through our collection of diverse genealogical resources.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • Houston Virgin Islands Association (HVIA)

    Let’s turn your nostalgia and passion into a changing and progressive action. Houston Virgin Islands Association (HVIA) has its own unique structure allowing it to promote Virgin Islands culture and heritage by those living in the Diaspora, thereby creating a pride and joy of Virgin Islands “NICE.”

    HVIA holds very simple mandates:

    • Enhance the cultural, educational, civic and general well-being of its members;

    • Showcase our values, traditions, heritage, and culture as a means of increasing public awareness;

    • Educate members and our community about the Virgin Islands: our history, culture and traditions.

    • Involve our members in community developments and charitable causes, within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

books.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through our collection of books for beginners, research guides, records guides, case studies, memoirs, family histories, oral histories, and photography collections.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

blogs + articles.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through history, culture, and genealogy blogs.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • 200 Years in Paradise

    200 Years in Paradise genealogy blog covers general Virgin Islands records and family history sources, social history, island history, and genealogy techniques and hints. Surnames include van Beverhoudt, Conrad, Magens, De Windt, Pentheny, Colbeth, Moorhead, Robson, Andersen, Scott, Dalton, and related families.

  • die creol taal

    In 2013, we started to build this website to present as much information as possible about texts in and about Virgin Islands Dutch Creole. A lot of sources are already digitally available and by presenting the links to these texts we hope to help you obtaining the information you need to study the language and language related subjects.

  • Insight into Danish Colonial Life | ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE

  • Vintage Virgin Islands

    Vintage Virgin Islands features over 300 blog posts about the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

podcasts.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through on-topic podcast episodes and series.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • CARIBBEAN MYSTICS

    The Caribbean Mystics Podcast features true supernatural stories that take place in the Caribbean region. Told from first person perspective, these stories reveal the extensive unexplainable phenomenon that occurs in this region of the world. Hosts Paulina and Gabrielle, join together at the end of each story to provide key historical background, cultural context, and meaningful elaboration through their lenses of being ancestral Virgin Islanders and Caribbean Mystics.

  • Chatting with Dr. Leonard Richardson

    Dr. Richardson will take you down Memory Lane and challenge you to dates, places, and people past and present of the Virgin Islands.

  • Di hou creol - Podcast over Virgin Islands Dutch Creole

    From about 1991 on I study the Dutch related Creole language Virgin Islands Dutch Creole. In this podcast I pay attention to texts, linguistic aspects of the language, history of the language, history of the study of the language and field work.

    Vanaf ongeveer 1991 bestudeer ik de aan het Nederlands gerelateerde creooltaal Virgin Islands Dutch Creole. In deze podcast besteed ik aandacht aan teksten, taalkundige aspecten, de geschiedenis van de taal, de geschiedenis van de bestudering van deze taal en aan het veldwerk dat gedaan is om deze taal beter te leren kennen.

  • ISLAND ARCHIVES

    The Island Archives Podcast is an audio series created to honor the Caribbean heroes/sheroes of the past and present and highlight their immeasurable contributions in different areas/disciplines. We feature their achievements by retelling their stories in an interesting, engaging, and insightful way by blending humor, history and highlights.

  • A Trail Gone Cold | Damn Interesting

    Against the odds, a tiny Icelandic town speaks of a local Black ancestor. Geneticists and historians combine forces to uncover the man’s eventful life.

social media.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through social media discussion forums, networks, groups, and pages.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY | FACEBOOK

    This group is for sharing resources and assisting with research relating to Caribbean ancestry and history.

  • CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY RESEARCH COMMUNITY | FACEBOOK

    Welcome to the Caribbean Research Community! This group was created to give people researching the region a place to ask questions, collaborate, and share research with one another.

  • THE CUTLASS MAGAZINE

    A progressive podcast and platform dedicated to the Indo-Caribbean community and other descendants of Indian indentureship from around the world.

  • Gabrielle Querrard | Instagram

  • GENEALOGICAL TRANSLATIONS | FACEBOOK

    Genealogical Translations was established to provide amateur family researchers a place to have their genealogical documents translated. We are a global volunteer group whose members help other members by offering free translation of their genealogical documents such as vital records, postcards, obituaries, and more, in languages including – Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and many others!

  • The Native Son Museum | Instagram

    A native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands. On a mission to preserve: history, people, economics, and culture. Follow me on my journey!

  • St. Croix St. Thomas St. John DNA Registry | FACEBOOK

  • Virgin Islands Ancestry Discovery Group | Facebook

    VIADG helps Virgin Islanders research and preserve their family histories, stories, traditions, customs and, culture; provides a forum for developing research skills, sharing knowledge of resources available, and involving the Virgin Islands community in the ancestry discovery process.

  • Virgin Islands and Caribbean Historical Knowledge | Facebook

  • Virgin Island History Keepers | Facebook

    We are the ones responsible to keep our history and stories from our grandparents, parents or the woman or man down the street. We have lost so much of them. Why not share yours so other can pass it on, our culture our stories, soon it will be gone. We are not shamed of our people, tell the stories that came from the soul if not now, when.

GENEALOGY VIDEOS + TUTORIALS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through tutorials, lectures, roundtable discussions, and genealogy webinars.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • INTRODUCTION TO AFRO-CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY RESOURCES WITH SHARON WILKINS

    Learn how to trace your Afro-Caribbean ancestors from the West Indies, including Barbados, Jamaica, and other places. Presented by Sharon Wilkins, President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society - New York.

  • Frederiksted Walking Tour 2022 - DVICE


    Frandelle Gerard, Executive Director at Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT), takes us on a historical walking tour of Frederiksted (“Freedom City”), St. Croix.

hire a professional genealogist.

Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through collaboration with a professional genealogist.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • Legacy Tree Genealogists

    Are you looking for details about your Caribbean ancestry? Do you need help getting started or have you hit a brick wall?

    Caribbean genealogy can be challenging, and the professional genealogists at Legacy Tree Genealogists can help with your research needs.

    Ancestors of Paradise visitors save on select genealogy research projects.

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