Family Genealogy Research

THE DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AND SACRAMENTAL RECORDS

To facilitate genealogical research, a program to maintain a centralized copy of sacramental records for the churches of the Diocese of Shreveport is in place.  The records cover only the territory of the Shreveport diocese, that is, the civil parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, East Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Union, Webster, and West Carroll.

The earliest records date from 1857, depending on location.   The sacramental records held in diocesan archive extend through about 1925.

Requests for searches should contain specific information as thoroughly as possible, for example:

Complete name of individual
Parents’ names
Date and type of sacrament (baptism, marriage, burial)
Date of birth
Church parish or location of residence at the time of the sacrament

Depending upon the amount of research required, a fee may be charged. Requests may be received by email or regular mail.

Sacramental records are not of the same nature as vital statistics.  A certificate of a sacramental record faithfully reproduces the original record, but does not certify the accuracy of the original information.

The Diocese of Shreveport holds no adoption records.

Sacramental records presently available for research are listed in the archives page of the diocesan web site at  https://www.dioshpt.org/archives. Other information related to family research is available on the archives web page at the timeline entry.

Archives
Diocese of Shreveport
3500 Fairfield Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71104
Phone 318-868-4441, ext. 254
Email: Lmarcalus@dioshpt.org