Genealogy Source List

Sometimes it's tough to think of every possible source that can be used to document your genealogy. Although it might seem like there are only a few common records to find i.e., census, birth, marriage, death and wills. The reality is there are in fact hundreds of possible sources for genealogical information. This carefully compiled list is a great source to refer to when you start to wonder, "What should try to find next?"

Adoption Record:

  1. Agreement published as a public notice in a local newspaper.
  2. Agreement in a court of local jurisdiction.
  3. A petition entered into local court records.

Advertise:

  1. In a local newspaper.
  2. A National Genealogical publication.
  3. A state or local Genealogical Society publication.
  4. A Family Organization publication.

Baptismal Record:

  1. From a local church.
  2. Regional Church headquarters.
  3. World Church headquarters.

Bible Records:

  1. From your family.
  2. Distant relatives.

Biography: Libraries in your area will be able to help with all types of biographies. Many of these will be available on an inter-library loan basis.

  1. As published in books, magazines, newsletters, or newspapers.
  2. National biographies.
  3. State biographies.
  4. Local biographies.
  5. Auto-biographies.

Birth Record:

  1. State Vital Records
  2. County Clerks Offices.
  3. Newspaper birth notices (microfilmed).
  4. Local church records.
  5. Civil War Pension files
    Pension files often include the veteran's birth information, as well as, information on any offspring and spouse.
  6. Death Certificates from a state, county or city.
  7. Obituaries as published in newspapers.
  8. Local church records.
  9. Family bibles
  10. International Genealogical Index (IGI)
    The IGI (formerly the Computer File Index) has several million documented births throughout the U.S.
  11. Selective Service records.

Bounty Land Files:

  1. U.S. Military veterans 1775-1855 were eligible for land grants.
  2. Index to the Revolutionary War Veterans provides pertinent information.
Use the National Archives Trust Fund (NATF) form 80 to request a search of land grant records from the National Archives.

Cemetery Record:

  1. City, County or State death certificates indicate place of burial.
    Large active cemeteries often have permanent staff that can be of assistance.
  2. City Clerk for City Cemetery Association
  3. Sexton or Secretary of Cemetery
  4. Obituary Notice
  5. Tombstones
    Tombstones can contain both birth and death information, as well as, cause of death and even occupation.
  6. Local Genealogical Society

Chamber of Commerce
If you're at a loss for names and addresses in an area, the local Chamber of Commerce is usually more than happy to help at no charge.

Christening Record:

  1. From a local church.
  2. Regional church archives.
  3. World headquarters for a church.

Church Records:

  1. Christenings
  2. Births
  3. Blessings
  4. Baptisms
  5. Marriages
  6. Admissions
  7. Dismissals
  8. Deaths
  9. Publications
  10. Church Cemetery

City Atlas:

  1. Consult a county history.
  2. Chamber of Commerce
  3. City office
  4. Local Genealogical Society
  5. Local library

City or Local Directory:

  1. Local library
  2. Local Genealogical Society
  3. Local University or National library

City Histories:

  1. Local University or National Library.
  2. Local Chamber of Commerce
  3. Local Genealogical Society

Civil War Records:

  1. For Union Military, Bounty Land, and Pension Files use NATF form 80.
  2. For Confederate soldiers see particular State Archives.

Coroners Records:
City or County Coroner's office.

County Atlas:

  1. Local library
  2. Local Genealogical Society publication.
  3. County History
  4. State Library or Archives.

County Landowner Maps:

  1. County Clerk or Auditor
  2. Local library
  3. Local Genealogical Society.
  4. County History - often included.

Court Records:

  1. Adoption
  2. Contracts
  3. Criminal
  4. Deeds
  5. Divorce
  6. Marriage
  7. Probates

Criminal Records:

  1. Local court records
  2. Jail records
  3. State Penitentiary records

Death Records:

  1. State Vital Records
  2. County Clerk
  3. City Clerk
  4. Probate - Will Clerk of the court.
  5. Church records
  6. Obituary in local newspaper.
  7. VIPs in New York Times Obituary Index
  8. Cemetery Records
  9. Coroners Records
  10. Civil War Pension Files
    Will give death date of the veteran when surviving spouse applied for pension.
  11. Mortuary Records
  12. International Genealogical Index (IGI)
  13. Military Records
  14. Family Records

Divorce Records:

  1. State Vital Records
  2. Local Court Clerk
  3. Newspaper notices.
  4. Church Records
  5. Family Records

Emigration and Immigration Records:

  1. Departure Records - In country of origin.
  2. Sale of Property - In country of origin.
  3. Permit to Emigrate - Emigrant Register indexes in Archives of country of origin.
  4. Passenger Agreement - Merchant records on microfilm at U.G.S.
    Utah Genealogical Society Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Also known as the Family History Library.
  5. "Pest" Hospital Records - On microfilm at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
  6. Passenger Lists - P. William Filby's German's to America indexes.
  7. Newspaper notices of safe arrival and letter of thanks to Captain.
  8. Alien registration in local court.
  9. Naturalization Records in local court.
  10. Oaths of allegiance - Court record in port of entry.

Employment Records:

  1. Civil Service records are generally accessible.
  2. Social Security records for those who died after 1934.
  3. Records of large corporations - Fortune 500.

Family Organizations:

  1. In genealogy magazines.
  2. Family Registry, 50 East North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
  3. Local, State and National Genealogical Society publications.

Family Publications

  1. In genealogical magazines.
  2. Local, State and National Genealogical Society publications.

Farm Census Records:
Scant detail compared to regular census but some additional data.

Federal Census Records:
Records 1790 to 1920 are indexed with the exception of 1870 (most states) and 1890 destroyed in fire (a few remnants exist). Non-indexed censuses require a great deal of time to research due to having to scan the original records line by line.

  1. Census Indexes 1790-1870 - By private companies.
  2. Soundexes for years 1880, 1900-1920 - (Microfilmed card indexes.)

Fraternal Organizations:
Contact National Headquarters.

Gazetters:
Available for all 50 states and are included in most large atlases.

  1. Local Library

Genealogical Libraries:
Large localities often have smaller genealogical collections of information within their library. Contact: Library's Main Branch.

  1. Within a local library.
  2. World's largest collection of genealogical materials is available in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Family History Library. Though sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the library is open to everyone. You need not travel all over the U.S. looking for most records, a large number of them will be found in Salt Lake City.
  3. Branch libraries of the Family History Library are located in L.D.S. Stake Houses all over the world. Contact: Local Bishop or Stake President.

Genealogical Societies:
Join one in the locality you are researching. Many have memberships by mail and can put you in contact with researchers who can look up records and information for you.

Published Genealogies:
Many famous (and infamous) individuals have published genealogies.

  1. Genealogical Libraries
  2. Local Libraries
  3. Genealogical Societies
  4. State Archives
  5. Library of Congress
  6. Relatives

Guardianship:

  1. As awarded by a court of local jurisdiction.

High School Record Offices
In smaller localities, the local high school has often been in existence for 50 years or more. Records from older defunct high schools superceded by a new one are usually transferred to the new location. Check with Principal or local School Board for information.

  1. Grades
  2. Attendance Records
  3. Years attended
  4. Courses studied
  5. Graduation Lists
  6. Diplomas Awarded
  7. Expulsions

Historical Societies:

  1. Join one in the area you are researching.
  2. Be sure and send an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) when asking for information or help.

History Books:

  1. Local Library - Ask about inter-library loan.
  2. Genealogical Libraries

Home Records:
Often overlooked are these sources that are easily within your reach.

  1. Letters
  2. Bibles
  3. Journals
  4. Biographies
  5. Photographs
  6. Drawings
  7. Newspaper Clippings
  8. School Records

Homestead Land:

  1. Bureau of Land Management - Local and National Offices
  2. Department of State Lands
  3. County Land Office

How To Do Genealogy: "The Handy Book For Genealogists"
Perhaps the best, most comprehensive book ever written for the genealogist. "The Handy Book For Genealogists" is thorough and extremely helpful. No researcher's library is complete without it. Available from: The Everton Publishers, P.O. Box 368, Logan, UT 84323-0368 Tel. (435) 752-6022 FAX: (435) 752-0425. May also be ordered through any major book seller.

Indian Heritage:

  1. Genealogies
  2. Indian School Census Records 1910-1939
  3. Reservation Libraries
  4. National Archives
  5. Oklahoma Historical Society
  6. Dawes Commission Rolls
    An Indian Census Card Index 1898-1906 was compiled by the Dawes Commission to verify individual rights to tribal allotments for the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole.

Land Records:

  1. City Offices
  2. County Land Offices
  3. State Department of Lands
  4. Bureau of Land Management Records

Local Depositories:

  1. Local Libraries
  2. Historical & Genealogical Societies
  3. Church Records - Births, Christenings, Marriages, and Deaths.
  4. State Archive Libraries - Often found in the same city as the State Capitol.

Maps:

  1. Local Libraries
  2. County Histories
  3. County Land Office
  4. Rare and Used Book Stores: Old Maps.

Marriage Records:

  1. State Vital Record Offices
  2. County Recorder's Office
  3. Church Records
  4. Local newspaper
  5. Family Bible Records
  6. Cemetery Records
  7. Mortuary Records
  8. Military Pension File

Microfilm and Microfiche Records:
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has more than one billion records on file from all over the world.

Military Records:
Prior to 1914 use NATF form 80, after use standard form 180 and contact a regional office of the Veterans Administration.

Mortality Schedules:
Taken for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885. Records the death of individuals who died in the year previous to the date on which the Federal census was taken. Lists name, age, sex, color, whether widowed, place of birth, month of death, occupation, cause of death, and number of days ill.

Mortuary Records:

  1. Death Certificate will name the mortician and often the mortuary.
  2. Local Mortuaries

Naturalization Records:
Prior to 1906 write the Regional INS office (Immigration and Naturalization Office) to find the local court. After 1906, write INS using form N-585.

Newspapers:

  1. Articles on your research subject.
  2. Local Library - Newspapers on microfilm or microfiche.

Oral Interviews:

  1. Relatives
  2. Older people living in the locality you're researching.

Passenger Lists:

  1. National Archives has microfilmed lists for major ports.
  2. Indexes to some of the lists have been compiled.
  3. Check "German's To America" series of indexes by P. William Filby.

Patriotic Societies:
For a listing consult genealogical publication's; books and magazines.

Pension Records:
For government employees write main office or organization.

Photographs:
Identifying and other important information is often written on the back.

Prison Records:

  1. Hospital registration books
  2. Descriptive Registers
  3. Convict Dockets
  4. Death Warrants
  5. Clemency Files
  6. Pardon Books
  7. Executions

Probate Records:
Will be found in the office of the clerk of the local court.

Queries:
Requests for information about an individual or family. Many genealogical publications often publish them for free.

Relatives:
Also see Home Records.

  1. Interviews and Correspondence.
  2. Newspaper obituaries and clippings.
  3. Announcements
  4. Family Histories
  5. Diplomas
  6. Certificates
  7. High School Records

Research Coordination:
Join a free research coordination system so you and whoever may be searching the same family line can coordinate your efforts. A great way to split research costs.

  1. Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah
  2. Genealogical Publications

Revolutionary War Records:
Write National Archives on NATF form 80, takes about five months. Also, check Pension File Index and consider consulting with a professional researcher for faster access.

Schools and Universities:

  1. Personal Records
  2. Achievements
  3. Admission Records
  4. Attendance Records
  5. Graduation Lists: Diplomas

Selective Service Records:
Draft cards for all males born between 1873 and 1900 who were living during World War I. Write National Archives Regional Branch, 1559 Saint Joseph Ave., East Point, GA 30344

Slave Holder Census Records:
Taken at the same time as the regular Federal census for the years 1850 and 1860. State Archives will also likely have copies.

State Census Records:
Years and information gathered will vary state by state. In the West, they were usually taken to provide proof of sufficient population for Statehood. Not all states have taken state censuses. See: State Census Records by Ann S. Lainhart, Genealogical Publishing 1992.

Tax Records:

  1. City
  2. County
  3. State

Tombstones:
Often overlooked but can provide a lot of information (in some cases): birth date, death date, cause of death, and even occupation. Family plots often mean other closely related realtives are buried nearby.

Unknown Address:
In locality you are searching, long distance information will provide not only a local phone number but addresses as well.

  1. Local Chamber of Commerce
  2. Postmaster of locality can provide change of address information.

War of 1812 Records:
Write State Archives in state where enlistment occurred.

Wills:
See Probate Records.

Where To Write For Vital Records:
A list for all 50 states and territories is available for $3.25 from: Superintendant of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. You can also call (202) 783-3238 and order this publication by phone with a major credit card. A bargain list that is updated frequently.