A: U.S. RECORDS
1: Records
2: Location, Maps, Geo
3: Regions / States
4: Timelines & Histories |
B: VITAL RECORDS
1: Vital Rec.
2: Birth
3: Adoption
4: Marriage
5: Death, Obits
6: Cemetery |
C: CENSUS
1: Records
2: By Decades |
D: IMMIGRATION
1: Records
2: Passenger / Nat.
3: Other
4: Migration |
E: MILITARY
1: Records
2: By Conflict |
F: OTHER RECORDS
1: Religious
2: Land, Probate, Tax
3: Court
4: News.
5: Arch. / Lib.
6: Help
7: Misc.
KB
Translation Tips
Music
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Partners: FamilySearch Ancestry Findmypast MyHeritage | Websites: FS Wiki GenealogyLinks
Part A: U.S. Records and Searches
Goal A1: Learn about U.S. records for your research.Vault
Getting a firm grasp of the basic types of records used in research will help you make better choices in the areas you explore.
(1:44)
Choices
A Understand United States records and their uses.
Class Outlines: Basic | Intermediate
Summary
- Learn about basic record types you will be using.
- Learn how to evaluate information in basic records.
- Discover a wider range of U.S. records and how to use them.
Record Basics
- Introduction: Learn about different record types and the basic information they include.
FS—Types of Records—5:32 - 2018
FMP: 4 Types of Genealogy Records You Should Search First - 2020
See a FamilySearch record and its index transcription.
- See descriptions of 20 essential record types (census, vital records, family stories, newspapers, etc.) in this article.
LDS—Genealogy Record Types
- Learn more about basic types of records for research.
Step 6 - Understanding Different Types of Records
FHD—Every Family History Record Type You Need to Know + Free Checklist - 2021
- Original Records: Learn about the importance of using original records.
AR: The Importance Of Using Original Records - 2011
RT—It's Worth It: Obtaining Original Records—18:27 - 2022
- Here are some tips for locating original records.
FS: Finding Original Records - 2017
LDS—5 Keys to Discovering More Records
Record Information
- Evaluating Information: Learn about how to get the most from the records you find.
AC—Five Things You Should Do With Every Record—5:07 - 2014
AF—3 Overlooked Clues in Genealogical Documents - 2016
- Learn about the value of combining multiple records in your research.
BYU—When One Record Isn't Enough: Building a Complete Picture with Multiple Records—34:41 - 2020
AR—Where in the World? Finding Your Ancestors' Origins—18:15 - 2013
- Learn what to do when a record has only limited information.
AJC—What to Do When a Record Doesn't Tell You Much - 2017
- Learn what you can do when no records seem to be available for an ancestor.
AF—3 Ways to Find Ancestors Who Didn't Leave a Paper Trail: What to Do When There Are No Records - 2014
- Missing County Records: Watch these videos to learn about missing or burned county records.
AAC—Myth: Burned Counties—2:03
RT—Alternative Methods in Finding Your Family In a Burned County—12:21 - 2022
- Worksheets: Download record worksheets from the Family Tree Magazine site.
Exercises
- * Good: Describe five different types of U.S. records, what they contain, and how you might use them in your research.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for eight types of U.S. records.
B Use the Record Selection Table for planning U.S. research.
Summary
- This tool helps you determine which records to search first and which to search afterwards, for each category of information.
For example, if you were looking for a U.S. ancestor's birthplace, you would start with vital records, church records, and census records; then you would try newspapers and obituaries.
- Study the FamilySearch
United States Record Finder.
- Using the information in the table, map out a strategy for records to search for your U.S. ancestors.
Exercises
- * Good: Make a list of two or more helpful record types to search, for at least two ancestors.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for at least four ancestors.
C Get acquainted with other types of records and their information.
Summary
- Use the Public Records Index and the Ancestry Wiki to learn about a variety of records.
- You may find additional records.
- Public Records Index: Learn about the United States Public Records Index. This collection has records for many people who lived in the United States from 1970-2009, which can be a great help for those tracing your recent ancestors or missing family members.
FS - U.S. Public Records Index
QUIZ
- Explore the U.S. Public Records Index collection on FamilySearch to find information and clues about recent ancestors.
- Ancestry Wiki: Watch this video to help you explore the Ancestry Wiki, which points to many types of records.
AC—What Records Exist—28:29
- Alternatives: Learn how to find valuable information from unusual record sources.
RT—Finding Valuable Information from Unusual Records - 2017
MH—Resources for Genealogical Research You May Never Have Thought Of - 2023
- Pre-1850: Learn how to find U.S. records before 1850.
FS—U.S. Records Before 1850—57:06 - 2016
- Index-only: Recognize index-only records (no record image included), why they are created, and how to use them in your research.
AC—Index-Only Records—30:38 - 2015
- Image-only: Learn how to find image-only records—those that have not yet been indexed.
FS—Worth a Thousand Words: How to Find and Use Image-Only Collections on FamilySearch
QUIKLinks
Exercises
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings about records for two or more of the following topics: Public Records Index, Ancestry Wiki, unusual record sources, pre-1850 records, image-only collections. Then use the learnings for record searches for your U.S. ancestors.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for four or more topics.
Goal A1: Learn about U.S. records for your research.Vault
Getting a firm grasp of the basic types of records used in research will help you make better choices in the areas you explore.
(1:44)
Choices
A Understand United States records and their uses.
Class Outlines: Basic | Intermediate
Summary
- Learn about basic record types you will be using.
- Learn how to evaluate information in basic records.
- Discover a wider range of U.S. records and how to use them.
- Introduction: Learn about different record types and the basic information they include.
FS—Types of Records—5:32 - 2018
FMP: 4 Types of Genealogy Records You Should Search First - 2020
See a FamilySearch record and its index transcription. - See descriptions of 20 essential record types (census, vital records, family stories, newspapers, etc.) in this article.
LDS—Genealogy Record Types - Learn more about basic types of records for research.
Step 6 - Understanding Different Types of Records
FHD—Every Family History Record Type You Need to Know + Free Checklist - 2021 - Original Records: Learn about the importance of using original records.
AR: The Importance Of Using Original Records - 2011
RT—It's Worth It: Obtaining Original Records—18:27 - 2022
- Here are some tips for locating original records.
FS: Finding Original Records - 2017
LDS—5 Keys to Discovering More Records
Record Basics
Record Information
- Evaluating Information: Learn about how to get the most from the records you find.
AC—Five Things You Should Do With Every Record—5:07 - 2014
AF—3 Overlooked Clues in Genealogical Documents - 2016
- Learn about the value of combining multiple records in your research.
BYU—When One Record Isn't Enough: Building a Complete Picture with Multiple Records—34:41 - 2020
AR—Where in the World? Finding Your Ancestors' Origins—18:15 - 2013
- Learn what to do when a record has only limited information.
AJC—What to Do When a Record Doesn't Tell You Much - 2017 - Learn what you can do when no records seem to be available for an ancestor.
AF—3 Ways to Find Ancestors Who Didn't Leave a Paper Trail: What to Do When There Are No Records - 2014 - Missing County Records: Watch these videos to learn about missing or burned county records.
AAC—Myth: Burned Counties—2:03
RT—Alternative Methods in Finding Your Family In a Burned County—12:21 - 2022
- Worksheets: Download record worksheets from the Family Tree Magazine site.
- * Good: Describe five different types of U.S. records, what they contain, and how you might use them in your research.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for eight types of U.S. records.
B Use the Record Selection Table for planning U.S. research.
Summary
- This tool helps you determine which records to search first and which to search afterwards, for each category of information.
For example, if you were looking for a U.S. ancestor's birthplace, you would start with vital records, church records, and census records; then you would try newspapers and obituaries.
- Study the FamilySearch United States Record Finder.
- Using the information in the table, map out a strategy for records to search for your U.S. ancestors.
- * Good: Make a list of two or more helpful record types to search, for at least two ancestors.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for at least four ancestors.
C Get acquainted with other types of records and their information.
Summary
- Use the Public Records Index and the Ancestry Wiki to learn about a variety of records.
- You may find additional records.
- Public Records Index: Learn about the United States Public Records Index. This collection has records for many people who lived in the United States from 1970-2009, which can be a great help for those tracing your recent ancestors or missing family members.
FS - U.S. Public Records Index
QUIZ - Explore the U.S. Public Records Index collection on FamilySearch to find information and clues about recent ancestors.
- Ancestry Wiki: Watch this video to help you explore the Ancestry Wiki, which points to many types of records.
AC—What Records Exist—28:29
- Alternatives: Learn how to find valuable information from unusual record sources.
RT—Finding Valuable Information from Unusual Records - 2017
MH—Resources for Genealogical Research You May Never Have Thought Of - 2023 - Pre-1850: Learn how to find U.S. records before 1850.
FS—U.S. Records Before 1850—57:06 - 2016 - Index-only: Recognize index-only records (no record image included), why they are created, and how to use them in your research.
AC—Index-Only Records—30:38 - 2015
- Image-only: Learn how to find image-only records—those that have not yet been indexed.
FS—Worth a Thousand Words: How to Find and Use Image-Only Collections on FamilySearch
QUIKLinks
Exercises
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings about records for two or more of the following topics: Public Records Index, Ancestry Wiki, unusual record sources, pre-1850 records, image-only collections. Then use the learnings for record searches for your U.S. ancestors.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for four or more topics.