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
Goal B2: Explore birth records in the U.S.
Birth records offer an important way to verify information about your ancestors.
ChoicesVault
A Learn about practical sources for finding birth records.
Class Outlines: Basic
Summary
- Birth records came relatively later in the U.S., with some states not officially recording births until after 1900.
- Learn where to find United States birth records.
- Learn about the types of information that birth records typically contain.
- FamilySearch: Learn how to find United States birth records in this FamilySearch Wiki article.
FS—How to Find United States Birth Records
QUIZ - Ancestry: Learn about birth and death records in these Ancestry articles.
AC—Birth Certificates: a Cornerstone for Family History Research
AC—Births and Deaths in Public Records - Overview: Watch this video for an overview of U.S. birth records.
AAC—Vital Records - Births—4:28 - Here are tips for getting started with birth records.
AF—Tips for Using Birth Records to Ensure Success in Your Genealogy - 2019
AF—Genealogy Basics: Birth Record Research Advice for Beginners - 2022 - Learn about unusual places to find birthdate information.
FHD—6 Uncommon Places to Find a Missing Birth Date for Your Ancestor - 2023
Record Search Practice |
Wallace Whittfield Ferguson was born in the 1800's. Use the "FS: U.S., Select Births and Christenings, 1867-1931" QUIKLink below to answer these questions:
- What is Wallace Whittfield Ferguson's birth date?
- Where was he born?
- Where were his parents born?
- Click the QUIKLink mentioned above.
- In the search screen, enter "Wallace Whittfield" as the first name and "Ferguson" as the last name.
- In the search results screen, click Original Record for Wallace Whittfield Ferguson.
- Read the information in the center column. See also the Suggested Records at the right of the page.
- Wallace was born on 5 Nov 1892.
- He was born in Seattle, King, Washington.
- Wallace's parents were born in Canada.
(Contributed by Brent Bunker )
QUIKLinks
B Explore alternatives to birth records.
Summary
- Records that might include birth information include vital records, church records, obituaries, and censuses.
- Learn how to overcome the issues that arise with illegitimate children and missing fathers.
- Baptisms and Christening: Learn about baptismal and christening records in this video and article.
AC—Understanding Baptismal Records—36:00 - 2014
MH Wiki—Baptism Records
- Other Records: Learn about other types of records that might include birth information.
LDS—Discovering Birth Records
27 Ways to Find Ancestor Birth Information - 2020 - Learn how to find family history information in baby books.
FE—Using Baby Books as a Genealogy Tool - 2019
FE—Using Baby Books as a Genealogy Tool - Learn how to find birth announcements and notices.
MH Wiki—Birth Notices - Delayed Birth Records: Learn about delayed birth records and how to find them.
MH Wiki—Delayed Birth Records - Missing Parents: Solve research challenges of illegitimate children and missing parents.
GC—Illegitimate Children and Missing Fathers
FHF—How to Find Parents of Illegitimate Children: Genealogy Research Tips—14:56 - 2021
Family Bibles
- Family Bibles: Learn how family bibles can be helpful in research.
FS Wiki—United States Bible Records
Bible Records - Learn more about family bibles.
MH Wiki—Family Bible - Learn how to find family bible records in these videos.
AA—Stories from the Archives: Family Bible Records—61:27 - 2021
RT—The Family Bible - How to Locate & Use the Family History Inside—21:29 - 2022
- Explore the
Yancey Family Genealogy site for surname listings and other resources for family bibles. - Check out the FamilySearch Community Group for Family Bible Records.
- * Proficient: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for the articles and videos in the Choice.