Towns in Thüringen (Thuringia)

Records for towns in Thüringen are listed twice: once under Thüringen and once under the specific duchy or principality the town belonged to. For example, a record listed under GERMANY, THÜRINGEN, SULZE (country, state, town) is also listed under GERMANY, SACHSEN-ALTENBURG, SULZE (country, duchy, town).

The duchies and principalities of Sachsen (Thüringen) were Reuß ältere Linie, Reuß jüngere Linie, Sachsen-Altenburg, Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, Sachsen-Meiningen, Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. The Coburg part of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha joined Bayern in 1920 and is listed under Bayern instead of Thüringen in the catalog.

Places Now Outside of Germany

German states, provinces, and counties have changed many times. The Family History Library Catalog lists records according to the jurisdictions of the German Empire (1871-1914). Records of places that were formerly part of Germany but that now belong to other countries are listed under both Germany and the other country in the Family History Library Catalog. For example, if a place is listed in the catalog under GERMANY, PREUßEN, SCHLESIEN, BRESLAU, it is also listed under POLAND, WROCAW, WROCAW.

This rule applies to former German territories that are now part of France, Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. For more information about jurisdictions, see the “Gazetteers,” “Historical Geography,” “History,” and “Maps” sections of this outline.

This outline provides the library's call numbers for some of the listed sources. These numbers are preceded by FHL, the abbreviation for the Family History Library. The outline also provides Family History Library Catalog computer numbers for some sources. These numbers are preceded by computer number.

If you need help with the Family History Library Catalog, the Family History Library and Family History Centers have a short video program, written instructions, and staff members that can answer questions.

Record Selection Table: Germany

RECORDS SELECTION TABLE: GERMANY

This table can help you decide which records to search.In column 1, find the goal you selected.In column 2, find the types of records that are most likely to have the information you need. Then turn to that section of this outline.Additional records that may also be useful are listed in column 3. The terms used in columns 2 and 3 are the same as the subject headings used in this outline and in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog. Records containing previous research (biography, genealogy, history, nobility, periodicals and societies) could provide information for most of the goals. These have not been repeatedly listed unless they are especially helpful for the goal.

1. If You Need	2. Look First In	3. Then Search
Age	Church Records, Civil Registration, Jewish Records	Obituaries, Naturalization and Citizenship, Schools
Birth date	Church Records, Civil Registration, Jewish Records	Obituaries, Occupations, Census
Birthplace	Church Records, Jewish Records, Census, Obituaries	Occupations, Naturalization and Citizenship, Schools, Military Records
Boundaries (parish, district, or county)	Gazetteers, Church History	Maps, History, Historical Geography
Death	Church Records, Civil Registration, Jewish Records, Obituaries, Newspapers	Probate Records, Court Records, Occupations, Cemeteries
Emigration information	Emigration and Immigration, Societies, Military Records, Periodicals, Newspapers	See the research outline for the country to which the ancestor immigrated
Historical background	History, Church History	Societies
Language helps	Language and Languages	Handwriting
Living relatives	Directories, Genealogy	Societies, Periodicals
Maiden name	Church Records, Civil Registration	Jewish Records, Obituaries
Marriage	Church Records, Civil Registration, Jewish Records	Genealogy, Periodicals, Nobility, Newspapers
Naming customs	Names (Personal)	Genealogy, Periodicals
Noble families	Nobility, Heraldry	Biography, Periodicals
Occupations	Church Records, Occupations, Directories, Population	Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Church Directories, Dwellings
Parents, children, and other family members	Church Records, Civil Registration, Obituaries, Jewish Records	Probate Records, Land and Property, Naturalization and Citizenship
Physical description	Military Records, Biography	Genealogy, Emigration and Immigration
Place-finding aids	Gazetteers, Maps	Historical Geography
Places of residence	Population, Church Records, Emigration and Immigration, Directories, Jewish Records, Military Records	Biography, Genealogy, Census, Dwellings, Land and Property, Periodicals Names (Personal)
Previous research (compiled genealogy)	Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies	History, Biography, Nobility, Dwellings
Record-finding aids	Archives and Libraries, Church History, Church Directories	Societies, Periodicals

Map: The German Empire 1871-1918

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Map: Modern Germany

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