R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Alabama
Research Outline
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Familysearch™
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
     Courthouse Fires
     Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
     Federal Censuses
     Colonial Censuses (1706–1795)
     Territorial Censuses (1795–1810)
     Census Substitutes
     State Censuses (1820–1866)
     Confederate Veterans’ Censuses (1907, 1921, 1927)
Church Records
     Baptist
     Episcopal
     Methodist
     Presbyterian
     Roman Catholic
Court Records
Directories
Divorce Records
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
     Nationwide Indexes
     Web Sites About Your Family
History
     State Histories
     Local Histories
Land And Property
     Patents, Tract Books, And Land Entry Case Files
     County Land Records
     Choctaw Lands Allotted East Of The Mississippi River (1837–1906)
Maps
Military Records
     Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
     War Of 1812 (1812–1815)
     Indian Wars (1812–1814)
     War Of Texas Independence (1835–1836)
     Indian Wars (1836–1838)
     Mexican War (1846–1848)
     Civil War (1861–1865)
     Spanish-american War (1898–1899)
     World War I (1917–1918)
     World War II (1941–1945)
Minorities
     African-american
     Italian Immigrants
Native Races
     Creeks
     Cherokees
     Additional Cherokee Records
     Choctaws
     Chickasaw
     Bibliography For Published Books And Articles
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
     Inventory On The Internet
Obituaries
Periodicals
Probate Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
     County Records Of Births And Deaths
     State Records Of Births And Deaths
     County Marriage Records
     State Marriage Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG

The library’s records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog available at the library, at each Family History Center, and on the Internet at www.familysearch.org/Search/searchcatalog.asp. To find a record in the Family History Library Catalog, look in the Locality Search for:

  • The place where your ancestor lived, such as:
UNITED STATES- CENSUS RECORDSALABAMA- VITAL RECORDSALABAMA, LEE- LAND AND PROPERTYALABAMA, LEE, AUBURN- CHURCH RECORDS
  • The record type you want to search, such as:
UNITED STATES- CENSUS RECORDSALABAMA- VITAL RECORDSALABAMA, LEE- LAND AND PROPERTYALABAMA, LEE, AUBURN- CHURCH RECORDS
The section headings in this outline match the names of record types used in the Family History Library Catalog.

RECORD SELECTION TABLE: ALABAMA
This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

1. In column 1, find the category closest to your research goal.2. In column 2, find the types of records most likely to have the information you need.3. In column 3, find additional record types that may be useful.4. Then turn to the section of this outline that corresponds to the record type you chose. The section explains what the records might tell you, how to search them, and how to find them in the Family History Library Catalog. Some records are not at the Library.5. If you do not find the desired information, see the Records Selection Table in the United States Research Outline (30972) for more suggestions.

Note: Records of previous research (Genealogy, Biography, History, Periodicals, and Societies) are useful for most goals, but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.
1. If you need: 2. Look first in: 3. Then search:
Adoptions Court Records, Vital Records Probate Records, Census, Obituaries
Age Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries Vital Records, Military Records, Bible Records
Birth date Vital Records, Obituaries, Cemeteries Church Records, Bible Records, Military Records
Birthplace Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries Census, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Boundaries and origins Maps, Gazetteers History
Children Census, Probate Records, Obituaries Vital Records, Church Records
City or parish of foreign birth Vital Records, Obituaries, Biography History, Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records
Country of foreign birth Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records Biography, Minorities, Obituaries
Death information Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries Probate Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Divorce Divorce Records, Vital Records, Court Records Newspapers, Census
Emigration information Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Biography, History, Obituaries
Ethnic background Native Races, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration Census, Obituaries, Naturalization and Citizenship
Historical background History, Periodicals, Gazetteers Maps, Church Records
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Obituaries, Biography, History
Living relatives Obituaries, Probate Records, Directories Court Records
Maiden name Vital Records, Church Records Probate Records, Military Records, Obituaries
Marriage information Vital Records, Bible Records Obituaries, Probate Records, Military Records
Migration information Emigration and Immigration, Census, Biography History, Land and Property, Maps
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records Voting Registers, Biography, Periodicals
Occupations Census, Directories, Obituaries Land and Property, Biography, History, Probate Records
Other family members Census, Obituaries, Probate Records Vital Records, Church Records
Parents Vital Records, Obituaries, Census Church Records, Biography
Physical description Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration Biography, History
Place-finding aids Maps, Gazetteers, History Periodicals, Archives and Libraries
Places of residence Census, Military Records, Obituaries, Vital Records, Church Records Land and Property, Taxation, Voting Registers
Place of residence when you know only the state Census, Vital Records, Military Records Land and Property, Obituaries, History
Previous research Genealogy, Biography, Periodicals Societies, History, Archives and Libraries
Record-finding aids Archives and Libraries, Periodicals Societies, Genealogy, For Further Reading
Religion Church Records, Vital Records, Obituaries Biography, History, Cemeteries
Social activities Societies, Obituaries, Biography Newspapers, History, Cemeteries

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Version of Data: 6/8/2001]