R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Kentucky
Research Outline
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Familysearch™
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
     Archives
     Libraries
     Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
     Internet Tombstone Transcripts And Index
Census
     Federal Censuses
     Special Censuses
     Census Substitutes
Church Records
     Baptist
     Methodist
     Roman Catholic
     Presbyterian
Court Records
Directories
     City Directories
     State Directories
Divorce Records
Emigration And Immigration
     Immigration And Migration
     Records
     Migration Trails
Funeral Homes
Gazetteers
Genealogy
     Nationwide Indexes
     Web Sites About Your Family
     Statewide Collections And Publications
     Manuscript Collections
     Published Sources
Guardianship
History
     Draper Manuscript Collection
     State Histories
     Local Histories
Land And Property
     Land Grants
     Indexes To Land Grants And Surveys
     County Records
     Reference Tools
Maps
Military Records
     French And Indian War (1754–1763)
     Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
     War Of 1812 (1812–1815)
     Mexican War (1846–1848)
     Civil War (1861–1865)
     Spanish-american War
     World War I (1917–1918)
     Vietnam War (1963–1972)
     Other Military Records
Minorities
     African-american
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Obituaries
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
     Birth And Death Records Prior To 1852
     Birth, Marriage, And Death Records, 1852–1910
     Birth And Death Records, 1911–present
     Birth And Death Records Kept By Cities Before 1911
     Marriage Records
     Guide To Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

This outline describes major sources of information about families from Kentucky. As you read this outline, study the United States Research Outline (30972), which will help you understand terminology in and the contents and uses of genealogical records. Also see the Virginia Research Outline (31083) for additional information about Kentucky before 1776.


RECORDS OF THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

The Family History LibraryLook this term up in the glossary. has many of the records listed in this outline. The major holdings include census, court, land, probate, taxation, and vital records. The library has county records from most Kentucky counties.

Some of the sources described in this outline list the Family History Library’s book, microfilmLook this term up in the glossary., microficheLook this term up in the glossary., compact discLook this term up in the glossary. (CD), and computer numbersLook this term up in the glossary.. These are preceded by FHL, the abbreviation for the Family History Library. The numbers may be used to locate materials in the Family History Library and to order microfilm and microfiche at Family History Centers.

The computer number can be used if you have access to the Family History Library Catalog on computer. The Computer Number Search is the fastest way to find a source in the catalog.

The Internet is growing in importance to genealogists. Sources found on the Internet are cited in this outline with their universal resource locator (URL) address.


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FAMILYSEARCH™

FamilySearch™ at Family History Centers. FamilySearch is a collection of computer files containing millions of names. It is a good place to begin your family history research. Some of the records come from compiled sources, and some have been extracted from original sources. The Family History Library and many Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch. A few FamilySearch resource files such as the U.S. Social Security Death IndexLook this term up in the glossary. and U.S. Military IndexLook this term up in the glossary. are found on the Family History Library and Family History Center edition of FamilySearch but not on the FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service.

Family History Library and Family History Center computers with FamilySearch do not have access to Internet online servicesLook this term up in the glossary., networks, or bulletin boardsLook this term up in the glossary.. Those services are available at many public and college libraries and at private locations. Limited access to the Internet is available on a few computers in the Automated Resource Center in the Family History Library.

FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service. www.familysearch.org allows you to preserve your genealogy, order Family History Library publications, learn research strategies, and look for information about your ancestors in the following resources:

Ancestral FileLook this term up in the glossary.. A file of over 35 million names organized into families and pedigrees

International Genealogical IndexLook this term up in the glossary.. An index of over 360 million names extracted from vital records primarily from the British Isles, North America, and northern Europe

Family History Library CatalogLook this term up in the glossary.. A description and classification of over two million microfilm reels and hundreds of thousands of genealogical books. You can search the catalog by family name, locality, author, book, or film number.

SourceGuide. A collection of over 150 “how-to” research outlines for states, nations, or genealogy topics; an extensive glossary of word meanings; and a catalog helper

Family History CentersLook this term up in the glossary.. Lists of locations where you can order the microfilms described in the Family History Library Catalog and SourceGuide

Web Sites. Have thousands of links to Internet sites related to family history. Each search will give you a list of useful links.

Collaboration Lists. Lists that link you to user created mailing lists of researchers interested in similar genealogical topics


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FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG

The Family History Library’s records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog at the library, at each local Family History Center, and on the Internet at:

www.familysearch.org/Search/searchcatalog.asp.
To find a record, look in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog for:

  • The place where your ancestor lived, such as:
UNITED STATES - CENSUSKENTUCKY - LAND AND PROPERTYKENTUCKY, FAYETTE - VITAL RECORDSKENTUCKY, FAYETTE, LEXINGTON - COURT RECORDS
  • The record type you want to search, such as:
UNITED STATES - CENSUSKENTUCKY - LAND AND PROPERTYKENTUCKY, FAYETTE - VITAL RECORDSKENTUCKY, FAYETTE, LEXINGTON - COURT RECORDS

The section headings in this outline match the names of record types used in the Family History Library Catalog.

RECORD SELECTION TABLE: KENTUCKY
This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.
  1. In column 1 select a 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 look in the section of this outline that corresponds to the record type you chose. It explains what the records might tell you, how to search them, and how to find the records in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog. Some records are not at the library.Note: Records of previous research (genealogies, biographies, histories, 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, Guardianship Probate Records, Church Records, Census
Age Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Vital Records, Military Records Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records, Bible Records
Birth date Vital Records, Obituaries, Cemeteries Church Records, Bible Records, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Birthplace Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries, Census Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Cemeteries
Boundaries and origins Maps, Gazetteers History
Children Census, Probate Records, Obituaries, Vital Records, Guardianship Church Records, Bible Records, Court Records, Land and Property
City or parish of foreign birth Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
Country of foreign birth Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records, Obituaries Biography, History, Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
Death information Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Probate Records, Funeral Homes Military Records, Church Records, Bible Records, Land and Property
Divorce Divorce Records, Vital Records, Court Records, Newspapers Census, Obituaries
Emigration information Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Obituaries Biography, History, Minorities, Societies
Ethnic background Native Races, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship Societies, Church Records, Periodicals, Census
Historical background History, Periodicals, Gazetteers Maps, Land and Property
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Court Records, Biography, History
Living relatives Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records, Directories Court Records, Census, Funeral Homes
Maiden name Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records Church Records, Military Records, Funeral Homes, Cemeteries
Marriage information Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Census, Church Records Probate Records, Military Records, Divorce Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Migration information Emigration and Immigration, Maps, Census, Biography History, Land and Property, Military Records, Minorities
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Voting Registers Court Records, Biography, History
Occupations Occupations, Census, Directories Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography, Emigration and Immigration
Other family members Census, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records Vital Records, Church Records, Bible Records, Funeral Homes
Parents Vital Records, Obituaries, Census, Guardianship Probate Records, Funeral Homes, Church Records, Bible Records
Physical description Military Records, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship Biography, History
Place-finding aids Maps, Gazetteers, History Periodicals, Archives and Libraries
Places of residence Census, Military Records, Obituaries, Biography Land and Property, Naturalization and Citizenship, Public Records
Place of residence when you know only the state Census, Vital Records, Military Records Naturalization and Citizenship, Taxation
Previous research Genealogy, Biography, Periodicals, Societies History, Archives and Libraries
Record-finding aids Archives and Libraries, Church Records, Periodicals Societies, For Further Reading
Religion Church Records, Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography History, Cemeteries, Funeral Homes
Social activities Societies, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography History, Cemeteries, Directories

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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]