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A Guide to Research |
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Table of Contents
Why Family History?
Introduction
Purpose
Records At The Family History Library
Services And Resources
Research Process
1. Identify What You Know About Your Family
Fill Out A Pedigree Chart And Family Group Record
Gather Additional Information
Organize Your Records
2. Decide What You Want To Learn About Your Family
Select An Ancestor
Select A Research Question
Prepare A Research Log
3. Select Records To Search
Identify A Record Category
Compiled Records
Original Records
Choose A Record Type
Select Specific Records To Search
Describe The Records On Your Research Log
4. Obtain And Search The Record
Obtain The Record
Search The Record
Record The Results
5. Use The Information
Evaluate The Information
Transfer The Information
Organize Your Records
Share Information
Repeat The Process
Additional
Indexing Of Records
Other Services
Library Rules
Selecting Record Types
3. SELECT RECORDS TO SEARCH
The Family History Library and family history centers have the following basic categories of records.
These are records of previous research on individuals and families already done by others, such as family histories
These are records created at the time of important events in your ancestors' lives. For example, a local church or the local government may have recorded your ancestors' births, christenings, marriages, and burials.
These are records dealing with geographical, historical, or cultural information. They include local histories
These are records that help you find a record or a name in a record. They include indexes and library catalogs.
It is best to search compiled records first. You can save a lot of time by seeing what information others have already found about your family. Compiled records can usually be searched quickly and easily. The following compiled records are available at the Family History Library or family history centers.
Ancestral File You will need the name of your ancestor to search this file. Printed instructions and computerized help messages are available to help you use the file. You may also ask a staff member for assistance. You can hand-copy the information you find, make a printed paper copy at cost, or copy the information onto a diskette Ancestral File, Pedigree Chart
The International Genealogical Index The index identifies only the parents or spouse of a person. It does not show family members linked together in pedigrees or family groups as does Ancestral File.
International Genealogical Index
The library has thousands of family histories. In a family history, you may find genealogical information, photographs, biographical sketches To find a family history, you will need to use the "Surname After you find catalog entries that contain your ancestor's surname, read the descriptions to see if the family history matches the time period and place in which your ancestor lived. The computer version of the catalog allows you to search for key words in the descriptions. This feature can save you time if many family histories contain your ancestor's surname.
When you find a book or microfilm that you want to view, write the complete call number, author, and title in your research log (see the example). Then obtain the book or microfilm as explained in step 4.
Family History Library Catalog Entry, Surname Section
Other sources of compiled records are available. Take your pedigree chart and research log to a staff member to determine whether any of the following sources would be helpful and how to locate them. Most compiled records are described in the Family History Library Catalog.
Most original records in the Family History Library are microfilm copies of records found in courthouses, churches, government offices, historical societies, and other archives throughout the world. Some records are available as books. Others are available on computer as part of FamilySearch. The following are some of the major types of original records available:
Most government offices keep records of births, marriages, and deaths. In the Family History Library Catalog these records are listed under "Vital Records" for the United States and Canada, and "Civil Registration" for other countries.
The church your ancestors attended may have kept records of their christenings, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, or burials. Church records are especially important if civil vital records are unavailable for a time period or region where your ancestor lived.
From cemetery records and headstones, you may be able to learn the names, birth dates, and death dates of family members buried near each other. The epitaphs may help you establish the relationships between ancestors.
Most national governments conduct periodic censuses. Beginning in 1850, United States federal censuses listed every member of a household by name, with information about sex, age, country or state of birth, and occupation. Census records are especially helpful in determining where your ancestors lived.
When a person dies, court records may be created containing a copy of the person's will, if one exists, and the court's decision about how the estate is to be distributed among his heirs. These are called probate records, and they often provide names and family relationships.
The names of individuals who served in the military or who were eligible for military service appear in military records.
Passenger lists Note: To find the records of an immigrant's place of origin, you usually need to know the exact city, town, or county where he lived. If you do not know this, search the records of the country to which he migrated. For more information, see the publication Tracing Immigrant Origins, available at the library or family history centers.
Other original documents include court, land, naturalization, taxation, business, medical, and school records. Be sure to check all jurisdictions (for example, town, county, state, and country) that may have kept records about your ancestor.
When selecting a record, first decide which type of record may contain the information you are looking for (such as vital record, cemetery record, or military record). To decide upon a record type, do one of the following:
Once you have determined what type of record to search for, you will need to select a specific record. Most original records are listed in the "Locality When you find the records for the place where your ancestor lived, read the descriptions to see if a record covers the time period you need. Indexes are often available for original records. If one is available, search the index first.
If you do not find any records listed under a place, search for records of other jurisdictions Family History Library Catalog Entry, Locality Section
On your research log, record the authors, titles, time periods, and Family History Library call numbers of any records you select. Your research log might look like the example. You now have the information you need to obtain a record.
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©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
IDENTIFY A RECORD CATEGORY
Compiled Records
, biographies, or genealogies with pedigree charts and family group records. Though compiled records are very helpful, some information may be inaccurate or incomplete. The information is submitted by library patrons and is not verified by the Family History Library. Always carefully evaluate the information you find.
Original Records
Background Information
, maps, gazetteers, language dictionaries, and guidebooks. Search these records to learn more about the area where your ancestors lived and the events that may have affected their lives and the records about them.
Finding Aids
COMPILED RECORDS
Ancestral File
is a collection of pedigree and family group records submitted by people throughout the world. It is available on computer as part of FamilySearch™. It contains millions of names, and new names are added each year. Using Ancestral File, you can see an ancestor's pedigree, his family (both as a child and as a parent), his descendants, and the names and addresses of the people who submitted the information. You can make corrections to any errors you find in the file.
to use with your home computer.
contains millions of names of deceased persons from around the world, and new names are added periodically. It lists birth and marriage information and dates of ordinances performed in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It also gives the sources of the information. Many of the names come from original birth and marriage records from the early 1500s to 1875. Other names were submitted by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The index is available on computer as part of FamilySearch and on microfiche.
Family Histories
, and stories about the family. Books are usually available only in the Family History Library. However, most histories are also available on microfilm or microfiche and can be ordered for use at a family history center.
" section of the Family History Library Catalog (if using the microfiche edition) or the "Surname" search in FamilySearch. The catalog does not list every name found in a family history. Only major families found in a history are listed. Look for your ancestor's surname (last name).
Other Sources of Compiled Records
and indexes, such as the Periodical Source Index
ORIGINAL RECORDS
Vital Records and Civil Registration
Church Records
Cemetery Records
Census Records
Probate Records
Military Records
Immigration Records
or other immigration records may provide the date or ship on which an immigrant ancestor arrived or the name of the port to which he came.
Other Original Documents
CHOOSE A RECORD TYPE
SELECT SPECIFIC RECORDS TO SEARCH
" (or place) section of the Family History Library Catalog. This section lists records by country, state or province, county, or town. You will need to know the place where your ancestor lived and the type of record you chose to search, such as census, land and property, or vital record. The record type is called a topic in the FamilySearch version of the Family History Library Catalog.
, such as the state, county, or city. You can also look for records of nearby places. Do not hesitate to ask a staff member for assistance.
DESCRIBE THE RECORDS ON YOUR RESEARCH LOG
Summary
first. Then search original records.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/8/2001]
