Ancestral File Operations Unit
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3400
Telephone: 801-240-2584
Fax: 801-240-4606

• The Surname Search of the Family History Library Catalog lists over 130,000 surnames found in family histories, genealogies, and pedigrees. When using the Surname Search on compact disc, press the F6 key to add key words or phrases that limit the scope of the search. The computer will find descriptions in which both the surname and the key words appear. This is especially helpful for narrowing searches on a common surname like Smith. To choose key words, use the names of states where the family lived or prominent maiden surnames in the family.
  

Published Sources

Family Histories

Many families have produced histories that may include genealogical data, biographies, photographs, and other excellent information. These usually include several generations of the family. The Family History Library has an extensive collection of almost 50,000 published U.S. family histories and newsletters, including copies of most of the histories listed in the sources below. Copies at the library are listed in the Surname Search of the Family History Library Catalog. Not every name found in a family history will be listed in the catalog. Only four or five major surnames are included for an average size family history.

Major collections of printed family histories are also found at most of the archives and libraries listed at the beginning of this outline. Most large libraries have the following indexes and catalogs to published family histories:

Genealogical Index of the Newberry Library. 4 vols. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1960. (FHL Ref book 929 N424g; films 928135-37; computer number 334356.) This lists books published before 1917.

Greenlaw, William Prescott. The Greenlaw Index of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. 2 vols. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1979. (FHL Ref Q book 974 D22g; computer number 40822.) This indexes genealogical information in records acquired by the society that were printed between 1900 and 1940. It contains references to sources that include three or more generations.

Index to American Genealogies . . .. (known as Munsell's Index). 1900. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. (FHL book 973 D22m 1900; film 599811; computer numbers 109342 and 200077.) This indexes 63,000 citations in family and local history books and periodicals published prior to 1908.

Kaminkow, Marion J. Genealogies in the Library of Congress: A Bibliography. 2 vols. 2 supplements, 1972-76, 1976-86. Baltimore: Magna Charta Book, 1972. (FHL Ref book 016.9291 K128g; computer numbers 69719, 416883, 448402.) A 1981 Complement is FHL Ref book 016.9291 K128c; computer number 611219. The Complement lists genealogies at 45 other libraries. The newest supplement is:

Genealogies Cataloged in the Library of Congress since 1986. Washington, D.C.: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress, 1992. (FHL book 016.9291 L616g; computer number 645589.)

New York Public Library. Dictionary Catalog of the Local History and Genealogy Division. 18 vols. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1974. (FHL Ref book 974.71 A3nd; computer number 336187.)

Rider, Fremont, ed. American Genealogical-Biographical Index. Vols. 1-186+. Middletown, Conn.: Godfrey Memorial Library, 1952-. (FHL book 973 D22am ser. 2; on 31 FHL films starting with 1698167; computer number 49554.) This is a continuing series. An earlier version of 48 volumes was published as The American Genealogical Index, 1942-1951. Over 12 million brief citations (name, date, and source) to manuscripts, periodicals, and books. The earlier version had reference to 350 sources; the second version has consulted an additional 800 sources.

To help interpret citations and locate the original sources use the colored pages in some volumes or see:

Clark, Patricia L., and Dorothy Huntsman, eds. American Genealogical Biographical Key Title Index. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (FHL book 973 D22am index; film 1698167 item 4; fiche 6088377; computer number 491052.) Shows which sources are at the Family History Library and their call numbers.

An index to family information found in published family histories, periodicals, local histories, and other sources acquired by the Family History Library before 1964 from all over the United States is:

Old Surname Index File. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976. (FHL films 820378-98; computer number 142606.)

Printed Compilations

Many individuals and societies have compiled and published ancestor lists, lineage books, and genealogy tables. These usually represent the ancestry or descent of a group of individuals from a specific place, time, or event. For example, you may find compiled genealogies of colonial immigrants, soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War, pioneers of a state, or members of a religious group. These are usually listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under UNITED STATES - GENEALOGY or [STATE] - GENEALOGY. Also see the “Societies” section of this outline. This is an example of a compiled genealogy:

Virkus, Frederick A., ed. Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy: First Families of the United States. 7 vols. 1925-1942. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1987. (FHL book 973 D2vf; computer number 455463; compact disc no. 9 pt. 114; computer number 607586.)

Manuscript Collections

Many libraries, archives, societies, and individuals have collected a wide variety of unpublished records pertaining to families. These may include the life work of genealogists, records submitted to patriotic or lineage societies, and records submitted to share genealogical information (such as pedigree charts). You will need to search most manuscript collections personally.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of several major manuscript collections. These collections are described in the state research outlines. They are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

UNITED STATES - GENEALOGY[STATE] - GENEALOGY[STATE], [COUNTY] - GENEALOGY