R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Tennessee
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
     Sexton Records
     Funeral Home Records
Census
     Federal Censuses
     Territorial And State Censuses
     Special Censuses
     Census Substitutes
Church Records
     Baptist
     Disciples Of Christ
     Jewish
     Lutheran
     Methodist
     Presbyterian
     Roman Catholic
Court Records
Directories
Divorce Records
Emigration And Immigration
     Migration Trends
     Records
Gazetteers
Genealogy
     Nationwide Indexes
     Web Sites About Your Family
     Statewide Collections And Publications
Guardianship
History
     Draper Manuscript Collection
     State Histories
     Local Histories
Land And Property
     Land Grants
     North Carolina Revolutionary War Warrants
     County Records
Maps
Military Records
     Colonial Period (1600–1775)
     Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
     War Of 1812 (1812–1815)
     Cherokee Wars (removal) (1836–1839)
     Mexican War (1846–1848)
     Civil War (1861–1865)
     State Soldier Homes
     World War I (1917–1918)
     World War II (1941–1945)
     Other Military Records
Minorities
     Melungeons
     People Of African Descent
     Other Minority Records
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
     Inventories On The Internet
     Published Newspapers
Obituaries
Occupations
Periodicals
     Periodical Names
     Periodical Indexes
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
     Birth And Death Records, Prior To 1908
     Birth, Marriage, And Death Records, 1908–1912
     Birth And Death Records, 1914–present
     Birth And Death Records Kept By Cities Before 1908
     Marriage Records
     Guide To Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions Registers




GENEALOGY

The term genealogy is used in this outline and in the Family History Library Catalog to describe a variety of records containing family information previously gathered by other researchers, societies, or archives.

Genealogy records can include pedigree charts, compiled data on families, correspondence, ancestor lists, research exchange files, record abstracts, and collections of original or copied documents. These sources can save time, but because they are compiled from other sources, you must carefully evaluate their accuracy.

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections of previous research and indexes of genealogical value. These must usually be searched in person.


Nationwide Indexes

You will find information about some of your ancestors in the following important nationwide genealogical indexes described in the United States Research Outline (30972), in the sections indicated:

  • Ancestral File in the “Genealogy” section (also on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service)
  • FamilyFinder Index in the “Census” section (also on the Internet at www.familytreemaker.com/allsearch.html)
  • Family History Library Catalog’s Surname Search in the “Introduction” and “Genealogy” sections (also on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service)
  • International Genealogical Index in the “Genealogy” section (in part also on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service)
  • Index to National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC) in the “Genealogy” section (also on the Internet at lcweb.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/nucmc.html)
  • Old Surname Index File in the “Genealogy” section
  • Periodical Source Index (PERSI) in the “Periodicals” section (also on the Internet at www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/3165.htm for a subscription fee)
  • Social Security Death Index in the “Vital Records” section (also on the Internet at http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ or on compact disc from several companies.

The Internet version sometimes includes a few more recently reported deaths than compact disc versions. For details about the FamilySearch compact disc version see U.S. Social Security Death Index Resource Guide (34446).)

Two other important indexes are as follows:

  • Pedigree Resource File consists of unedited, lineage-linked pedigrees submitted over the Internet to the Family History Department since 1999. It also includes the associated family groups, descendant charts, and sometimes notes and sources. You can purchase it from the Family History Library for use on personal computers.
  • U.S. Military Death Index lists deaths of service men and women in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. It is part of FamilySearch at most Family History Centers. For details, see the Military Index Resource Guide (34540).

These indexes are at the Family History Library and many libraries with family history collections.


Web Sites about Your Family

Search the Internet for family history web sites about your surname. Use the “Search for Ancestors” feature of the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service at www.familysearch.org/default.asp to help you find such sites.


Statewide Collections and Publications

Manuscript Collections

Daughters of the American Revolution (Kentucky). Genealogical Collection. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. (On 101 FHL films beginning with 850670; computer number 453580.) This collection consists of transcripts of Bible, cemetery, church, marriage, death, obituary, and probate records at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. The volumes are generally arranged by county and many have individual indexes.

Draper Manuscript Collection described in the “History” section of this outline.

Calvin M. McClung Collection described in the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline.

Edythe Rucker Whitley Collection contains 2,300 notebooks of genealogical research compiled by Mrs. Edythe Rucker Whitley, who conducted extensive research on the pioneer families of North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and other states. She also compiled genealogical data on many prominent men of Tennessee and elsewhere in the United States. The collection is organized by surname. Use of the collection is limited to one box at a time. The collection is at:

Williamson County Public Library:
611 West Main St.
Franklin, TN 37064-2723
Telephone: 615-595-1246
Fax: 615-595-1247
Internet: lib.williamson-tn.org/Gen.htm
E-mail: ddouglass@lib.williamson-tn.org
The manuscript collections of the Tennessee State Library and Archives include many personal papers, diaries, letters, biographies, and other records of genealogical value. Collections in the archives are listed on their Internet site:

Tennessee State Library and Archives Manuscript Collection Finding Aids.

www.state.tn.us/sos/statelib/techsvs/manu.htm
Published Sources

Allen, Penelope Johnson. Leaves from the Family Tree. 1933–1937. Reprint, Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1982. (FHL book 976.8 D2a; computer number 417428.). This is a reprint of family genealogies in the Chattanooga Sunday Times. The original clippings are in:

Leaves from the Family Tree. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. (FHL film 1036445 item 2; computer number 20949.)
Ancestor Charts. Huntsville, Ala.: Margaret M. Cowart, 1976. (FHL book 976.859 D2h; computer number 258014.) This record contains 500 pedigrees of families from central Tennessee.

Hehir, Donald M. Tennessee Family Histories and Genealogies: A Bibliography. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1996. (FHL book 976.8 D23h; computer number 791618.) This is a bibliography of sources for surnames in the Library of Congress with Tennessee connections.

Ray, Worth S. Tennessee Cousins: A History of Tennessee People. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. (FHL book 976.8 D2r 1968; computer number 43863.) This source contains transcripts of various original records, wills, vital records, and more. The record is indexed.

Ritchie, Ruth. Genealogy of Some East Tennessee Families of the Early Nineteenth Century. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972. (FHL film 896897 item 3; computer number 239519.) Corrections to this records are in:

Ritchie, Ruth. Supplement to Genealogy of Some East Tennessee Families of the Early Nineteenth Century. N.p., 1948. (FHL book 976.8 D2rr supp.; fiche 6104316; computer number 239525.)

Tennessee Settlers and Their Descendants: Genealogical Data about Some of the Men and Women Who Helped Shape the Volunteer State. Memphis, Tenn.; Knoxville, Tenn.: Tennessee Genealogical Society: Tennessee Valley Publishing, 1994. (FHL book 976.8 D2t; computer number 736116). The record contains descendants of some of the early settlers of the state for up to nine generations. It includes a surname index.

Tucker, Mabel Abbott. Middle Tennessee Family History. 3 vols. [Fayetteville, Tenn.]: M. A. Tucker, (Fayetteville, Tenn.: Horton Print). (FHL book 976.8 D2tm; computer number 828258.) This source contains birth, marriage and death records. Each record is indexed.

Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker, 1900. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Records of Early Settlers from State and County Archives. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1981. (FHL book 976.8 D2w; computer number 82098.) This book is a compilation of wills, deeds, Revolutionary War warrants, and family records at the State Archives in Nashville. The record is indexed.

For genealogy sources for the United States see the “Genealogy” section of the United States Research Outline (30972).

Other genealogical records of Tennessee can be found in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

TENNESSEE- GENEALOGY
TENNESSEE, [COUNTY]- GENEALOGY
TENNESSEE- SOCIETIES- GENEALOGY

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