R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Vermont
Research Outline
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Familysearch™
     Familysearch™ Internet Genealogy Service
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
     Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
     Locating Cemeteries And Cemetery Records
     Internet Tombstone Transcripts And Index
     Cemetery Transcripts
Census
     Federal Censuses
Church Records
     Baptist
     Congregational
     Episcopal
     Methodist
     Roman Catholic
     Universalist And Unitarian
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
     People
     Records
Gazetteers
Genealogy
     Nationwide Indexes
     Statewide And Regional Collections
History
     State Histories
     Local Histories
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
     Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
     War Of 1812 (1812–1815)
     Spanish-american War (1898–1899)
     World War I
     World War II
     Additional Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
     Index
Newspapers
     Inventory On The Internet
     Published Index And Guide
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
     Lineage And Heritage Societies
     Genealogical And Historical Societies
     Family Associations And Surname Societies
     Clubs Or Other Organizations
Taxation
Town Records
Vital Records
     Birth, Marriage, And Death Records
     Indexes
     Divorce Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

This outline describes major sources of information about families from Vermont. As you read this outline, also study the United States Research Outline (30972), which will help you understand terminology, contents, and uses of genealogical records.


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 library’s major holdings include vital, cemetery, census, probate, town records, and local histories.

Most sources described in this outline list the Family History Library’s book, microfilm, microfiche, compact disc, and computer numbers. These are preceded by FHL, the abbreviation for Family History Library. You can use these numbers to locate materials in the library and to order microfilmLook this term up in the glossary. and microficheLook this term up in the glossary. at Family History CentersLook this term up in the glossary..

You can use the computer number 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™Look this term up in the glossary.

FamilySearch™ at Family History Centers

FamilySearch™ is a collection of computer files containing millions of names. FamilySearch™ 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 files, for example, the U.S. Social Security Death IndexLook this term up in the glossary. and the U.S. Military IndexLook this term up in the glossary., are found on the Family History Library and Family History Center version of FamilySearch, but not on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service.


FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service

The web site www.familysearch.org allows you to research 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 out of 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 2 million microfilm reels and hundreds of thousands of genealogical books. You can search the catalog by family name, locality, author, or book or film number.
SourceGuide, a resource that contains a collection of over 150 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., a list of locations where you can order the microfilms described in the Family History Library Catalog and SourceGuide.
Web Sites, a categorized list of thousands of links to Internet sites related to family history.
Collaboration Lists, user-created mailing lists of researchers interested in similar genealogical topics.


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FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG

The records of the Family History Library 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- CENSUSVERMONT- MILITARY RECORDSVERMONT, BENNINGTON- HISTORYVERMONT, BENNINGTON, RUPERT- VITAL RECORDS

The record type you want to search, such as:

UNITED STATES- CENSUSVERMONT- MILITARY RECORDSVERMONT, BENNINGTON- HISTORYVERMONT, BENNINGTON, RUPERT- VITAL RECORDS

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

RECORD SELECTION TABLE: VERMONT

This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for research from 1800 to the present. 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. 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 Family History Library Catalog using the Locality Search. 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 information about 2. Look first in 3. Then Search
Adoptions Probate Records, Town Records Court Records, Census, Vital Records
Age Census, Cemeteries, Vital Records Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration
Birth date Vital Records, Cemeteries, Church Records Town Records, Military Records, Biography, Bible Records
Birth place Vital Records, Church Records Census, Military Records, Town Records
Boundaries and origins Maps, Gazetteers History, Societies
Children Census, Probate Records, Vital Records, Genealogy Town Records, Church Records, Land and Property, Bible Records
City or parish of foreign birth Vital Records, Biography Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records
Country of foreign birth Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records Biography, Military Records, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration
Death information Vital Records, Cemeteries, Church Records, Town Records Probate Records, Newspapers, Bible Records
Divorce Town Records, Vital Records, Court Records Newspapers, Census
Ethnic background Native Races, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records
Historical background History, Periodicals, Gazetteers, Town Records Maps, Land and Property, Church Records
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Maps, Biography, Minorities, Court Records
Living relatives Probate Records, Directories, Town Records, Census Biography, Newspapers, Land and Property
Maiden name Vital Records, Probate Records, Church Records Town Records, Military Records, Bible Records
Marriage information Vital Records, Census, Church Records, Town Records Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Bible Records, Probate Records, Newspapers
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records Land and Property, Biography, Military Records
Occupations Census, Directories, Town Records Biography, History
Other family members Census, Probate Records, Town Records Vital Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Parents Vital Records, Census, Church Records, Town Records Probate Records, Biography, Genealogy, Bible Records
Physical description Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship Biography
Place-finding aids Maps, Gazetteers, History Archives and Libraries, Societies
Places of residence Census, Military Records, Town Records, Taxation, Directories 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, Directories, Bible Records
Previous research Genealogy, Biography, Societies Periodicals, History, Archives and Libraries
Record-finding aids Archives and Libraries, Periodicals, Church Records Societies, For Further Reading
Religion Church Records, Vital Records Biography, History, Cemeteries
Social activities Societies, Biography Cemeteries, Directories, Town Records

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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]