Alberta Record Finder

This table can help you decide which records to search in Alberta. It is most helpful for post-1800 research.

1. In column 1 find the goal you selected.

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 for the record type you need in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog.

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.

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{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" |- | bgcolor="#ffccff" align="left" | '''1. If You Need | bgcolor="#ffccff" align="left" | 2. Look First In | bgcolor="#ffccff" align="left" | 3. Then Search''' |- | align="left" | Age | align="left" | Census, Vital Records, Church Records | align="left" | Cemeteries, Military Records, Emigration and Immigration |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Birth date | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Vital Records, Church Records | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Cemeteries, Newspapers, Census |- | align="left" | Birthplace | align="left" | Vital Records, Church Records | align="left" | Census, Newspapers |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | City or parish of foreign birth | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Church Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Genealogy, Biography, | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Vital Records, Newspapers, History, Emigration and Immigration |- | align="left" | Country of foreign birth | align="left" | Emigration and Immigration, Census, Naturalization and Citizenship | align="left" | Church Records, Military Records, Vital Records, Newspapers |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Death | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Vital Records, Cemeteries, Probate Records, Church Records | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Newspapers, Military Records, Obituaries |- | align="left" | Ethnic background | align="left" | Minorities, Native Races, Societies, Church Records, Census | align="left" | Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | French terms | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Language and Languages | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Church Records, Vital Records,&amp;nbsp; |- | align="left" | Historical background | align="left" | History, Historical Geography, Periodicals | align="left" | Emigration and Immigration, Minorities |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Immigration date | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Census, Newspapers, Biography, Genealogy, Land and Property |- | align="left" | Living relatives (and adoptions) | align="left" | Genealogy, Directories, Court Records, Obituaries | align="left" | Census, Biography, Societies, Church Records, Probate Records |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Maiden name, alias names | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Vital Records, Church Records, Newspapers | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Cemeteries; Military Records; Probate Records; Names, Personal |- | align="left" | Marriage | align="left" | Vital Records, Church Records,&amp;nbsp; Census, Newspapers | align="left" | Military Records, Probate Records, Land and Property, Cemeteries |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Occupation | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Census, Directories, Emigration and Immigration, Vital Records | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Newspapers, Biography, Court Records, Business Records and Commerce |- | align="left" | Parents, children, and other family members | align="left" | Vital Records, Church Records, Census, Probate Records, Genealogy | align="left" | Obituaries, Emigration and Immigration,&amp;nbsp;Newspapers, Cemeteries |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Physical description | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Military Records, Biography | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Vital Records, Genealogy, Emigration and Immigration |- | align="left" | Place-finding aids | align="left" | Gazetteers, Maps, History | align="left" | Historical Geography, Periodicals |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Places of residence | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Census, Land and Property | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | History, Military Records |- | align="left" | Place (town) of residence when you know only the province | align="left" | Census (indexed), Genealogy, Military Records, Vital Records, Land and Property | align="left" | Biography, Probate Records, History, Emigration and Immigration, Directories |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Political subdivision origins and boundaries | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Gazetteers, Maps, Directories | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | History, Historical Geography |- | align="left" | Previous research (compiled genealogy) | align="left" | Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies | align="left" | History, Biography |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Record-finding aids | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Archives and Libraries, Societies | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Periodicals |- | align="left" | Religion | align="left" | Census, Church Records, History | align="left" | Biography, Cemeteries, Obituaries |- | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Social activities | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | History, Biography, Newspapers, Societies | bgcolor="#ffff99" align="left" | Cemeteries, Directories, Obituaries |}