Record Selection Table for the United States

= RECORD SELECTION TABLE FOR THE UNITED STATES =

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

 * 1) In column 1 "IF YOU NEED," locate the goal you wish to accomplish.
 * 2) In column 2 "LOOK FIRST IN," locate the types of records most likely to have the information you need.
 * 3) In column 3 "THE SEARCH," locate additional record types that may be useful in your research.

{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" border="1"
 * bgcolor="#ff99ff" |
 * bgcolor="#ff99ff" |

IF YOU NEED

 * bgcolor="#ff99ff" |

LOOK FIRST IN

 * bgcolor="#ff99ff" |

THEN SEARCH

 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Age
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Census, Vital Records, Cemeteries
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Military Records, Taxation
 *  Birth Date
 *  Vital Records, Church Records, Bible Records
 * Cemeteries, Obituaries, Census
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Birthplace
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Vital Recods, Church Records, Census
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Newspapers, Obituaries
 *  City or parish of foreign birth
 * Church Records, Genealogy, Biography, Naturalization and Citizenship, Societies
 * Vital Records, Obituaries, History, Emigration and Immigration 
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Country of foreign birth
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Emigration and Immigration, Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Military Records, Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries
 *  County origins and boundaries
 * History, Maps, Historical Geography
 * Gazetteers
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Death
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Vital Records, Cemeteries, Probate Records, Church Records, Obituaries, Societies
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Newspapers, Bible Records, Military Records, Town Records
 *  Ethnicity
 * Minorities, Native Races, Societies
 * Church Records, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Periodicals
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Historical background
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | History, Periodicals
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Minorities 
 *  Immigration date
 * Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Genealogy, Societies
 * Census, Newspapers, Biography
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Living relatives (and adoptions)
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Genealogy, Directories, Court Records, Obituaries, Internet
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Census, Biography, Societies, Church Records, Probate Records
 *  Maiden name
 * Vital Records, Church Records, Newspapers, Bible Records
 * Cemeteries, Military Records, Probate Records, Obituaries
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Marriage
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Vital Records, Church Records, Census, Newspapers, Bible Records, Town Records
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Cemeteries, Military Records, Probate Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Land and Property 
 *  Occupation
 * Census, Directories, Emigration and Immigration
 * Newspapers, Court Records, Biography 
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Parents, children, and other family members
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Vital Records, Church Records, Census, Phone Disc, Probate Records, Obituaries, Genealogy
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Bible Records, Newspapers, Emigration and Immigration 
 *  Physical description
 * Military Records, Biography
 * Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records, Emigration and Immigration, Genealogy
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Place-finding aids
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Gazetteers, Maps, Historical Geography
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | History, Periodicals
 *  Place (town) of residence when you know only the state
 * Census (indexed), Genealogy, Military Records, Vital Records, and other records with a statewide index, Soundex
 * Biography, Probate Records, History, Directories, Societies, Taxation
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Places family has lived
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Census, Land and Property, History, Directories
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Military Records, Taxation, Obituaries
 *  Previous research (compiled genealogy)
 * Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies
 * History, Biography
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Record-finding aids
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Archives and Libraries, Societies
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Periodicals
 *  Religion
 * Church Records, History, Biography
 * Bible Records, Cemeteries, Genealogy
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Social activities
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | History, Biography Newspapers, Societies
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Town Records, Court, Records, Cemeteries, Directories, Obituaries
 * }
 * Census (indexed), Genealogy, Military Records, Vital Records, and other records with a statewide index, Soundex
 * Biography, Probate Records, History, Directories, Societies, Taxation
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Places family has lived
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Census, Land and Property, History, Directories
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Military Records, Taxation, Obituaries
 *  Previous research (compiled genealogy)
 * Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies
 * History, Biography
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Record-finding aids
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Archives and Libraries, Societies
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Periodicals
 *  Religion
 * Church Records, History, Biography
 * Bible Records, Cemeteries, Genealogy
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Social activities
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | History, Biography Newspapers, Societies
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Town Records, Court, Records, Cemeteries, Directories, Obituaries
 * }
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" |  Social activities
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | History, Biography Newspapers, Societies
 * bgcolor="#99ffff" | Town Records, Court, Records, Cemeteries, Directories, Obituaries
 * }
 * }