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Genealogy Research Forms

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Family history forms help to organize family history work.  They help to track research efforts reducing duplication of effort and make research work quicker and more effective.  There are a variety of free family history forms available to download.  The following links are not a complete list.  A more comprehensive list can be found by searching for family history forms or for genealogy forms using your internet search engine.

FamilySearch[edit | edit source]

Census Worksheets - The blank worksheets linked below have the same columns and headings as the respective census.

British

Canada

United States

Family groups, pedigrees, and research logs

  • Electronic Family Group Record (eFGR) and related forms
    • eFGR Word Document - download and "Enable Editing" of this digital family group record (eFGR) to fill out, edit, save and share it electronically
    • eFGR pdf format - for printing and handwritten entries
    • Guide to Use of eFGR - explains how to enter personal data including multiple spouses and more cildren, and how to ciate the source of each piece of information
    • Sample eFGR- shows what a completed electronic Family Group Record looks like.

Wiki forms

National Archives and Record Administration[edit | edit source]

The U.S. National Archives charts and forms webpage contains a wealth of research forms for Federal records. Forms corresponding to Federal records are useful for transcribing or abstracting information from original records.

Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets

Federal Census Forms

Nonpopulation Census Forms

Agricultural

Industrial-Manufacturers

Mortality

1880 Census Supplemental Forms: Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes

Immigration Forms

New York

St. Albans

Military Forms

WWI Draft Registration

WWII Draft Registration

Archives.com[edit | edit source]

Timeline Matrix - Available from a "for pay" subscription site, this expert article describes in detail how to construct your own simple timeline or timeline matrix, and provides several examples that you can use with spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

Ancestry.com[edit | edit source]

Ancestry.com is a "for pay" subscription site, however blank family history forms can be downloaded without subscribing.It is recommended that you use the icons provided by the Adobe Reader, rather than using your Internet browser's printing option. If you use your browser's printing option, you may experience unexpected results, such as printing a blank page or printing a distorted copy of the image.
Ancestral Chart - An ancestor chart records the ancestors from whom you directly descend--those for whom you intend to compile a complete and correct family unit. It shows at a glance the progress you have made towards this goal and what remains to be done.
Research Calendar - The research calendar gives an account of every record source you have searched and serves as a reminder of what you have already done and where you have found pertinent information.
Research Extract - Use the research extract sheets to summarize information which cannot be photocopied, for which there is no document in your possession, or for things such as deeds which may be time-consuming or difficult to reread quickly when you need information from the copy you have.
Correspondence Record - It is important to keep track of those with whom you have corresponded, the reasons for writing, and whether or not you have already received an answer.
Family Group Sheet - Each piece of information concerning a pedigree ancestor and his/her family is placed on a worksheet. Since the end result of your research efforts will be to compile complete, correct and connected families, the use of family group sheets from the beginning will make the compilation much easier.
Source Summary - It is helpful to be able to refer quickly to information you have found for a particular family and the sources of that information. Keep a separate source summary of information found for each family group.

Census Forms - Census extraction forms are doubly valuable: not only do they allow researchers to see the format and column headings for various census years (especially if the schedules themselves are hard to read), they also provide a clean and convenient method for extracting and filing important information you find.

GenealogyBank[edit | edit source]

Family Tree Template - Download a free family tree template.  Insert your ancestors in the editable fields.  Print, and frame.  

Using Censuses to Track Ancestors[edit | edit source]

See Building a Probable Case by Census Tracking and Census Tracking for Beginners in the FamilySearch Learning Center.

Cyndi's List[edit | edit source]

Cyndi's List has links to over 150 family history forms and charts that are available on-line.

The Bailey’s Free Genealogy Forms[edit | edit source]

Family record sheet - Used to keep track of family data. It features references for each piece of information.

Pedigree chart - This is a cross from a version found in Reunion and a chart from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its main feature is that it is simple.

Pedigree fan chart - Holds 8 generations (255 people). It is also very simple.

General family relationships chart - This is `family graph paper’. Names of family members or couples are written in boxes. Optional lines highlight the relationships. Use with generations going down, or across.

Timelines - These forms allow you to chart family history events during an arbitrary time period.

Cemetery forms - These sheets are useful for people who wish to keep track of information in graveyards or sexton’s records. The first page allows one to map a cemetery and has room for cemetery contact information, as well as room for two gravestone entries.The additional pages have smaller maps (perhaps an inset from the first page) and room for six gravestone inscriptions.

Research log sheet - This sheet is fairly standard. It keeps track of research on an individual in a particular locality.

Correspondence log sheet - Used to keep track of letters/email you’ve sent to others for information.

Family Tree Magazine[edit | edit source]

Basic Charts and Worksheets  

Research Trackers and Organizers

  • Research calendar - A classic research organizer that'll help you keep track of materials you've searched.
  • Note-taking form 1 - Designed for filing your notes by surname and record type: "ROBINSON: Census Records."
  • Note-taking form 2 - Designed for filing your notes by couple or family group: "John and Mary Jones."
  • Online Database Search Tracker - Use this form to track searches in Ancestry.com and other online genealogy databases. You'll avoid repeating fruitless searches, and, by methodically changing one search term at a time, increase your chances of finding the record you need.
  • Repository checklist - Plan a research trip by recording details about the archive or library you intend to visit.
  • Research journal - Here, list sources you've checked or plan to check.
  • Research worksheet - This sheet is ideal for tracking research on long-lost relatives or 20th-century ancestors.
  • Table of contents - On this form, list the documents in a file folder so you can find them quickly.
  • Correspondence log - Keep track of general research requests you send to libraries and archives.
  • Family correspondence log - Organize research requests sent to and from family members.
  • Article reading list - Catalog genealogy articles you want to read or refer to later.
  • Research checklist of books - List books you want to check for your ancestors' names.
  • Book wish list - Make a checklist of genealogy books you'd like to buy or borrow.

Census Forms

Immigration Forms

Record Worksheets

Oral History and Heirlooms

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