Genealogical Sources Checklist

Genealogical Source Checklist

Search like a professional and be sure you’ve considered the following genealogical sources. This checklist is a small example of where our professional genealogists will conduct their searches on your behalf.

Family and Home Records

Personal Knowledge
Family Bibles
Account Books
Baby Books
Biography
Citizenship Papers
Farm Records
Funeral Programs
Health/Medical Records
Heirlooms
Journals, Diaries
Legal Papers
Oral Tradition
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Social Security Cards
Wedding Books

Vital Records

Adoption Records
Birth Records
Death Records
Delayed Birth Records
Divorce Records
Marriage Bong, Banns Records
Marriage License Records

Church Records

Annulment Records
Baptism Records
Blessing Records
Confirmation Records
Disciplinary Proceedings
Membership List
Minister’s Records
Minutes
Mission Reports
Ordination
Removals
Transfer

Public Sources

US Federal Censuses and
Indexes for 1790-1930
Mortality Schedules
Agriculture

School Records

Elementary
Secondary
Vocational
Trade
College
University
Private
Awards Diplomas
Honor Societies
Publications
Report Cards
Scholarships
Transcripts
Yearbooks

Military Records

Bounty Awards
Citations
Disability
Discharges
Muster Rolls
National Guard
Pensions
Ribbons
Selective Service Board
Service Records
Form DD214 (WWII)

Land Records

Deeds
Grantee Index
Grantor Index
Homestead Applications
Leases
Mortgages
Potents, Land Grants
Plates and Maps
Surveys
Water Rights
Land Partitions

Tax Records

Personal Property
Poll Tax
Poor Rate
Real Estate
School
Social Security
Tax Exemptions

Probate Records

Indexes
Wills
Administrations
Inventories
Bonds
Settlements
Packets
Guardianships

Court Records

Dockets
Minutes
Orders, Decrees
Judgements
Case Files
Indexes

Immigrant Records

Passenger Lists
Passport Applications
Visas
Vaccination Certificates
Protocols
Letterbooks
Crew Lists
Oaths of Allegiance
Alien Registration Cards
Change of Name
Naturalization
Citizenship Papers
Customs Records
Immigrant Aid Societies
Deportation
Register of Seamen

Cemetery Records

Monuments & Tombstones
Plats
Deeds
Perpetual Care
Memorials
Gifts
Sexton’s Records
Funds
Funeral Homes

Private Sources

Insurance
Life
Marine
Fire
Automobile
Health

Newspapers

Indexes
Birth
Death
Marriages
Anniversaries
Obituaries
Advertisements
Local News
Unclaimed Mail

Legal Notices

Probate
Auctions
Forced Sales
Divorces
Bankruptcies
Court Claims
Convictions

Employment Records

Indentures
Apprenticeships
Licenses
Pensions
Service Awards
Personnel Files
Account Books
Job Applications
Transfers
Termination
Disciplinary Actions
Union
Trade Directories

Mortuary Records

Burial Registers
Funeral Cards
Funeral Books

Compiled Sources

Family Histories
Genealogies
Biographics
Pedigrees
County, Local Histories
City Directories
Professional Directories
Indexes
Lineage Society
Publications

Collections

WPA Projects
Oral History Projects
Manuscript Collections
Vertical File Surnames
Collections
Periodical Source Index
National Union Manuscript
Catalog

Genealogical Periodicals

Indexes
Queries
Genealogies
Source Extractions
Historical Articles