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