Genealogical Sources

• Biographies and Family History Books
  
  If you inherited your aunt's handwritten notes about your grandmother's family, don't throw them out! You never know what little gems and pearls of wisdom may be hidden in there.
  
  
• Cemeteries
  
  Cemeteries and cemetery records often contain excellent source material to the genealogists. As well information about dates, date of birth, and even original surnames prior to name changes, are often recorded.
  
  
• Census Data
  
  Censuses were first taken in America during the Colonial period. After the American Revolution, the Federal government took a census every decade beginning from 1790, and these records can be a goldmine of information for the genealogist.
  
  
• Church Records
  
  Church records may include christenings, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, funerals, and memorials. Even those churches which did not keep detailed records on these events, often kept a roster listing their congregation members.
  
  
• Diaries, Journals, and Books of Remembrance
  
  These types of items often provide important facts and clues genealogists need, as well as revealing the personality of the people who wrote them.
  
  
• Family Newsletters
  
  Many families publish family newsletters, particularly since the advent of personal computers. These newsletters can be extremely valuable as a record of family members, and to preserve the stories and memories of family members. When a family contains somebody interested in genealogy, the newsletter is also often used to share the results of their research.
  
  
• Foreign Records
  
  Most Americans are descended from immigrant ancestors. Thus, if you want to follow your roots back to "the old country", (whichever "old country" that might be), you will eventually need to research foreign as well as domestic records. However, due to the difficulties that may be encountered in finding and interpreting such records, it's usually a good idea to exhaust domestic avenues of research first.
  
  
• Histories (Published and Unpublished)
  
  Histories often contain interesting information about the places people lived and the economic, social, and political events that happened during their lifetimes. The smaller the geographic area covered in a history book, the more likely you are to find your resident ancestor mentioned there. Always be on the look out for published genealogies - you might be surprised at what you can find, and how useful they can be.
  
  
• Hospital Records
  
  Hospital records covering births, illnesses, and deaths are valuable sources of information. Additionally, work records for hospital employees can help too!
  
  
• Immigration and Customs Records
  
  Most Americans are descended from immigrants, and these immigrants often left a trail of documents that the genealogist can follow. These documents may include ship's passenger lists, as well as government documents.
  
  
• Interviews
  
  As you locate more distant relatives, one option is to write to them and ask if you can interview them. You might be surprised what information they can tell you!
  
  
• Letters and Postcards
  
  Personal correspondence often contains valuable information about the places people lived and the details of their lives. Sometimes letters will reveal relationships and significant events that occurred within families. Even postcards can be helpful, as they may mention relatives' names and the places they lived or trips they took. Make sure that you examine any such materials as carefully as possible – even the postmark on an envelope or postcard may provide clues!
  
  
• Libraries
  
  As in other fields of research, libraries are important to the genealogists. Local libraries often contain books or other materials relating to the local area. However, don't forget the Library of Congress. And, lastly, it's worth knowing that the Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) is the largest genealogical library in the world – and it may contain information about your ancestors even if none of them were members of the LDS.
  
  
• Memorial Cards
  
  Memorial cards are sent to relatives living far away to announce a death in the family, and generally include birth and death dates, age at death, and place of burial. Many mortuaries print memorial cards as part of their services.
  
  
• Military Records
  
  If any of your ancestors survived in the military, there is a good chance that military records may contain information about them.
  
  
• Naturalization Records
  
  Following the Naturalization Act of 1790, aliens coming to the United States were required, in most instances, to establish residency and file for citizenship. This process generated many documents which may be useful to the genealogist – both the application for citizenship and the supporting material that was often filed with it.
  
  
• Newspaper Clippings
  
  People often save clippings of birth, marriage, and death notices, as well as articles about anniversaries, civil ceremonies, church activities, and social events.
  
  
• Photographs, Albums, and Scrapbooks
  
  Photo albums are infamous for being full of unlabeled pictures. If that is the case, your job is to talk to living relatives and friends in order to try to identify the people in the pictures. Be aware that some types of albums may have damaged the photographs. For example, if your photos are stuck down, do not force them out, but instead scan them through the plastic pockets of the plastic pages.
  
  
• Probate Records
  
  Wills, inventories, letters of administration, and guardianships are all types of probate records, and all are powerful tools of genealogical research.
  
  
• School Records
  
  School records usually contain information such as birth dates and family relationships, achievements and awards, and graduation dates. If you have one of your ancestor's report cards, you should be able to approximate their date of birth, based on the date and grade on the card.
  
  
• Vital Records
  
  Vital records contain information about birth, deaths and marriages. They have been kept in the United States (although sometimes sporadically) since the 17th century.