1
General Information Locator
This study guide is designed to provide the genealogist with a concise guide to locating primary
and secondary record sources that contain the most useful genealogical information. Before
contacting civil authorities, researchers should always exhaust all home sources. Home sources
can be defined as original documents, which may still be in the possession of family members,
relatives, or neighbors who had contact with the ancestor. This study guide is divided into two
categories:
1. Part One describes the most useful record types available to provide answers to specific
genealogical questions.
2. Part Two describes the probable locations where this information may be found.
The bibliography at the end of this study guide contains additional sources for information.
These sources have been written by experts in the field of genealogical research.
Part One: Record Types
Date of Birth/Age:
Place of Birth
Name of Spouse
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Civil Birth Record
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Military Records
Census Records (Federal, State, School, etc.)
Social Security Death Index
Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Civil Birth Record
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Military Records
Census Records (Federal, State, School, etc.)
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
City Directories
Military Records
Census Records (Federal, State, Church)
2
Date of Marriage
Place of Marriage
Date of Immigration
Place of Origin/Nationality
Places of Residence
Military Service/Pension
Date and Place of Death/Burial
Parents’ Names
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Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Civil Marriage Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Previous Records/ Fellow Researchers
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Census Records (Federal, State)
Previous Records/ Fellow Researchers
Civil Birth Record
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
City Directories
Military Records
Census Records (Federal, State, School, Local, etc.)
Social Security Death Index
Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Family Members and Home Sources
Military Records
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Civil Death Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Social Security Death Index
Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Funeral Home Records
Civil Birth Record
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
3
Children/Siblings
Relatives
Occupation
Previous Research on an Ancestor
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Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Census Records (Federal, State, School, Local, Church)
Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
Census Records (Federal, State, School, Church)
Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
City Directories
Census Records (Federal, State)
Cemetery Records/Grave Markers
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Naturalization Record
Ship Passenger Arrival Record
Family Members and Home Sources
Church/Religious Records
City Directories
Military Records
Census Records (Federal, State)
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
Family Members and Home Sources
Previous Records/Fellow Researchers
4
Part Two: Typical Locations of Records
Thanks to advances in technology, many records can now be purchased in CD-ROM format or
searched on a variety of Internet sites. The Internet is an excellent tool for preliminary research
and/or to use as a guide in planning research strategies. Genealogists must be cautious about
user-submitted information obtained over the Internet until it has been verified in at least two
non-Internet sources. Most professional researchers follow this rule of thumb. For those intent
on using the Internet, an excellent starting point is Cyndi’s List. This website indexes the largest
collection of genealogical websites on the Internet. Visit http://www.cyndislist.com
Civil Birth Record
Civil Marriage Record
Civil Death Record
Declarations of
Intent/Naturalization Papers
Passenger Arrival Lists
Family Genealogies/Records
Church/Religious Records
City Directories
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Town/City Hall or County Courthouse
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Town/City Hall or County Courthouse
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Town/City Hall or County Courthouse
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Town/City Hall or County Courthouses
Papers State Archives
Federal Archives Research Centers
State Court/Judicial Archives
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
Family Members and Home Sources
Local or State Historical Society
Federal Archives Research Centers
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Church Archives
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Seminaries/Denominational Colleges
Family Members and Home Sources
Town/City Hall or County Courthouse
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
5
Military Records
Census Records
Social Security Death Index
Cemetery Records/Stones
Compiled Sources
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Public Libraries
State Libraries/Archives
Town/City Hall or County Courthouse
Local or State Historical Society
State Archives
Local or State Genealogical Society
Federal Archives Research Center
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Town/City Hall or County Courthouse
Local or State Historical Society
State Archives
Local or State Genealogical Society
Federal Archives Research Center
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Church Archives
School District Administrative Offices
Business Archives
Internet
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Social Security Administration
Church Archives
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Cemeteries
Family Members and Home Sources
Local or State Historical Society
Local or State Genealogical Society
Family History Centers (Mormon)
Family Members and Home Sources
Bibliography
American Records and Research: Focusing on Families-Course One. Salt Lake City,
UT: Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Coordinator-Paula Stuart Warren.
Contributors-D. Joshua Taylor, Elissa Scalise Powell, William M. Litchman, and
Birdie Monk Holsclaw, c2007. Genealogy Reference 929.1 SALT
American Records and Research: Focusing on Families-Course Two. Salt Lake City,
UT: Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Coordinator-Paula Stuart Warren.
Contributors- Chuck Knuthson, Marianne Crump, Thomas McGill, Anne Wuehler,
Anne Roach, Ruth Maness, John Phillip Colletta, Kory Meyerink, Judith W.
Hansen, and Birdie Monk Holsclaw, c2008. Genealogy Reference 929.1 SALT
Guide to Genealogical Research. 3rd Edition. Washington, DC: National Archives,
c2000. Genealogical Reference 929.373 UNI
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Land and Court Records. Salt Lake City, UT: Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. CoordinatorPatricia Law Hatcher. Contributors-Lloyd de Witt Bockstruck, Michael J. LeClerc,
Rhonda McClure, Gordon L. Remington, and Paula Stuart Warren, c2006. Genealogy
Reference 929.1 SALT
Redbook: American State, Country, & Town Sources. 3rd Edition. Salt Lake City, UT:
Ancestry Publishing Company, c2004. Genealogy Ref. 929.1072 RED
Sourcebook to Public Record Information: Comprehensive Guide to County, State, & Federal
Public Record Sources. 5th Edition. Tempe, AZ: BRB Publications, c2003.
Adult Reference 352.387 SOU
Tracing Immigrant Origins. Salt Lake City, UT: Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Kory
Meyerink-Coordinator, Contributors- John P. Colletta, Jeanette K.B. Daniels, Richard W.
Dougherty, Gerald Haslam, Larry O. Jensen, Marie Melchiori, John Kitzmiller, c2001.
Genealogy Reference 929.1 SALT
Balhuizen, Anne Ross. Searching on Location: Planning a Research Trip. Salt Lake City,
UT: Ancestry, c1992. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 BAL
Crawford,-Oppenheimer, Christine. Long Distance Genealogy. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway
Books, c2000. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 CRA
Croom, Emily Anne. Genealogist’s Companion & Sourcebook. 2nd Edition. Cincinnati, OH:
Betterway Books, c2003. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 CRO
------------------------- Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best Selling Basic Guide To Genealogy.
4th Edition. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway Books, c2002. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 CRO
Everton, George B. Handybook for Genealogists. 10th Edition. Logan, UT: Everton Publishers,
c2002. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 Han
Greenwood, Val D. Researcher’s Guide To American Genealogy. 3rd Edition. Baltimore, MD:
Genealogical Publishing Company, c2000. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 GRE
Hatcher, Patricia Law. Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land
Records. 1st Edition. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway Books, c2003.
Genealogy Ref. 929.1072 HAT
Melnyk, Marcia Yannizze. Family History 101: Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your Ancestors.
Cincinnati, OH: Family Tree Books, c2005. Genealogy Ref. 929.1072 MEL
------------------------------- Genealogist’s Question & Answer Book. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway
Books, c2001. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 MEL
Morgan, George G. How to Do Everything With Your Genealogy. New York, NY: McGrawHill/Osborne, c2004. Genealogy Ref. 929.1 MOR
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Rose, Christine. Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical
Treasures. San Jose, CA: CR Publications., 2004. Genealogy Reference 929.1 ROS
Schweitzer, George K. Handbook Of Genealogical Sources. Knoxville, TN: George K.
Schweitzer, c1996. Genealogy Reference 929.1 SCH
Stockwell, Foster. Sourcebook For Genealogical Research: Resources Alphabetically By Type
and Location. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, c2004. Adult Non-Fiction 929.1 STO
Szucs, Loretto Dennis & Luebking, Sandra Hargreaves. The Source: A Guidebook Of
American Genealogy. 3rd Edition. Salt Lake City, Ancestry, c2006.
Genealogy Reference 929.1 SOU
Warren, Paula Stuart. Your Guide to the Family History Library. 1st Edition. Cincinnati, OH:
Betterway Books, c2001. Genealogy Reference 026.929 WAR
NOTE: This study guide is meant to serve as an overview or outline for patrons using the
genealogy collection at Fort Myers Regional Library. The compiler emphasizes that the
information contained in this study guide should not serve as a substitute for taking the
time to read one of the books or articles cited in the bibliography, or attend lectures given
by the subject specialists cited as authors.
Compiled by Bryan Mulcahy, Reference Librarian, Fort Myers Regional Library, 2/1/2014.