VitalRecords

How do I find vital records (birth, marriage, death) of my ancestors?

1. Locate microfilm/microfiche kept by the Family History Library

    ? Family Search
        ? Family Search website (http://www.familysearch.org) (click on “Library/Family
            Family History Library”; do a locality search for vital records)
        ? Family Search - Family History Library Catalog – on CD-ROM at FHC

    ? Family History Library Catalog CD-ROM – separate disk (click on “Family
        History Library Catalog” icon)

         Note: Do a search for the country, state/province, county, city for records available
                  on microfilm/microfiche. Order at the Family History Center.

2. Tutorial on how to find vital records

    ? About.com Vital Records (http://genealogy.about.com/cs/vitalrecords/)

3. Search through internet vital records directories

    ? Cyndi’s List – Vital Records (http://www.cyndislist.com/usvital.htm)
    ? The Records Room (http://www.daddezio.com/records/index.html)
    ? All Vital Records (http://www.allvitalrecords.com)
    ? US GenWeb (http://www.usgenweb.com/thestates.html) – U.S. only
    ? World GenWeb (http://www.worldgenweb.org/)
    ? Vital Records Links (http://www.vitalrec.com/links1.html)
    ? Foreign Vital Records Links (http://www.vitalrec.com/links2.html)

4. Search online and CD-ROM databases

    ? Social Security Death Index – available on CD-ROM in Family Search
    ? Social Security Death Index (http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/)
    ? Conduct a search on the search engines for online databases:
    ? Refer to the checklist entitled “How do I do a surname search using internet search engines?”
    ? Use the following search words in the search engines listed:
        (Place the name of the country/state/county/city in the blank.)
        - “________________ vital records”
        - “________________ births”
        - “________________ marriages”
        - “________________ deaths”

5. Obtain certificates of birth, marriage, and death

    ? Vital Chek (http://www.vitalchek.com/) - U.S. only
    ? Family Tree Maker Resources by State (http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/statelst.html)

6. Conduct a surname search (refer to the sources, if provided)

FHC CD-ROMs

    ? Family Search (Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index - IGI)
    ? Pedigree Resource File

Internet surname searches

    ? Refer to the checklist entitled “How do I do a surname search using internet search engines?”

    ? Use this information as a guide to finding sources to validate the data.