This record selection table was created before the year 2000 with the intent of guiding research according to record availability for the specific locality at the time.
This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.
| 1. If you need:
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2. Look first in:
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3. Then search:
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| Adoptions
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Court Records, Vital Records
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Probate Records, Census, Obituaries
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| Age
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Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries
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Vital Records, Military Records, Bible Records
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| Birth date
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Vital Records, Obituaries, Cemeteries
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Church Records, Bible Records, Military Records
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| Birthplace
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Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries
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Census, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
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| Boundaries and origins
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Maps, Gazetteers
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History
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| Children
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Census, Probate Records, Obituaries
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Vital Records, Church Records
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| City or parish of foreign birth
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Vital Records, Obituaries, Biography
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History, Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records
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| Country of foreign birth
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Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records
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Biography, Minorities, Obituaries
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| Death information
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Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries
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Probate Records, Church Records, Bible Records
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| Divorce
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Divorce Records, Vital Records, Court Records
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Newspapers, Census
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| Emigration information
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Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census
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Biography, History, Obituaries
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| Ethnic background
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Native Races, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration
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Census, Obituaries, Naturalization and Citizenship
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| Historical background
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History, Periodicals, Gazetteers
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Maps, Church Records
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| Immigration date
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Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census
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Obituaries, Biography, History
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| Living relatives
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Obituaries, Probate Records, Directories
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Court Records
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| Maiden name
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Vital Records, Church Records
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Probate Records, Military Records, Obituaries
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| Marriage information
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Vital Records, Bible Records
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Obituaries, Probate Records, Military Records
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| Migration information
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Emigration and Immigration, Census, Biography
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History, Land and Property, Maps
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| Naturalization
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Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records
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Voting Registers, Biography, Periodicals
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| Occupations
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Census, Directories, Obituaries
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Land and Property, Biography, History, Probate Records
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| Other family members
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Census, Obituaries, Probate Records
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Vital Records, Church Records
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| Parents
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Vital Records, Obituaries, Census
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Church Records, Biography
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| Physical description
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Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration
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Biography, History
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| Place-finding aids
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Maps, Gazetteers, History
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Periodicals, Archives and Libraries
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| Places of residence
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Census, Military Records, Obituaries, Vital Records, Church Records
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Land and Property, Taxation, Voting Registers
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| Place of residence when you know only the state
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Census, Vital Records, Military Records
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Land and Property, Obituaries, History
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| Previous research
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Genealogy, Biography, Periodicals
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Societies, History, Archives and Libraries
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| Record-finding aids
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Archives and Libraries, Periodicals
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Societies, Genealogy, For Further Reading
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| Religion
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Church Records, Vital Records, Obituaries
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Biography, History, Cemeteries
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| Social activities
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Societies, Obituaries, Biography
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Newspapers, History, Cemeteries
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