PRIMARY SOURCES

CHURCH RECORDS Until the twentieth century there was no national system to registering vital records (birth, marriage, death). While many states kept vital records in the 1800s, there is no guarantee of availability or consistency at the state or even county level. Church records are sometimes the only resource available for the key events in an individual’s life. These documents might also include baptisms, membership records, burial information, or church business and committee records.  The initial problem in locating an individual is to figure out what religious group he or she was affiliated with. This might be easier for more recent generations, but for earlier eras it can prove more difficult. Knowing where a person lived, his or her nationality, or ethnic background can help you make educated guesses in locating a church affiliation. Check out Locating Church Records by Val D. Greenwood at Genealogy.com for clues and more information about which research direction is right for you. You Might Learn: • The baptism of one of your colonial ancestors • When and where your ancestor’s married and by whom • When a person or family first became members of the church • Who the church members were and their social standings • How the church helped their community’s poor or orphans • How funerals were conducted in the church • Burial customs • Location of a burial plot in the church cemetery • The schools associated with the church Where to Find These Sources • At your local congregation • Historical societies • Archives of religious colleges or seminaries • Church collections at state libraries or archives • Family papers • Family History Library (LDS)