By the time you reach the modern era, birth records feel straightforward. You search an index, order a certificate, attach it to your tree, and move on. In real research, modern systems still create...
Category - Birth Record Research
Birth Records Through Time, Part 2: From Parish Books to Civil Registration Systems
Birth records did not shift from “nothing” to modern certificates overnight. For centuries, most births were documented through churches, town clerks, and community systems that varied widely from...
Birth Records Through Time, Part 1: From Family Memory to Public Record
Birth records can feel like a modern invention because we usually meet them as government certificates, neatly formatted and easy to file. The truth is older and more uneven. People have always...
Alternative Records: A Closer Look at Birth Records #4
There are times when you will not find an official birth record for a person. This could be because one never existed, or that it was lost to time. If you cannot find a birth record, there are...
Family Bibles: A Closer Look at Birth Records #3
One source of birth records that you might not have considered is the family Bible. These were popular in the 1700s and 1800s and were Bibles with blank pages for recording birth, death, and marriage...
Baptismal Records: A Closer Look at Birth Records #2
If you are searching for a birth record for an ancestor, you might not find one if official birth registration was not required at the time and in the place they were born. However, you will likely...
Birth Certificates: A Closer Look at Birth Records #1
Birth records are some of the first types of records you may look for when beginning your genealogy research. After all, most people in the western world have had some sort of documentation of their...
Tips for Using Birth Records to Ensure Success in Your Genealogy
Do you have birth records of your ancestors? If you've been doing genealogy even a short time, you likely do. Here's how to use them to enhance your genealogy.
Genealogy Basics: Birth Record Research Advice for Beginners
Are you ready to learn how to obtain birth records for your ancestors? Here's how to find these important vital records that document your ancestors' lives.
How to Find Adoption Records if You Need Them
Were you or one of your ancestors adopted? Are you interested in finding out about the bio family or health history? These are some methods to use.
Researching Church Records in the U.S.
Have you ever looked at church records to find your ancestors? If not, you're missing out on a valuable genealogical resource. Here's what you need to know.