Genealogy Records in the United States
Researching genealogy records in the United States serves several functions for the individual, including finding a place in a larger family picture, uncovering lost surnames, feeling a sense of responsibility to preserve the past, and learning about ancient and famous relatives.
Genealogy is essentially the study of families throughout history. Hobby genealogists typically study their own family, while professional genealogists will perform record research for paid clients, write books on how to go about researching genealogy records, or work for a company that specializes in genealogy software; with computers becoming more common, genealogy programs have been written to chart out pedigrees of family members.
Along with family relationships during each time period, where the family lived and how they lived is also explored. Thus, old and outdated laws are studied, ancient political boundaries are uncovered, and historical social conditions are researched. Most genealogists use oral traditions, genetic analysis, and historical records to piece together the relationship between kin. A family tree is often used as a “map” of who is related to whom. To further assist them in their research, genealogists will often join genealogy or family history societies to swap records and teach new acolytes.
Records that are used in genealogy research include: vital records (birth records, death records, marriage, and divorce records), adoption records, biographies and biographical profiles (e.g. Who's Who), census records, church records (baptism or christening, confirmation, bar or bat mitzvah, marriage, funeral or death, and membership), city directories and telephone directories, coroner's reports, court records, criminal records, civil records, diaries, personal letters and family Bibles, emigration, immigration and naturalization records, hereditary and lineage organization records, land and property records, deeds, medical records, military and conscription records, newspaper articles, obituaries, occupational records, oral histories, passports, photographs and asylum records, school and alumni association records, ship passenger lists, Social Security and pension records, tax records, tombstones, cemetery records and funeral home records, voter registration records, and wills and probate records.
