At some point in your genealogy research, you’re going to have to deal with records. Records contained in libraries, archives, and local government offices con prove to be highly useful in your search for relevant names, dates, and places in your family’s history. The sheer number of public records available to the genealogy researchers, though, can be overwhelming especially for beginners.

If you’re just starting out in your genealogy research, it might be helpful for you to know about the various types of records you might deal with. By knowing about what each type of record can offer, you’ll be able to determine which records to look for when the need arises.  

Military Records

Military documents and records are good sources of information if you have family members that were enlisted in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. These records typically contain interesting, helpful details such as enlistment dates, and these records also come in formats such as draft cards and muster rolls. In some cases, military records can also indicate the locations of gravesites for war veterans. Many online archives today offer digitized copies of these records for the convenience of genealogy researchers.

Census Records

Census records are also widely available to family historians everywhere. Generally, a census record indicates information on a certain area’s population. Aside from the number of people living in a given location, a census record may also include other details such as these people’s age and ethnicity. Censuses are usually taken annually, so these records may be useful for researchers looking for time-specific information.

Vital Records

Civil vital records may be the most useful records you’ll come across during your genealogy research. These records can be further categorized into many types, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, obituaries, and cemetery records. These records can provide valuable, almost always accurate details on your ancestors, including dates of birth and death, names of your ancestor’s parents, and causes of death.