In response to many researcher requests, we have added a list of the records digitized by our digitization partners, Ancestry.com and Footnote.com, to our web site. The list is arranged in alpha-numeric order by NARA microfilm publication number. You can re-sort the list by microform publication title, partner, or record group by clicking on the … Continue reading List of records digitized by NARA's digitization partners now online!
Category: Genealogy / Family History
Family Tree Friday: Vital Statistics in Federal Records
Most researchers know that they need to contact the appropriate state or county to get birth certificates or other vital records. Because these are not federal records, they are not in NARA’s holdings. So why can you sometimes find copies of official state-issued vital statistics in our records? Think about it – when you contact … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Vital Statistics in Federal Records
Stop by to See Us at the NARA Genealogy Fair
Are you planning to attend the National Archives' 6th annual Genealogy Fair? If so, we hope you'll come visit us at our exhibit tables. NARA's new Open Government Plan (PDF) highlights how crucial social media is to opening up the Archives and establishes the redesign of Archives.gov as NARA's "flagship initiative." Stop by, bring us … Continue reading Stop by to See Us at the NARA Genealogy Fair
Participate in the Archives.gov Web Redesign Card Sort!
We are redesigning Archives.gov to make it easier and quicker for you to find the information you need as part of NARA’s Flagship Open Government Initiative. We want your opinions to help us to develop a web site designed for participation. Throughout the redesign process, we’ll be inviting you to participate by voting, sorting, commenting, … Continue reading Participate in the Archives.gov Web Redesign Card Sort!
Family Tree Friday: Personal papers in compiled service records reveal important clues.
In my last blog post I explained how to decipher the information contained on a volunteer soldier's compiled military service record envelope or "jacket." Those jackets also indicate whether or not the service record includes any personal papers. Personal papers are individual documents such as an original enlistment paper, a casualty sheet, discharge certificate, or … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Personal papers in compiled service records reveal important clues.
Family Tree Friday: Nonpopulation Census Records – Social Statistics
We’ve already looked at the Mortality Schedules and the Agricultural Schedules. Both provide information about individuals, and can be useful when doing genealogical research. But did you know that there are also some Nonpopulation schedules that provide information on a county or town level? They are called Social Statistics Schedules, and they were taken between … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Nonpopulation Census Records – Social Statistics
Calling All Genealogists!
The National Archives will host its 6th Annual Genealogy Fair on Wednesday and Thursday, April 14-15, 2010. The theme of this year’s 2-day fair is “The World of Genealogy,” highlighting the diversity of NARA’s records as they relate to various ethnic groups’ interactions with the federal government. Speakers and exhibitors at the fair will represent … Continue reading Calling All Genealogists!
Family Tree Friday: How to decipher compiled service record jackets.
Compiled military service records at the National Archives for the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) through the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) are filed in separate envelopes or jackets that contain basic information about the soldier. The example shown here for my ancestor Adam Dale (his surname is actually DEAL, which shows how spelling mistakes/variations can find their way … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: How to decipher compiled service record jackets.
Family Tree Friday: Slave Schedules
If you’ve been watching the new NBC show, Who Do You Think You Are?, you may have seen a recent episode where slavery in America was discussed. Researchers with slave ancestors often have trouble because there just aren’t a lot of federal records which list slaves by name. One type of federal record that researchers … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Slave Schedules
Family Tree Friday: Genealogy Programs at the National Archives Building
The National Archives in the DC area has a lot of public programs. One of our most successful ventures is our Know Your Records lecture series. We present weekly lectures, both at the National Archives Building and the National Archives in College Park, on a wide variety of research topics. A year and a half … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Genealogy Programs at the National Archives Building