Home Source Genealogy Records

The subject of today’s article, home source genealogy records is one of those genealogy basics that is easy for family researchers to overlook. You may have important family history information helpful to your genealogy hidden in your home and not even realize it.

Conducting a thorough investigation of available home sources should be one of the first things every beginning genealogist undertakes. Lurking in what might seem like everyday paperwork may be important clues to family member activities. Especially overlooked are those sources not traditionally considered as “genealogy records”.

My intent is to help you think a little deeper about what may be lurking undiscovered in your basement, attic, storage unit, filing cabinet or desk drawers. This is one of those rare times where having pack rat tendencies can actually payoff.

For extra motivation, you can use this search for information as an opportunity to get more organized. Looking through your stuff gives you an opportunity clear out clutter and better utilize what you own.

Use this checklist below as a guide to sources of information you might find in your home or the home of a relative. Now get busy and see how many new useful bits of information you can discover and plug right away into your family history.

Master List Of Home Sources

adoption papers
baby books
bank statements
bankruptcy records
baptismal records
birth certificates
birthday cards
burial plot purchase documents
burial records
business ledgers
church directories
civil/criminal case files
confirmation records
custody orders
death certificates
deeds
diaries/journals
diplomas
divorce files

driver's license/state ID cards

estate settlements
family bibles

foreclosure paperwork
funeral programs
income tax records
letters
life insurance policies
local history books
marriage certificates
mass cards
medical records
membership cards
military discharge papers
military enlistment papers
military medals
military
pension papers
military service records
mortgages
naturalization papers
newspaper announcements: birth, engagement, marriage, death
newspaper obituaries
newspaper school honor rolls

newspaper society pages
newspaper sports clippings
passports
pay stubs
pictures
portraits
postcards
probate files
professional directories
property surveys
property tax paperwork
receipts
report cards
school awards
school pictures
school transcripts
school yearbooks
scrapbooks
social security cards
sports programs
sympathy cards
vacation albums
wedding albums
wills
work ID cards

The lesson here is that investing a small amount of time to take inventory of what you have in your house can pay big dividends in better genealogy and a cleaner house. Happy hunting!

Read related articles: Getting Started