Step-by-Step Florida Research, 1880-Present
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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
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Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
- A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
- For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
- Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
- Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.
Using clues to lead to census record searches.
An interview with older family members reports that;
- a great-grandfather was Calvin Lionel Brown,
- he lived in Jacksonville, Florida,
- he died in about 2005 or 6, over 80 years old.
- His calculated birth would be maybe 1915-1925.
The first step would be to look for him in the 1945 state census of Florida, around age 20, when he might still be listed in his parents' home.
And he is listed in the home of his parents, Sidney F. and Effie Brown in Duval County, Florida.
The next step would to look for this family, working back through each earlier census, 1940 U.S., 1935 Florida state, 1930 U.S., and 1920 U.S. The goal is to identify all the children in the family.
These children fave been identified for Sidney F./Frank and Effie Brown:
- Thelma W., born abt. 1915
- Erline E., born abt.1917
- Sidney Frank, Jr., born abt. 1919
- Vivian L., born abt. 1920
- Effie Merle, born abt. 1922
- Carol L., born abt. 1923
- Calvin L., born abt. 1925
- Charles Milton, born abt. 1927
Finding an earlier generation.
It would appear that Sidney/Frank Brown, who was born in Florida in about 1883, was married in about 1910-1914 (based on birth of the first child).
The next step would be search for him in the 1900 Florida census as a young teenager living in his parents' home.
Here he is, as Frank, living with his widowed mother, Susan Brown.
The 1890 census was destroyed. Since Susan Brown has 20-year-old son in 1900, she should be listed with her husband still living in the 1880 census.
Here is Susan with her husband F. Sidney Brown in the 1880 census.
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
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Florida State Censuses
For more information, see Florida Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for your ancestors and their children.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
- In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
- A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
- A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.
Example of an indexed birth record.
Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
- establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
- find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
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Index entry. |
Actual record.
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Using census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
- birth date and place of the deceased
- maiden name of the wife
- names of the deceased's parents
- birth places of the deceased's parents.
Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate.
Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.
How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
- Online databases
- Writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
- Purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
Online databases, usually indexes, with some images
Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Florida Counties.
Order Certificates from Florida Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).
- Where to Write for Florida Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Florida, see How to Find Florida Birth Records, How to Find Florida Marriage Records, and How to Find Florida Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.
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Obituaries
- 1783-2018 Florida Newspaper Archives 1783-2018 at GenealogyBank — index & images ($)
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Digitized Newspapers from Florida at Chronicling America, Library of Congress — index & images
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at University of Florida, Digital Collections — index & images; Also at: University of Florida, new website
- Florida Newspapers and Obituaries at LDS Genealogy — index
- Florida Newspapers and Periodicals at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Florida Online Historical Newspapers at Google Sites: Online Historical Newspapers — index
- Newspapers on Microfilm in the Florida Collection at USGenWeb Archives, State Library of Florida — index
Cemeteries
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Florida Cemeteries, Florida Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- Florida Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Florida Death Records and Florida Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Online Florida Death Records Indexes and Obituaries at DeathIndexes.com — index
- RecordAGrave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see Florida Obituaries and Florida Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Example of a World War I draft card.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see Florida Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.
FamilySearch
- 1834-1997 Florida, Church Records, 1834-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1837-1974 Florida Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1880-1935 Florida Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1900-1921 Florida Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Ancestry.com
Catholic
- 1594-1763 Baptisms, 1594-1763 at Digital Collections, University of Florida — index
Dutch Reformed
- 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Lutheran
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Presbyterian
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For help with church records kept in Florida, see Florida Church Records.
To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Florida county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Florida Counties
For more information, see Florida Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Florida Immigration Records
- 1898-1945 Florida, Key West Passenger Lists, 1898-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1898-1945 Florida, Tampa, Passenger Lists, 1898-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1898-1963 Florida, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1898-1963 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1900-1945 Florida, Pensacola, Passenger Lists, 1900-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1908-1912 Florida, Knights Keys Passenger Lists, 1908-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1930-1942 Miami, Florida, U.S., Index to Alien Arrivals by Airplane, 1930-1942 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1944-1945 Florida and South Carolina, Airplane Arrival Manifests, 1944-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Florida Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1847-1995 Florida, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1847-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For more information, see Florida Emigration and Immigration and Florida Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Florida; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Florida" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "Florida" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Florida and the name of the county.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
- Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
- In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
- A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.
Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
- County and Town Histories at LearnWebSkills — index & images
- History of Florida, Past and Present, Historical and Biographical, by Cutler, Harry Gardner. Chicago and New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1923. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.Historical ImagesRecords collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
Florida Online Genealogy RecordsSearch any other online records listed in Florida Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Florida Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Florida.This article focused more on Florida state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Florida. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records. |
