California Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions

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=== California Research Strategies ===
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| link5=[[California Research Tips and Strategies|Research Tips and Strategies]]
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<center><font size="4"><br>'''Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page'''</font></center><br>
<center>''The California Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for California. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.''</center><br>
|}


==California Research Strategies==
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in California:<br>


Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in California:<br>
:[[California Online Genealogy Records|California Online Genealogy Records]]
<br>
:[[How to Find California Birth Records|How to find California Birth Records]]
:[[How to Find California Marriage Records|How to find California Marriage Records]]
:[[How to Find California Death Records|How to find California Death Records]]


===Finding California Birth, Marriage or Death Records===
=== California Research Tips  ===
*[[GuidedResearch:California|Finding California Births, Marriages, and Deaths using Guided Research]]


===Finding California Records===
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in California.
*[[California Record Finder]]


===California Statewide Databases===
*'''Birth information:''' Birth records in California start on the county level in 1905 - although not all counties complied with the law. The best substitute record for locating birth information is [[How to Find United States Death Records|death records]]&nbsp;(the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|substitute records]].
*[[California Online Genealogy Records|California Online Genealogy Records]]
*'''Finding Parents:''' The State of California began recording deaths in 1905. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search California death records]]
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]].
*'''Marriage Records. &nbsp;'''Coverage map showing all FamilySearch holdings by county. &nbsp;[http://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/CM/FusionMap_CA_county_marriages.html FamilySearch Historical Records]


===California Research Process===
=== California Record Finder  ===
*[[Step-by-Step California Research, 1905-Present|Step-by-Step California Research, 1905-Present]]
*[[Step-by-Step California Research, 1850-1905|Step-by-Step California Research, 1850-1905]]
*[[California Descendancy Research]]
*[[How to Find California Birth Records|How to find California Birth Records]]
*[[How to Find California Marriage Records|How to find California Marriage Records]]
*[[How to Find California Death Records|How to find California Death Records]]


==California Research Tips==
This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.


These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in California:<br>
{| width="100%" border="1"
<br>
|-
'''Birth and Death information:'''<br>
| '''1. What you are looking for:'''  
----
| '''2. Try these records first:'''  
*'''''Statewide registration:''''' The state began registering births in July 1905 and deaths in 1900 and was generally complied with by 1920.
| '''3. Other useful records'''
*'''''County regististration:''''' Some county recorders kept vital statistics before 1905. Monterey County, for example, recorded a few births as early as 1824. Most clerks kept better records in the decades following the Gold Rush.
|-
| Birth information
| [[How to Find California Birth Records|Birth records]], [[How to Find California Death Records|Death records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[California Church Records|Church records]]
| [[California Cemeteries|Cemeteries]], [[California Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[California Bible Records|Bible records]], [[California Military Records|Military records]] (pension)
|-
| Marriage information
| [[How to Find California Marriage Records|Marriage records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[California Bible Records|Bible records]]
| [[California Church Records|Church records]], [[California Probate Records|Probate records]], [[California Military Records|Military records]]
|-
| Death information
| [[How to Find California Death Records|Death Records]], [[California Cemeteries|Cemeteries]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]]
| [[California Probate Records|Probate Records]], [[California Church Records|Church Records]], [[California Bible Records|Bible Records]]
|-
| Parents
| [[How to Find California Birth Records|Birth records]],&nbsp;[[How to Find California Death Records|Death records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[California Census|Census]], [[California Church Records|Church records]]
| [[California Biography|Biography]], [[California Genealogy|Genealogy]]
|-
| Maiden name
| [[How to Find California Marriage Records|Marriage Records]], [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[California Probate Records|Probate records]]
| [[California Church Records|Church Records]], [[California Military Records|Military Records]] (pension)
|-
| Immigration date
| [[California Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]], [[California Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[California Census|Census]]
| [[United States Obituaries|Obituaries]], [[California Biography|Biography]], [[California History|History]]
|-
| Naturalization
| [[California Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]], [[California Census|Census]], [[California Court Records|Court Records]]
| [[California Voting Registers|Voting Registers]], [[California Biography|Biography]], [[California Periodicals|Periodicals]]
|-
| Physical description
| [[California Military Records|Military Records]], [[California Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]] (after 1906)
| [[California Biography|Biography]], [[California History|History]]
|}


*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[California Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in California.
=== Further California Research ===
<br>
'''Substitute Records:'''
----
*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help varify information.
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[California Substitute Records|California Substitute Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Finding Parents:'''  
----
*'''''Death records:''''' Death records created by the state starting in July 1905 may contain parents of the deceased. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[California Newspapers]] and [[California Obituaries]] for more information.
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denominiation of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[California Church Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Census Records:'''
----
*'''''Check all census years:''''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See [[California Census|California Census Records]] for more information.
*'''''Clues to other records:''''' There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
*'''''Finding families:''''' Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.


==Further California Research==
For more research on California, including research at the county level, visit the [[California Genealogy|California]] page on the Research Wiki.  
*[http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/California.pdf California Research Outline] – California Family History Library Research Outline
*[https://cagenweb.org CAGenWeb] - California GenWeb Project
*[http://genealogytrails.com/cal/ California Genealogy Trails] - collection of transcribed data for the state of California
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/ca/ Cyndi's List] - California genealogy websites
*[http://www.raogk.org/california-genealogy/ Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness] - State of California Records Guide


Search all of the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/location/11?region=United%20States%20of%20America California record collections] at FamilySearch.<br>


[[Category:California, United States]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:United States Research Strategies]]
[[Category:Research Tips and Strategies]]

Revision as of 19:15, 7 August 2015

California Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in California:

California Online Genealogy Records
How to find California Birth Records
How to find California Marriage Records
How to find California Death Records

California Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in California.

  • Birth information: Birth records in California start on the county level in 1905 - although not all counties complied with the law. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
  • Finding Parents: The State of California began recording deaths in 1905. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search California death records
  • Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.
  • Marriage Records.  Coverage map showing all FamilySearch holdings by county.  FamilySearch Historical Records

California Record Finder[edit | edit source]

This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

1. What you are looking for: 2. Try these records first: 3. Other useful records
Birth information Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Church records Cemeteries, Naturalization and Citizenship, Bible records, Military records (pension)
Marriage information Marriage records, Obituaries, Bible records Church records, Probate records, Military records
Death information Death Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries Probate Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Parents Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Census, Church records Biography, Genealogy
Maiden name Marriage Records, Obituaries, Probate records Church Records, Military Records (pension)
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census Obituaries, Biography, History
Naturalization Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records Voting Registers, Biography, Periodicals
Physical description Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship (after 1906) Biography, History

Further California Research[edit | edit source]

For more research on California, including research at the county level, visit the California page on the Research Wiki.

Search all of the California record collections at FamilySearch.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

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