Germany, Baden, Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

Germany, Baden, Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records (view source)

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 | custodian = [https://www.ebfr.de/html/content/archiv2444.html Erzbischöfliches Archiv Freiburg]
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+== Why Should I Look at This Collection? ==
+Church records (parish registers, church books) are the main source of genealogical information in Germany before civil registration began in 1876. They record details of baptisms, marriages, confirmations, deaths and burials. Generally, the majority of the population can be found in the records. Additionally, these records can contain financial account books which may detail expenses incurred in performing marriages, funeral masses, etc., Lists of persons receiving communion, penance registers, lists of church members and registers naming members of each family.
+It is important to know the religious affiliation of your ancestors as Catholic and Protestant parishes kept separate records. Catholic registers, especially the earliest volumes, are generally written in Latin. In many regions, it was also common for the local church records to function in the role of civil registrar.
 == What is in This Collection? ==