New York Record Finder

New York New_York_Record_Selection_Table

This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1800 research in the United States.

1. In column 1 find the goal you selected.

2. In column 2 find the types of records most likely to have the information you need.

3. In column 3 find additional record types that may be useful.

4. Then look for the record type you need in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog.

Note: Records of previous research (Genealogy, Biography, History, Periodicals, and Societies) are useful for most goals, but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.

1. If You Need	2. Look First In	3. Then Search
Age	Census, Vital Records, Cemeteries	Military Records, Taxation
Birth date	Vital Records, Church Records, Bible Records	Cemeteries, Obituaries, Census
Birthplace	Vital Records, Church Records, Census	Newspapers, Obituaries
City or parish of foreign birth	Church Records, Genealogy, Biography, Naturalization and Citizenship, Societies	Vital Records, Obituaries, History, Emigration and Immigration
Country of foreign birth	Emigration and Immigration, Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records	Military Records, Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries
County origins and boundaries	History, Maps, Historical Geography	Gazetteers
Death	Vital Records, Cemeteries, Probate Records, Church Records, Obituaries, Societies	Newspapers, Bible Records, Military Records, Town Records
Ethnicity	Minorities, American Indians, Societies	Church Records, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Periodicals
Historical background	History, Periodicals	Minorities
Immigration date	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Genealogy, Societies	Census, Newspapers, Biography
Living relatives (and adoptions)	Genealogy, Directories, Court Records, Obituaries, Internet, Adoptions	Census, Biography, Societies, Church Records, Probate Records
Maiden name	Vital Records, Church Records, Newspapers, Bible Records	Cemeteries, Military Records, Probate Records, Obituaries
Marriage	Vital Records, Church Records, Census, Newspapers, Bible Records, Town Records	Cemeteries, Military Records, Probate Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Land and Property
Occupation	Census, Directories, Emigration and Immigration	Newspapers, Court Records, Biography
Parents, children, and other family members	Vital Records, Church Records, Census, Phone Disc, Probate Records, Obituaries, Genealogy	Bible Records, Newspapers, Emigration and Immigration, Adoptions
Physical description	Military Records, Biography	Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records, Emigration and Immigration, Genealogy
Place-finding aids	Gazetteers, Maps, Historical Geography	History, Periodicals
Place (town) of residence when you know only the state	Census (indexed), Genealogy, Military Records, Vital Records, and other records with a statewide index, Soundex	Biography, Probate Records, History, Directories, Societies, Taxation
Places family has lived	Census, Land and Property, History, Directories	Military Records, Taxation, Obituaries
Previous research (compiled genealogy)	Genealogy, Periodicals, [New York Societies|Societies]]	History, Biography
Record-finding aids	Archives and Libraries, Societies	Periodicals
Religion	Church Records, History, Biography	Bible Records, Cemeteries, Genealogy
Social activities	History, Biography Newspapers, Societies	Town Records, Court Records, Cemeteries, Directories, Obituaries