Tennessee Record Finder

United States   Tennessee   Record Selection Table

This table can help you decide which records to search. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

1. In column 1, find the category closest to your research goal.
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. Look in the section of this outline that corresponds to the record type you chose. It explains what the records might tell you, how to search them, and how to find the records in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog. Some records are not at the Family History Library.

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
Adoptions	Court Records, Vital Records, Guardianship	Probate Records, Church Records, Census
Age	Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Vital Records	Naturalization and Citizenship, Military Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Birth date	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Cemeteries	Church Records, Bible Records, Census, Military Records
Birth place	Vital Records, Church Records, Newspapers, Obituaries	Census, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Cemeteries
Children	Census, Probate Records, Newspapers, Obituaries	Vital Records, Guardianship, Church Records, Bible Records
City or parish of foreign birth	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography	History, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
County boundaries and origins	Maps, Gazetteers	History
Country of foreign birth	Census, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records, Newspapers	Biography, History, Obituaries Emigration and Immigration
Death information	Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Probate Records	Military Records, Church Records, Bible Records, Land and Property
Divorce	Divorce Records, Vital Records, Court Records, Newspapers	Census, Obituaries
Emigration	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Newspapers	Biography, History, Minorities, Societies
Ethnic background	African Americans, American Indians, Native Races, Minorities, Emigration and Immigration	Naturalization and Citizenship, Societies, Church Records, Periodicals, Census
Historical background	History, Periodicals, Gazetteers	Maps, Land and Property
Immigration date	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census,	Court Records, Biography, History
Living relatives	Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records, Directories	Court Records, Census
Maiden name	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records	Church Records, Military Records, Cemeteries
Marriage information	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Census	Probate Records, Church Records, Military Records
Migration Information	Emigration and Immigration, Maps, Census, Biography	History, Land and Property, Military Records, Minorities
Naturalization	Naturalization and Citizenship, Census	Court Records, Biography, History
Occupations	Occupations, Census, Directories	Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography, History, Emigration and Immigration
Other family members	Census, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records	Vital Records, Church Records, Bible Records
Parents	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Census	Probate Records, Church Records, Societies
Physical description	Military Records, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship	Biography, History
Place-finding aids	Maps, Gazetteers, History	Periodicals, Archives and Libraries
Places of previous residence	Census, Military Records, Newspapers, Obituaries	Land and Property, Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration, Public Records
Place of residence when you know only the state	Census, Vital Records, Military Records	Naturalization and Citizenship
Previous Research	Genealogy, Biography, Periodicals, Societies	History, Archives and Libraries
Record-finding aids	Archives and Libraries, Church Records, Periodicals	Societies, For Further Reading
Religion	Church Records, Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography	History, Cemeteries, Directories
Social activities	Societies, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography	History, Cemeteries, Directories