Kentucky Record Finder

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Record Selection Table

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

1. In column 1 select a 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. Then look in the section of this article 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 Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog. Some records are not at the library.

Note: Records of previous research (genealogies, biographies, histories, periodicals, and societies) are useful for most goals but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.

What you are looking for:	Try these records first:	Other useful records:
Adoptions	Court Records, Vital Records, Guardianship	Probate Records, Church Records, Census
Age	Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Vital Records, Military Records	Naturalization and Citizenship, Church Records, Bible Records
Birth date	Vital Records, Obituaries, Cemeteries	Church Records, Bible Records, Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Birth place	Vital Records, Church Records, Obituaries, Census	Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Cemeteries
Boundaries and origins	Maps, Gazetteers	History
Children	Census, Probate Records, Obituaries,Vital Records, Guardianship	Church Records, Bible Records, Court Records, Land and Property
City or parish of foreign birth	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography	Naturalization and Citizenship, Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
Country of foreign birth	Census,Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital Records, Obituaries	Biography, History, Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
Death information	Vital Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Probate Records, Funeral Homes	Military Records, Church Records, Bible Records, Land and Property, Tax Records
Divorce	Divorce Records, Vital Records, Court Records, Newspapers	Census, Obituaries
Emigration	Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Obituaries	Biography, History, Minorities, Societies
Ethnic background	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, Funeral Homes
Maiden name	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records	Church Records, Military Records, Funeral Homes, Cemeteries
Marriage information	Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Census, Church Records	Probate Records, Military Records, Divorce Records, Naturalization and Citizenship
Migration	Emigration and Immigration, Maps, Census, Biography	History, Land and Property, Military Records, Minorities
Naturalization	Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Voting Registers	Court Records, Biography, History
Occupations	Occupations, Census, Directories	Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography, Emigration and Immigration
Other family members	Census, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate Records	Vital Records,Church Records, Bible Records, Funeral Homes
Parents	Vital Records, Obituaries, Census, Guardianship	Probate Records, Funeral Homes, Church Records, Bible Records
Physical description	Military Records, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship	Biography, History
Place-finding aids	Maps, Gazetteers, History	Periodicals, Archives and Libraries
Places of residence	Census, Military Records, Obituaries, Biography	Land and Property,Naturalization and Citizenship, Public Records
Place of residence when you know only the state	Census, Vital Records, Military Records	Naturalization and Citizenship, Taxation
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, Funeral Homes
Social activities	Societies, Newspapers, Obituaries, Biography	History, Cemeteries, Directories