Indiana Research Tips and Strategies

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

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

Birth information: Statewide registration of births began in 1907, with compliance by 1920. 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: Death records were recorded by the county health office beginning in 1882, where they remained before mandatory recording with the state board of health began in January 1900. . They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Indiana 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.