Enrollment options
Course image American: Vital Records, Understanding and Using The Records
Basic American Records
Course Summary:
The objectives of this course include:
Note: This course requires compulsory materials to be ordered. The book(s) are available at GenealogyStore.com
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Mills, Elizabeth
Shown, Your Stripped Bare
Guide to to Citing & Using History
Sources (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical
Publishing Co., 2025). This book is the least expensive, but
offers only the most important information. The Evidence
Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace,
though more expensive, offers more comprehensive details.
Either book is acceptable for this course.
OR
Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, Fourth Edition Revised (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2024). Deeper information for the discerning genealogist who wants more answers.Optional Print Course Material: American: Vital Records, Understanding and Using the Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.The objectives of this course include:
-
Understanding the creation
of vital records in the United States
-
Locating vital records in
the United States
-
Evaluating information in
these records
-
Creating a research plan
based on availability of records
- Securing documents needed to prove your family lineage
Contact Hours: 18
Course Length: 8 weeks
Grading Scale: 70% Tests/30% Assignments
Course Content
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Reference Books & Websites
UNDERSTANDING & USING VITAL RECORDS
Creation of Vital Records in the United States
Points of Reference for Documents
MODULE 2
20th AND 21st CENTURY DEATH RECORDS
Death Indexes
Social Security Death Index
Resources
MODULE 3
LOCATING A DEATH DATE
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules
Information on the Mortality Schedules
USGenWeb
Headstones and Cemetery Indexes
Family History Library and FamilySearch
MODULE 4
MARRIAGE RECORDS
Introduction
Finding the Marriage Date and Location
Gathering Necessary Information from Census Schedules
Locating the Original Records
Divorce Records
MODULE 5
BIRTH RECORDS
Locating the Birth Records
Court Records
Military Records
Using the Ancestry.com Databases
MODULE 6
RESEARCHING OTHER RECORDS
Court Records
Military Records
Passport Applications
Immigration & Emigration Records
Naturalization Records
Ships Lists
Lineage Societies
Criminal Records
Census Records
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Reference Books & Websites
UNDERSTANDING & USING VITAL RECORDS
Creation of Vital Records in the United States
Points of Reference for Documents
MODULE 2
20th AND 21st CENTURY DEATH RECORDS
Death Indexes
Social Security Death Index
Resources
MODULE 3
LOCATING A DEATH DATE
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules
Information on the Mortality Schedules
USGenWeb
Headstones and Cemetery Indexes
Family History Library and FamilySearch
MODULE 4
MARRIAGE RECORDS
Introduction
Finding the Marriage Date and Location
Gathering Necessary Information from Census Schedules
Locating the Original Records
Divorce Records
MODULE 5
BIRTH RECORDS
Locating the Birth Records
Court Records
Military Records
Using the Ancestry.com Databases
MODULE 6
RESEARCHING OTHER RECORDS
Court Records
Military Records
Passport Applications
Immigration & Emigration Records
Naturalization Records
Ships Lists
Lineage Societies
Criminal Records
Census Records