Enrollment options

Course image American: Vital Records, Understanding and Using The Records
Basic American Records
Course Summary:

Note: This course requires compulsory materials to be ordered. The book(s) are available at GenealogyStore.com

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
Grading Scale: 70% Tests/30% Assignments
Course Length: 8 weeks
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