United States Bible Records

United States Bible Records

See also United States, How to Find Genealogy Records

Many families have traditionally recorded births, marriages, and deaths in a family Bible, family record book, or book of remembrance. Family Bibles that are no longer in the possession of the family may be at a historical or genealogical society. They are sometimes transcribed and published in genealogical periodicals.

For early family Bibles, start with the free Index to Early Bible Records (pre-1830; 17,000 entries).

The Daughters of the American Revolution have collected and transcribed many Bible records. These transcripts are at the DAR Library in Washington, DC, or at local DAR chapters. Most are on microfilm at the Family History Library. Partial indexes to these records are:


 * Genealogical Records Committee Index a free online index in the DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS Search).
 * Kirkham, E. Kay. An Index to Some of the Bibles and Family Records of the United States: 45,500 References as Taken from the Microfilm at the Genealogical Society of Utah. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1984. (Family History Library book ; fiche  6089184.) WorldCat entry.
 * National Genealogical Society (Arlington, Virginia). Bible Records, ca. 1747-1982. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1995. (On six Family History Library films starting with 1987737].) No circulation to Family History Centers. Includes index. Bible records collected from members of the society.

The DAR and other Bible records at the Family History Library are generally listed in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under one of the following:


 * [STATE] - BIBLE RECORDS
 * [STATE], [COUNTY] - BIBLE RECORDS
 * [STATE] - VITAL RECORDS
 * [STATE], [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS

Copies, or abstracts of old family Bibles that are no longer known to exist, may survive in Revolutionary War Pension application files at NARA, Washington, D.C., which are available online at three commercial websites: Ancestry, Footnote, and Heritage Quest Online.

You can find further information about Bible records in Wiki pages for each state under the topic of "Bible Records.".


 * From Stalkin' Kin In Old West Texas, Vol XVI, No. 2.(San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. Aug 1988):


 * "BIBLE RECORDS: The National Archives and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. have collections of Bible Records sent as evidence in various claims against the U.S. Government. These are arranged in alphabetical order. Lists of these Bible records are available upon request."

Web Sites

 * Bible Records Online:Dedicated to transcribing and digitizing family history content from Bibles across the United States.
 * Daughters of American Revolution
 * Cyndi's List - Family Bibles http://www.cyndislist.com/bibles/