International Genealogical Index

The International Genealogical Index is a family history computer file that lists several hundred million names of deceased persons from throughout the world. For each deceased individual, the index also lists vital information from a single event, such as birth or marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compiled the index and made it available free to the public. Most of the information in the index is from collections of vital records from the early 1500s to 1885. Volunteers copied the information from the vital records, and members of the Church submitted some information about their ancestors. With the variety of sources, duplicate and inconsistent information for an individual is common.

On the current FamilySearch.org, the International Genealogical Index is available as a single collection. However, the next version of FamilySearch.org will not include the International Genealogical Index. Instead, the records from the index will be divided back into the original collections that the information was copied from. This means you will be able to browse the records for just the place where your ancestor lived. It may also be easier to find other members of your ancestor's family in the records.

The following articles are related to using the current IGI for family history research:


 * Finding the Source of IGI Batch Numbers
 * Ordinance Index (1840-1997) (in the "LDS Temple Records" section of Tracing LDS Families
 * Finding Unrestricted Film Numbers for Selected Restricted IGI Films
 * How Can I Find the Name of the Submitter in the IGI?
 * IGI Batch Number Descriptions
 * IGI Batch Numbers for British Isles and North America
 * IGI Batch Numbers for the British Isles and North America
 * IGI Batch Numbers for Latin American Countries
 * Wales and the IGI
 * Find ancestors on the IGI (Step 8. in Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research)
 * Submit names to the IGI (Step 10. in Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research)

Ancestry Insider Blog Series


 * What is IGI? (January 3, 2011)
 * What was IGI? (January 4, 2011)
 * Whence IGI? (January 5, 2011)
 * Why Was IGI? (January 6, 2011)
 * How is IGI? (January 7, 2011)
 * Where did IGI Go? (January 11, 2011)