Alabama Compiled Genealogies

Nationwide Indexes
You may find information about some of your ancestors in the following nationwide genealogical indexes described in the United States Research Outline, in the sections indicated.

At the Family History Library, available online at http://www.familysearch.org :


 * Ancestral File, "Genealogy" section.
 * Family History Library Catalog Surname Search, "Introduction" and "Genealogy" sections.
 * International Genealogical Index (IGI), "Genealogy" section.

FamilyFinder Index, "Census" section, available online at:


 * www.familytreemaker.com/allsearch.html

Index to National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC), "Genealogy" section. Also on Internet at:


 * http://lcweb.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/nucmc.html

Old Surname Index File, "Genealogy" Section
The Pedigree Resource File consists of unedited, lineage-linked pedigrees submitted over the Internet to the Family History Department since 1999. It also includes the associated family groups, descendency charts, and sometimes notes or sources. Available for purchase at the Family History Library for use on personal computers.

Periodical Source Index (PERSI), "Periodicals" section. Also available on the Internet at:


 * www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/3165.htm

for a subscription fee.

Social Security Death Index, "Vital Records" section. Also available on the Internet at: *http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

U.S. Military Death Index, which lists deaths of service men and women who died in Korea and Vietnam during those conflicts. It is available at most Family History Centers as part of FamilySearch. For details see the Military Index Resource Guide.

These indexes are available at the Family History Library and many libraries with family history collections.

Statewide Indexes
Genealogical publications and collections generally contain birth, marriage, and death information, often for several generations. Some biographical information also may be included.

Some of the major genealogical indexes and collections for Alabama are:

Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Surname Collection. Montgomery, Alabama: Department, 1985. (On 675 Family History Library films beginning with 1486776.) This collection is arranged alphabetically and includes published and manuscript materials from the 1700s to 1985.

Gandrud, Pauline Myra Jones. Alabama Records. Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1981–. 245 vols. (Family History Library book 976.1 D29ja.) To date, 100 of the 245 volumes have been published. Volumes 1–232 and 235 are available on films (see the source below). There are one or more volumes for most counties. This collection has transcripts of tombstone inscriptions; death, marriage, probate, land, church , and court records; Bible records; obituaries; tax lists; military pensions; and other records. Each volume is individually indexed.

A typescript edition of the above records was filmed at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library in Washington, D.C.:

Jones, Kathleen Paul and Pauline Jones Gandrud. Alabama Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939–1983. (Family History Library films 840512–29 and 844382–91.) These films contain volumes 1–232 and 235. There are often several volumes for a county.

Another DAR collection is Miscellaneous Records cited in the "Cemeteries" section of this outline. A surname index for these two DAR collections is:

Kirkham, E. Kay. An Index to Some of the Family Records of the Southern States: 35,000 Microfilm References from the NSDAR Files and Elsewhere. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1979. (Family History Library book 973 D22kk Vol. 1; fiche 6089183.) There are two alphabetical surname indexes in the book, both of which should be searched. Not all individuals were included in the index.

See the United States Research Outline "Genealogy" section for other important indexes.

For family histories published in periodicals, from 1847 to the present, see the Periodical Source Index, mentioned in the "Periodicals" section of this outline.

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. Usually these must be searched in person. Major collections of compiled genealogies and genealogical source material for Alabama include:

England, Flora D. Alabama Notes. Four Volumes in two. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1977. (Family History Library book 976.1 D2ef 1977.)

Lineage Book. Alabama Genealogical Society. Two Volumes. Birmingham, Alabama: Alabama Genealogical Society, 1991, 1997. (FHL book 976.1 D2L.) These volumes contain the name and address of each member and have four-generation pedigree charts, usually starting with the member’s parents. The charts provide names of ancestors with birth, marriage, and death dates and places. Each volume has about 4,000 names and is fully indexed.

Saunders, James E. Early Settlers of Alabama. 1899. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland.: Genealogical Publishing, 1969. (Family History Library book 976.1 D2s 1969; fiche 6051449; a 1961 publication is on film 2360.) The book is indexed, but for a more complete index, see:

Oliver, Lloyd F. Index to Colonel James Edmonds Saunders’ Early Settlers of Alabama. Tomball, Texas: Genealogical Publications, 1978. (Family History Library book 976.1 D2s index.)

Ancestor Charts. Huntsville, Alabama: Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, 1975–. Four Volumes. (Family History Library book 976.19 B2tv; film 982377 item3.) The Tennessee River Valley crosses through the northern part of Alabama. These ancestor charts of members of the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society often contain birth, marriage, and death information for five generations of the submitter’s family. The address of the submitter is given.

Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society (Alabama). Lineage Chart Book. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Society, 1979, 1990. (Family History Library book 976.1 D2t.) Each volume contains six-generation lineage charts, some with information to the 1600s. Each volume is indexed by surname.

Genealogies are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

ALABAMA- GENEALOGY

ALABAMA- SOCIETIES

ALABAMA, [COUNTY]- GENEALOGY

ALABAMA, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- GENEALOGY

Web Sites

 * http://www.accessgenealogy.com/alabama/
 * http://www.rootsweb.com/~algenweb/
 * http://www.genealinks.com/states/al.htm
 * http://huntsville.about.com/od/genealogy1/Researching_Your_Alabama_Genealogy.htm