Tennessee Compiled Genealogies

United States   Tennessee    Genealogy

The term genealogy is used in this outline and in the Family History Library Catalog to describe a variety of records containing family information previously gathered by other researchers, societies, or archives.

Genealogy records can include pedigree charts, compiled data on families, correspondence, ancestor lists, research exchange files, record abstracts, and collections of original or copied documents. These sources can save time, but because they are compiled from other sources, you must carefully evaluate their accuracy.

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections of previous research and indexes of genealogical value. These must usually be searched in person.

Nationwide Indexes
You will find information about some of your ancestors in the following important nationwide genealogical indexes described in United States Genealogies, in the sections indicated:


 * Ancestral File in the “Genealogy” section (also on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service)
 * FamilyFinder Index in the “Census” section (also on the Internet atwww.familytreemaker.com/allsearch.html
 * Family History Library Catalog’s Surname Search in the “Introduction” and “Genealogy” sections (also on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service)
 * International Genealogical Index in the “Genealogy” section (in part also on the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service)
 * Index to National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC) in the “Genealogy” section (also on the Internet atwww.lcweb.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/nucmc.html
 * Old Surname Index File in the“Genealogy” section
 * Periodical Source Index (PERSI) in the “Periodicals” section (also on the Internet atwww.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/3165.htm for a subscription fee)
 * Social Security Death Index at http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

Two other important indexes are as follows:


 * 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, descendant charts, and sometimes notes and sources. You can purchase it from the Family History Library for use on personal computers.
 * U.S. Military Death Index lists deaths of service men and women in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. It is part of FamilySearch at most Family History Centers. For details, see the Military Index Resource Guide.

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

Web Sites About Your Family
Search the Internet for family history web sites about your surname. Use the “Search for Ancestors” feature of the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service at www.familysearch.org to help you find such sites.

Printing Your Family History
Pulling together a family history is without question one of the most rewarding activities you can do. The end product will provide a wonderful depository for family stories, traditions, and other memories. The fruits of your labors will be appreciated for years to come.

Brigham Young University's Print and Mail Production Center offers facilities and consultants to assist genealogists in printing their family histories. Their consultants can answer questions regarding formatting, layout, scanning photos, and can assist in the printing process.

Print and Mail Production Center's facilities include state of the art digital printing equipment, offset presses, and a full service bindery.

See also A Guide To Printing Your Family History

Statewide Collections and Publications
Manuscript Collections

Daughters of the American Revolution (Kentucky). Genealogical Collection. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. (On 101 Family History Library films beginning with 850670.) This collection consists of transcripts of Bible, cemetery, church, marriage, death, obituary, and probate records at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. The volumes are generally arranged by county and many have individual indexes.

Draper Manuscript Collection described in Tennessee History.

Calvin M. McClung Collection described in Tennessee Archives and Libraries. Digital versions are available at Ancestry.com ($); and World Vital Records ($).

Edythe Rucker Whitley Collection contains 2,300 notebooks of genealogical research compiled by Mrs. Edythe Rucker Whitley, who conducted extensive research on the pioneer families of North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and other states. She also compiled genealogical data on many prominent men of Tennessee and elsewhere in the United States. The collection is organized by surname. Use of the collection is limited to one box at a time. The collection is at:

Williamson County Public Library 1314 Columbia Ave. Franklin, TN 37064 Telephone: 615-794-3105 Fax: 615-595-1245 Internet: http://lib.williamson-tn.org/

The manuscript collections of the Tennessee State Library and Archives include many personal papers, diaries, letters, biographies, and other records of genealogical value. Collections in the archives are listed here.

Published Sources
Allen, Penelope Johnson. Leaves from the Family Tree. 1933–1937. Reprint, Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1982. (Family History Library book 976.8 D2a.) This is a reprint of family genealogies in the Chattanooga Sunday Times. The original clippings are in:

Leaves from the Family Tree. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. (Family History Library film 1036445 item 2.)

Ancestor Charts. Huntsville, Alabama: Margaret M. Cowart, 1976. (Family History Library book 976.859 D2h.) This record contains 500 pedigrees of families from central Tennessee.

Hehir, Donald M. Tennessee Family Histories and Genealogies: A Bibliography. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1996. (Family History Libray book 976.8 D23h.) This is a bibliography of sources for surnames in the Library of Congress with Tennessee connections.

Ray, Worth S. Tennessee Cousins: A History of Tennessee People. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. (Family History Library book 976.8 D2r 1968.) This source contains transcripts of various original records, wills, vital records, and more. The record is indexed.

Ritchie, Ruth. Genealogy of Some East Tennessee Families of the Early Nineteenth Century. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972. (Family History Library film 896897 item 3.) Corrections to this records are in:


 * Ritchie, Ruth. Supplement to Genealogy of Some East Tennessee Families of the Early Nineteenth Century. N.p., 1948. (Family History Library book 976.8 D2rr supp.; fiche 6104316.www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp)

Tennessee Settlers and Their Descendants: Genealogical Data about Some of the Men and Women Who Helped Shape the Volunteer State. Memphis, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee: Tennessee Genealogical Society: Tennessee Valley Publishing, 1994. (Family History Library book 976.8 D2t). The record contains descendants of some of the early settlers of the state for up to nine generations. It includes a surname index.

Tucker, Mabel Abbott. Middle Tennessee Family History. Three Volumes. [Fayetteville, Tennessee]: M. A. Tucker, (Fayetteville, Tennessee: Horton Print). (Family History Library book 976.8 D2tm.) This source contains birth, marriage and death records. Each record is indexed.

Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker, 1900. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Records of Early Settlers from State and County Archives. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1981. (Family History Library book 976.8 D2w.) This book is a compilation of wills, deeds, Revolutionary War warrants, and family records at the State Archives in Nashville. The record is indexed.

For genealogy sources for the United States see the“Genealogy” section of the United States Research Outline. Other genealogical records of Tennessee can be found in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

TENNESSEE - GENEALOGY

TENNESSEE, [COUNTY] - GENEALOGY

TENNESSEE - SOCIETIES - GENEALOGY