Latter-day Saint Compiled Genealogies

Tracing LDS Ancestors  Genealogy

The term genealogy is used in this article and in the Family History Library to describe a variety of records containing family information previously gathered by other researchers, societies, or archives. These 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, they must be carefully evaluated for accuracy.



Nationwide Indexes
You will find information about some Latter-day Saints in the following genealogical indexes:


 * Ancestral File in the "Genealogy" section.
 * FamilyFinder Index in the Census section.
 * FamilySearch Catalog Surname Search in the "Introduction" and "Genealogy" sections. Also available on FamilySearch™
 * International Genealogical Index in the "Genealogy" section. Many records have been indexed and are available on FamilySearch™ The Ordinance Index which is closely related to the International Genealogical Index, but contains more information and is explained in the "Temple Records" section of this page.
 * This is an index to biographies.
 * Pedigree Resource File use the search records tab and scroll down to Pedigree Resource File. This consists of unedited, lineage-linked pedigrees submitted over the Internet to the Family History Library Department since 1999. It also includes the associated family groups, descendancy charts, and sometimes notes or sources. It is available for purchase at the Family History Library for use on personal computers.
 * Periodical Source Index (PERSI) "Periodicals" section. Also available online at Periodical Source Index (PERSI) for a subscription fee.
 * Social Security Death Index ("Vital Records" section.) This index is also available on the Internet at Social Security Death Index, or on compact disc from several companies. The Internet version sometimes includes a few more recently reported deaths than compact disc versions. For details about the FamilySearch compact disc version see U.S. Social Security Death Index
 * U.S. Military Death Index lists deaths of service men and women in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. It is available at most Family History Centers as part of FamilySearch. For details see the Military Index.

These indexes are available 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.

Family Group Records Collection
The Family Group Records Collection has about 8 million family group records that were created by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is divided into two sections: the Patrons Section and the Archive Section.

The original family group records in the Archive Section (1942–1969) and the Patrons Section (1962–1977) are filmed. The Patron Section (1926–1962 and 1978–1979) are only available on microfilm.

Patron Section
The Patron Section part of the collection contains three million family group record forms that were submitted to the Church to share genealogical information and identify others working on the same lines. Temple work was not requested. Each section has some names found in no other filming:


 *  Surnames A to KERSEY only. The filming was stopped when it was discovered 80 percent of the sheets were already in the Ancestral File.
 *  80 percent of these sheets are in the Ancestral File. No single filming of all years of the Patron Section exists. The set from 1978 to 1979 comprising films 1281028–89 are not available in the binders at the Family Search Center.

Archive Section
The Archive Section of the Family Group Records Collection contains 5 million family group records submitted by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1942 and 1969 for temple work. The microfilms are listed under:


 * Family Group Records Collection, Archives Section 1942–1969 In 1993 the microfilms of the Archives Section were checked against the original family group records and found 18,000 sheets that had not been microfilmed. These records were photocopied, and filmed as an addendum

For further details about most of the family group records listed, see:


 * "Family Group Collections of the Family History Library." This also describes the relationship of the Temple Records Index Bureau Endowment Index, the Ordinance Index, and Ancestral File to the family group records.

Miscellaneous Family Group Records
The Family History Library has other collections of family group records:


 * Family Group Records: Collected and Compiled by the Former Spanish-American Mission Most of these records were submitted by members of the Spanish-Mexican Mission, which included Mexico and the Spanish-speaking Saints in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
 * Polynesian Family Group Records Collection, 1924–1969 This is a film copy of the Polynesian collection at the Laie Family History Center in Hawaii. Most of these sheets are also found in the Archives Section.
 * Piedmont Project Family Group Sheets. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968 To assist members with Italian ancestry, the Genealogical Department filled out family group sheets from sources found in sixteen Protestant parishes in the Province of Torino, Italy.
 * Four-Generation Pedigrees and Family Group Sheets, 1700–1983 These are arranged alphabetically by the surname of the Church member descendant in South Africa. This set is incomplete.
 * Julius Billeter did research for many Church members with ancestors from Switzerland between the years 1896-1950 and also a few from Germany. Tens of thousands of his family group records were microfilmed, many of which date from the years 1550-1900. For the call numbers, look in the Surname Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under the family surname, or look in the Author/Title Search under Billeter, Julius.

Pedigree Charts
The Family History Library has several collections of pedigree charts submitted by members of the Church.


 * Pedigree Charts Submitted to the Church Record Archives (Indexed), 1924–1962 These charts go with the family group record forms submitted to the Patron Section from 1924 to 1962. The card index lists every name shown on the pedigree charts with code numbers you can use to find the person on the appropriate pedigree chart. The index number at the bottom of each index card consists of the binder number, the chart number within that binder, and the person’s number on the chart


 * . Pedigree Charts Submitted to the Church Record Archives (Alphabetized), 1962, 1965 This source is actually two collections of pedigree charts. In each section the pedigrees are arranged alphabetically by the name of the first person on each chart. No index to the other names on the charts is available.


 * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Record Examining Department. Pedigree Charts, Submitted to the Record Examining Department, 1942–1969.

Research Department Patron Files

 * Research Department Patron Files, ca. 1928–1966, and Indexes starting on From 1928–1966, the Genealogical Department conducted paid research for Latter-day Saints. These files contain correspondence, documents, pedigree charts, and family group records. This collection includes files as of 1966. They are arranged by the name of the person requesting the research. Check the files carefully because a requestor’s name may appear on several different films.

You can quickly find all the listings for a requestor using the FamilySearch FamilySearch Catalog (compact disc edition).


 * 1) Use the Computer Number Search to find 7336
 * 2) Tap the F3 key. This brings up a "Find Word" search screen.
 * 3) Tap the space bar once to add a blank before the surname.
 * 4) Type the requestor’s surname and put a comma after it, and then tap enter. The computer will move to that surname.
 * 5) Sometimes a requestor’s name appears in more than one place, so keep tapping F3 and enter until you come to the end of the file. For common surnames, add a letter or two of the first name.

There are also several other specialized indexes which are not easy to use. For instructions read the introduction in this outdated register:


 * Register of Research Department Patron Files . Includes directions on how to use the special indexes to the files.

For further information see also Research Department Patron Files 1928 to 1966.

Proxy Baptisms
Baptisms for the dead are one of the better sources to use to extend the pedigree of a member who was alive anytime before 1958. Proxy baptisms usually show several relatives being baptized at the same time.

Look through the records you already have about your family. Search your family group records, the Ordinance Index, the Ancestral File, and the Pedigree Resource File to find proxy baptisms. Then look up the original proxy baptism records. Old baptism records will list who the heir is and give his relationship to the deceased.

Heir indexes to proxy baptisms list the name of the heir and each page where temple work for the heir’s ancestors can be found. Remember to check indexes that cover several time periods in the same temple, and also check other temples that were open at the same time.

For more information see the "Heir Indexes" part of the "Temple Records" page.

Genealogical Surveys
Genealogical surveys were two-or four-page forms. The forms requested biographical information about the person and his or her children, brothers, sisters, parents, and ancestors.


 * Genealogical Surveys of LDS Members: Autobiographies and Ancestors These are indexed in the Early Church Information File.


 * Ogden Stake Relief Society. Genealogical Charts and Biographical Sketches of Members of the L.D.S. Church The records are arranged by ward and then alphabetized by married surname. These are indexed in the Early Church Information File.


 * Personal Histories, ca. 1917 These forms were filled out by members in the Utah Stake in Utah County, Utah. These are indexed in the Early Church Information File.


 * Records &amp; Historical Sketches of Residents of Davis County, Utah These forms were filled out by members in Davis County, Utah. These are indexed in the Early Church Information File.

Genealogical surveys for other areas are listed in the Subject Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under


 * MORMONS — BIOGRAPHY