Step-by-Step Georgia Research, 1880-Present

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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :


 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
 * Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.

 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.=== Using clues to lead to census record searches. ===
 * Here is the 1930 census record for Doris Kennedy.
 * She is the daughter of Ollie Mae Bethel, and was born in 1923 in Georgia.
 * Her mother appears to have remarried to a Fred Bethel.
 * In 1930, Fred and Ollie Mae are living in her parents' home, Ollie Mae is the daughter of M.M. and Naomi Ryals.
 * Doris Kennedy has a sister, Beatrice, age 9.
 * Hopefully, the 1920 census will show Ollie Mae's first husband, a Mr. Kennedy.


 * Here in 1920, the census shows that Ollie May Ryals Bethel Kennedy's first husband was Henry G. Kennedy. He was born in 1895 in Georgia.

'''Here in the 1910 census, Henry G. Kennedy is listed as living in the home of his widowed mother, Eugenia. '''Here is the Kennedy family in the 1900 census. Eugenia Kennedy is already widowed by 1900, so the record does not show the name of Henry G. Kennedy's father. She does have children over the age of 10, and she would have appeared with her husband in the 1890 census. Unfortunately, that census was destroyed.'''



Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
- For more information, see Georgia Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or even towns in some states recorded births, marriages, and deaths. In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations. A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents. Example of an index entry.

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.

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How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
 * Online databases
 * Writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
 * Purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Georgia Counties.

Order Certificates from Georgia Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for Georgia Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Georgia, see How to Find Georgia Birth Records, How to Find Georgia Marriage Records, and How to Find Georgia Death Records.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Obituaries

 * 1763-2003 Georgia Newspaper Archives 1763-2003 at GenealogyBank — index & images
 * 1930-Current U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 2001-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Georgia Digitized Newspapers at Chronicling America — index & images
 * Georgia Historic Newspapers Information at Digital Library of Georgia — index & images ($)
 * Georgia Newspapers and Periodicals at Ancestry — index ($)
 * Georgia Online Historical Newspapers at Google Sites — index
 * Newspaper and Funeral Home Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * United States Obituary Notices at Findmypast — index ($)

Cemeteries

 * 1933-1990 U.S., Tennessee Valley Cemetery Relocation Files, 1933-1990 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * BillionGraves — index & images
 * at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
 * FindaGrave — index & images
 * at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * Georgia Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Georgia Death Records and Georgia Cemetery Records at Interment — index
 * Georgia Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Archives
 * Online Georgia Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at


 * 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
 * 1962-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index


 * If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

For more information, see Georgia Obituaries and Georgia Cemeteries.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.



'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Georgia Military Records.
 * 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Step 6: Look for church records.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch

 * 1754-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1808-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1828-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Ancestry.com

 * 1754-1960 Georgia, U.S., Select Births and Christenings, 1754-1960 at Ancestry — index ($)

Dutch Reformed

 * 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

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 * For help with church records kept in Georgia, see Georgia Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.



Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * 1733-Current Georgia Archives Records at Georgia Archives — index & images
 * 1742-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1742-1992 Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Georgia county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Georgia Counties

For more information, see Georgia Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.



Georgia Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records


 * 1733-1783 The Germans of Colonial Georgia, 1733-1783 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1890-1924 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1895-1964 U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1904-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1904-1962 Georgia, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1904-1962 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1906-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Georgia Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records


 * 1790-1910 Savannah, Georgia, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1790-1910 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1794-1993 Georgia, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1794-1993 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

- For more information, see Georgia Emigration and Immigration and Georgia Naturalization and Citizenship.

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Georgia; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"


 * Google Books. Use keywords "Georgia" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * County and Town Histories
 * Internet Archive. Use keywords "Georgia" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Georgia and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.


 * Biographical Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida Chicago: F. A. Battey and Company, 1889. Online at:  HathiTrust
 * County and Town Histories, Georgia at LearnWebSkills
 * Historical Collections of Georgia, by George White. New York: Pudney and Russell, 1855. Online at:  HathiTrust
 * Men of Mark in Georgia, by William J. Northen. Atlanta, Georgia: A. B. Caldwell, 1907. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 3 - HathiTrust; Vol. 4 - HathiTrust; Vol. 5 - HathiTrust; Vol. 6 - HathiTrust

Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
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 * Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.


 * Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society. It shows their main page, and their page explaining how research requests are handled.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Georgia, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Georgia, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Georgia Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Georgia Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Georgia Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Georgia Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Georgia.
This article focused more on Georgia state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Georgia. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.