International Genealogical Index

Historical Background


The International Genealogical Index was a family history computer file that listed several hundred million names of deceased persons from throughout the world. For each deceased individual, the index also listed 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.

Some of the information in the index was extracted from collections of vital and church records from the early 1500s to 1885. Extracted records are valuable sources of primary information. Strict rules against duplication from extracted records unfortunately resulted in the exclusion of some records.

Some of the information in the index was submitted by members of the Church about their ancestors. Loose rules for member submissions made duplicate records and inconsistent information common. The information is secondary and should be considered suspect. Always verify member submitted information against sources of primary information.

IGI Replacement
The latest FamilySearch.org website separates extracted records from member submissions so users will not confuse the two.

Member submissions were moved into the new FamilySearch tree and can be searched together with other user submissions.

Extracted records were separated into historical record collections according to geography. These records can be searched separately or together with other indexed collections.

While typically undesirable, it is still possible to search by batch number. See "New IGI Batch Number Search" a 24 May 2011 article on FamilySearch.org.

Ancestry Insider Blog Series

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

Old Versions of the IGI
The IGI is no longer available online so the following articles have little application. They are listed here because they are still applicable to the IGI as published on fiche and CD-ROM.


 * 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
 * Global Batch Numbers for the International Genealogical Index (link library for IGI batch sites for Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Channel Islands, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, USA, Uruguay, and Wales)
 * 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)