DeKalb County, Georgia Genealogy

Guide to DeKalb County, Georgia ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
DeKalb County Courthouse 1300 Commerce Drive; Decatur, GA 30030-3356 Phone: 404.371.2881 Clerk Superior Court has divorce, court and land records from 1842; Probate Court has marriage and probate records from 1842. Clerk of Superior Court 556 N. McDonough St. Judicial Tower Annex Room G-130 Decatur, GA 30030 Telephone: (404) 371-2836 Fax: (404) 371-4492 Probate Court of DeKalb County 1100 Judicial Tower 556 North McDonough Street Decatur, GA   30030 Telephone: 404 371-2718 Fax: 404-371-7055

Boundary Changes
DeKalb County was created on 9 December 1822 from portions of Fayette, Gwinnett, and Henry Counties. It gained additional land from these counties during the 1820s as well as from Newton County. DeKalb County gave up land to Campbell, Cherokee, Coweta, Fulton, Gwinnett, Milton, and Rockdale Counties throughout the 19th century.

For animated maps illustrating Georgia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Georgia County Boundary Maps" (1758-1932) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

For more information see Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries (Georgia Archives)

Record Loss
1842  The DeKalb County Courthouse burned on 9 January and all records were destroyed, except one minute book for the Superior Court, and one minute book for the Inferior Court. A handful of records recorded after the fire for pre-fire events are also available.

1916 The newer DeKalb County Courthouse burned on 13 September, but damage to records was limited thanks to a fire-proof vault.

Places/Localities

 * Cities: Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain.


 * Communities: Belvedere Park, Candler-McAfee, Druid Hills, Gresham Park, North Druid Hills, Toco Hills, Panthersville, Redan, Scottdale, Tucker, Briarcliff, Brookhaven, Collinsville, Conley, Constitution, Ellenwood, Embry Hills, Mechanicsville, Mountain View, Northlake, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Skyland, Turner Hill, Adair Park, Belmont, Carver Hills, College Heights, Columbia Park, Cross Keys, Edgewood, Emory, Flat Rock, Klondike, Kirkwood, Lenox Place, Lynwood Park, Medlock, Montreal, Nelms, Parkwood, Pea Ridge, Rehoboth, Rock Chapel, Shermantown, Silver Lake, Smokerise, Stonehaven, Sundown, Winnona Park.

Neighboring Counties
Clayton • Fulton • Gwinnett • Henry • Rockdale

African Americans

 * Register of Free Persons of Color, Freeman record (DeKalb History Center) - provides the names, ages, birth places, residences, and brief descriptions of all free African-Americans residing in DeKalb County from 1851-1864.

Cemeteries

 * DeKalb County Cemeteries (Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project) - Provides a partial list of DeKalb cemeteries along with location information and transcriptions.
 * Cemeteries Collection (DeKalb History Center) - A collection of photographs documenting approximately 40 cemeteries.
 * Cemetery Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Listing of cemetery subject files available at the DeKalb History Center.

Church Records

 * Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1854-1965 (FamilySearch) - Includes membership, baptisms, and marriages for Clarkston, Wesley Chapel, Belmont, and Tucker churches.
 * Rehoboth Baptist Church Records, 1854-1932 (Family Search) - Microfilm of original records held at the Georgia Archives.
 * Religion Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Listing of available subject files for DeKalb County churches.
 * Photograph Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Listing of available photographs of DeKalb County churches.
 * Redan United Methodist Church Records, 1894-1994 (DeKalb History Center) - Church conference and various committee records.
 * Covenant Presbyterian Church Records, 1972-1973 (DeKalb History Center) - Church bulletins and correspondence for this Clarkston, Georgia congregation.

Court

 * DeKalb County Superior Court Minutes/Book A, 1836-1843 (DeKalb History Center) - Index of all cases tried by the Superior Court during this time period, case records available at the DeKalb History Center.
 * Index of DeKalb Inferior Court Records, 1823-1859 (FamilySearch)
 * DeKalb County Minutes of Ordinary Court and Inferior Court, 1823-1901 (FamilySearch) - includes index.
 * DeKalb County Superior Court Minutes, 1836-1905 (FamilySearch) - includes index.
 * Decatur City Court Minute Books, 1923-1956(DeKalb History Center) - Incomplete records from this time period, specific dates listed in finding aid.
 * DeKalb County Civil Court Criminal Docket Book, 1957 (DeKalb History Center)
 * DeKalb County Justice of the Peace Records, 1880-1960 (DeKalb History Center) - Contains civil proceedings and criminal suits by multiple justices.
 * DeKalb County Superior Court Records, 1860-1910 (DeKalb History Center)

Land and Property
Deed books and indexes that survived the courthouse fires are available on the ground floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse in the Clerk of the Superior Court, Real Estate Division. Land records found at the courthouse date from approximately 1840 to the present, beginning with Deed Book L.


 * Deeds and mortgages, 1842-1905, with grantee and grantor index, 1840-1910 (FamilySearch)
 * DeKalb County Land Title Abstracts (DeKalb History Center) - Finding aid includes list of surnames and land lots.
 * Selected Deeds (Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project)

Local Histories

 * The history of DeKalb County, Georgia : 1822-1900 by Vivian Price - Includes maps and an index.
 * Historic DeKalb County: An Illustrated History by Vivian Price

Maps



 * Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
 * Map Collection, 1730-2004 (DeKalb History Center) - Includes Sanborn, topographical, state, city, and county maps.

Military

 * USGen Web Archives Project: Military - Includes Revolutionary War Pensioners Census, Indian Wars transcriptions, and Civil War muster rolls.

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1863 - DeKalb County, Georgia, Confederate Enlistment Index, 1861-1863 (This DeKalb History Center webpage contains a link to DeKalb County Confederate Database on Ancestry.com (free)) - Indexed by surname and lists rank and regiment.
 * 1879-1960 - Confederate Pension Applications, 1879-1960, and Confederate Pension Application Supplements, 1879-1960 (Georgia Archives) - Digitized images of applications and supporting materials. (Use Advanced Search or Browse All option.)
 * Civil War Muster List, 1861 (FamilySearch)
 * Military Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Includes muster rolls for individual regiments.
 * Confederate Veterans Pension Rolls, 1890-1931 (FamilySearch)


 * - 7th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company E
 * - 36th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Broyles') (Confederate), Company F
 * - 38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies A,D,and K
 * - 42nd Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company D
 * - 66th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies B,E,and H
 * - Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project


 * Price, Vivian. 1997. History of DeKalb County, Georgia, 1822-1900. Fernandina Beach, FL: Wolfe Pub. Co.
 * Confederate States of America. Army. Georgia Infantry Regiment, 7th, Company E. 1961. Muster list, 1861. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.
 * Georgia. Court of Ordinary (DeKalb County). 1964. Confederate veterans pension rolls, 1890-1931. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.

World War I

 * World War I Service Records, 1917-1919 (FamilySearch)
 * Military Discharge Records, 1922-1945 (FamilySearch)

Newspapers

 * Newspaper Books Collection, 1919-1995 (DeKalb History Center) - Includes the DeKalb New Era, the Decatur-DeKalb News, the Decatur-DeKalb News/Era, the DeKalb News/Sun, and the Lithonia Observer.
 * Atlanta Journal-Constitution Archives - Searchable archive covering 1868-1942, 1985-present as well as links to microfilm holdings.
 * Selected Newspaper Transcriptions (USGen Web Archives Project)

Probate Records
Online Probate Records


 * 1742–1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1742–1990 at FamilySearch.org images


 * 1841-1919 - DeKalb County, Georgia Probate Records by Jeanette Holland Austin - Includes Will Books A, B, and C covering 1841-1919 as well as Sales and Appraisements for 1852-1858.
 * 1840-1964 - Probate Records, 1840-1964 (FamilySearch) - Includes indexes; microfilmed.
 * Selected Wills &amp; Estate Records (USGenWeb Archives Project)
 * 1841-1919 - Wills and Estates 1841-1869; 1870-1889; 1890-1919 (abstracts) Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1846-1852 - Index to Deed Book L, 1846-1852 Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1850-1853 - Index to Deed Book M, 1850-1853 Georgia Pioneers ($)

Taxation

 * DeKalb County Tax Digests, 1905-1948 (DeKalb History Center) - A mostly complete collection of tax digests for this time period, many of which include Confederate Veterans lists.
 * DeKalb County Tax Digest, 1848-1850 (FamilySearch)

Vital Records
See also How to order Georgia Vital Records

Birth
Statewide registration of births in Georgia began in 1919 and was generally complied with by 1928. Birth records are available only to the individual or his legal representative. Birth records can be obtained by writing to:

Georgia Department of Human Resources Vital Records Unit 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Room 217-H Atlanta, GA 30334-1201 Telephone: 404-679-4702 Internet: Georgia Vital Records

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed at VitalRecords.com.

Atlanta birth records since 1887 are available from:

Fulton County Health Department 141 Prior Street Atlanta, GA 30303 Telephone: 404-730-4000 Internet: Fulton County Health Department

Marriage Records

 * 1699 - 1944 - Georgia Marriages 1699-1944 at Ancestry.com— index $
 * 1754 - 1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1785 - 1950 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1787 - 1962 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1808 - 1967 - at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1828 - 1978 - Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties 1828-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1808 - 1967 - (FamilySearch) - Please see Georgia Marriages for more information on this collection.
 * 1840 - 1908 - DeKalb County Marriage Books, 1840-1893 (Georgia Archives) - Digitized microfilm of marriage certificates and indexes. (Select DeKalb County from dropdown list at bottom of page, click Search)
 * 1840 - 1908 - Marriage Database Index, 1840-1908 (This DeKalb History Center webpage contains a link to DeKalb County Marriage Database on Ancestry.com (free)) - Indexed by bride and groom surnames.
 * 1840 - 1872 - DeKalb County Marriage Books A and B Index 1840-1872. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1840 - 1872 - DeKalb County Marriage Books A and B Index 1840-1872. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1872 - 1881 - DeKalb County Marriage Books C and D Index 1872-1881. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1882 - 1893 - DeKalb County Marriage Books E and F Index 1882-1893. Batch at FamilySearch - free
 * 1893 - 1895 - DeKalb County Marriage Book G Index 1893-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1885 - 1886 - (from old newspapers) Georgia Pioneers $

Death Records

 * 1914 - 1927 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images; also available from Georgia Death Certificates, 1914-1927 (Georgia Archives) - Mostly complete records that have been indexed and digitized.
 * 1919 - 1998 - Georgia Deaths 1919-1998 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1928 - 1939 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images; also available from Georgia Non-Indexed Death Certificates, 1928-1930 (Georgia Archives) - Digitized indexes and certificates that can be looked up by surname if year is known (Note also the 'Browse All' option at the top of the page).
 * 1931 - 1935 - Georgia Death Certificates, 1931-1935 (Georgia Archives) - These years have not been digitized but are available to researchers at the Georgia State Archives
 * 1933 - 1998 - at FamilySearch.org — index

Death records for 1935 to present can be obtained by writing to:

Georgia Department of Human Resources Vital Records Unit 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Room 217-H Atlanta, GA 30334-1201 Telephone: 404-679-4702 Internet: Georgia Vital Records

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed at VitalRecords.com.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * DeKalb County, GA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * DeKalb History Center - Local historical society with online databases for cemetery, marriage, land, and military records.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project - A variety of records transcribed by volunteers.
 * USGenWeb DeKalb County - Queries, lookups, mailing list, and other resources.
 * Georgia Genealogical Society
 * Georgia Archives - Records for DeKalb County are listed under Record Group 144 at the state archives.
 * Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * USGenweb DeKalb County, Georgia project
 * USGenweb DeKalb County, Georgia project