American Genealogical Biographical Index - AGBI

The American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI) is one of the most important printed genealogical sources in the United States. Also known as "Rider's Index," it is an every-name index (excluding authors and witnesses) to over 800 printed genealogies and other compiled sources housed at the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, Connecticut. The collection spans more than 100,000 pages and 200 printed volumes.

Historically, circulation of AGBI has been limited to a few hundred libraries, but a partnership forged in 2007 between the Godfrey Memorial Library and FamilySearch made the collection available for free through LDS Family History Centers.

Each entry of AGBI has the following parts:


 * Surname
 * First names
 * Birth year
 * State of residence
 * Biographical data
 * Citation

All sources cited within AGBI are housed at Godfrey Memorial Library. Patrons can access these cited sources by making an AGBI search request. Submitted names are searched and photocopies of the pages on which they appear are made by the library's staff or volunteers. The AGBI Order Form is available at the library's web site. To make a request by email, send your request to library@godfrey.org and include the words "AGBI Request" in the subject line.