This checklist is a guide to the records you should find in the homes of your relatives or elsewhere. Circle the point beside each kind of record you have searched.

Legal Papers

Land Grants
- Wills
- Water Rights
- Abstracts of Title
- Heir and Devisee Commission
- Grantee/Grantor Indexes
- Deeds
- Mortgages
- Surveys
- Land Petitions
- Patents and Grants
- Leases
Wills/Probate
- Indexes
- Wills
- Administrations
- Inventories
- Bonds
- Settlements
- Packets
- Guardianship/Adoption
- Estate Files
- Copybooks
- Inheritance Tax
Loans
Contracts
Court and Government Records
- Dockets
- Minutes
- Orders and Decrees
- Judges Bench Books
- Quarter Session Court Judgements
- Case Files
- Indexes
- Registers
- Chancery Court Records
Court Related Records
- Summons
- Subpoenas
- Sheriff Records
- Police Records
- Jail Records
- Jury Records
- Lawyers' Briefs
- Justice of Peace Returns
Municipal Records
- Taxation Records
- Poll Taxes
- Tax Notices
- Personal Property
- Assessment/Collectors' Rolls
- Real Estate
- School
- Poor Rate
- Tax Exemption Status
- Various Other Taxation Records, specific to locality and time period

Employment Records

Apprenticeship
Indentures
Graduation
Service Citations and Awards
Severance Papers
Social Security
Retirement Papers
Pension
Union
Income Tax
Licensing
Personnel Files
Account Books
Professional Memberships
Company/Professional Organizational Histories

Church Records

Birth
Christening/Baptism
Confirmations
Blessing
Ordination
Marriage and Marriage Banns
Divorce and Annulment
Death
Burial
Circumcision
Admissions
Removals
Disciplinary Proceedings
Subscriptions Lists
Membership Lists
Ministers's Records
Meeting Minutes
Sunday School Lists

Immigration and Settlement

Passenger Lists
Naturalization
Denization
Alien Registration
Deportment
Passport
Visa
Vaccination
Change of Name
Registered Voters' Lists
Oaths of Allegiance
Logbooks
Settlement Papers
Citizenship
Customs
Border Crossing
Immigrant Aid Societies

Personal Records

Journal
Diary
Biography
Letters
Photographs
Autograph Album
Baby Book
Wedding Book
Scrapbook
Funeral Guest Book
Guest Register
Travel Diary
Book Plates
Hobbies

Family Records

Bible
Pedigrees
Family Group Sheets
Genealogies
Books of Remembrance
Family Bulletins
Family Histories
Printed Histories
Manuscript History
Local Histories
Family Traditions
"Birth Briefs"
Hobbies

Certificates

Birth
Marriage Bonds and Applications
Marriage
Marriage Licenses and Contracts
Death
Divorce and Annulment
Adoption
Graduation
Christening/Baptism
Blessing
Confirmation
Ministerial
Membership
Apprenticeship
Mission Release
Achievements
Awards

Announcements

Death
Funeral
Graduation
Divorce
Anniversary
Memorial Cards
New Job
Travel
New Home
Birthday
Professional
Engagement

Military Records

Service
Muster
Pension
Disability
Discharge
Regimental Diaries
National Guard
Selective Service
Bounty Award
Service Medals
Ribbons
Sword
Firearms
Uniform
Citations
Separation Papers
War Roster/Memorials
Award/Honour Lists

Financial Records

Accounts
Bills
Receipts
Check Stubs
Estate Records

Books

Atlases/Maps
Yearbooks
Textbooks
Prizes
Treasured Volumes
Foreign Language
Inscriptions
Bibles

Household Items

Silverware
Needlework
Sampler
Tapestries
Dishes
Friendship Quilt
Vocational
Coat-of-Arms
Insignias
Souvenirs
Clothing
Tools
Heirlooms and Engraved Jewelry
Furniture Pieces

Compiled Indexes

Births
Marriages
Deaths
International Genealogical Index (LDS)
Ancestral File (LDS)
Family Register (LDS)
Family Group Records Archives (LDS)
Temple Index Bureau (LDS)
Accelerated Index System (LDS)

Institutional Records

Insurance Reports, Policies, Claims
Hospital Records
Medical Records
Immunizations
Charities
Physicians and Midwives
Convents
Seminaries
Libraries
Schools, Colleges, Universities
Other Educational Institutions (e.g.. Ladies Finishing School)
Historical Societies
Genealogical Societies
Mission Societies
Orphan Societies
Reunion Societies
Amateur Sport Organizations
Veterans Organizations and Societies

Memberships

Cards
Publications
Programs
Uniforms
Awards
Society/Club Records
Church

School Records

Diplomas
Honor Roll
Awards
Transcripts
Yearbooks
Publications
Alumni Lists
Fraternities/Sororities

Licenses

Business
Occupation
Professional
Hunting
Firearms
Drivers
Motor Vehicle Registration

Newspaper Clippings

Announcements
- Birth
- Marriage
- Anniversary
- Death
- Burial
Obituaries
Special Events
Home Town Papers
Professional
Trade
Human Interest
Advertisements
Local News
Unclaimed Mail
Legal Notices
Probate Actions
Auctions
Forced Sales
Bankruptcies
Court Claims
Convictions

Mortuary, Cemetery, and Burial Records

Burial Records from Cemetery Offices
Sexton Records
Funeral Home Records
Monumental Inscriptions
Plats
Deeds
Perpetual Care Records
Burial Funds
Death Gifts and Memorials
Funeral Cards and Books

Other Advanced Sources

Directed Select Mass Mailings
CD-ROM Records
Internet/Intranet Resources
Knowledge of Others Connected (or Thought to be Connected ) to Subject
Personal Credit Checks

Other Printed Sources

Family Histories of Others
Census Records
Genealogies of Others
Biographies of Others
Pedigrees of Others
Ahnentafel Charts of Others
County/Local Histories
City, Telephone, and Professional Directories
Compiled Monumental Inscriptions
Genealogical Periodicals
- Indexes
- Queries
- Genealogies
- Source Extracts
- Book Reviews
- Historical Articles
- Society Newsletters
Genealogical Directories
- The Genealogical Resource Directory (Worldwide)
- The Big "R" (British)
- Various Society Surname Directories
Indexes of Private Manuscript Collections
Personal Papers of Others
Correspondence Files of Others
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Application Files
Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Application Files
United Emplire Loyalists (UEL) Application Files
Business/Society Records
Oral Histories
WPA Project Records
Official Heraldic Records