Document Archive Index

Document Archive Index

Finding Records That Support Family History

This index provides organized access to the types of documents used throughout MyCousins.org. Records are grouped by category to help visitors understand what evidence exists and how it is used.

Not every family appears in every record type. Absence can be as informative as presence.

Vital and Family Records

  • Birth records
  • Marriage records
  • Death records
  • Baptisms, confirmations, and burials

These records help establish family relationships and timelines.

Census and Household Records

  • Federal and state census schedules
  • Household listings over time
  • Occupation and residence data

Census records provide snapshots of families at regular intervals and often reveal change over time.

Immigration and Legal Records

  • Passenger lists and arrival records
  • Naturalization papers
  • Border crossings and residency documents

These records help explain movement, identity, and changes in nationality.

Land, Military, and Probate Records

  • Land deeds and property transfers
  • Military service and draft registrations
  • Wills, estates, and probate files

These documents often provide insight into economic status, service, and family relationships.

Photographs and Personal Materials

  • Family photographs
  • Letters and correspondence
  • Personal documents and artifacts

Personal materials add human detail and context to formal records.

How to Use This Index

This index is intended as a guide. Individual records and collections are linked from family pages, exhibits, and topic discussions across the site.

Visitors are encouraged to explore records in context and consider how multiple sources work together.