Have You Checked Your IGI Lately?



It is always important to revisit certain databases as you progress in your family research. For several reasons, first of all, you are more experienced and possibly better at looking for the right key names or places. Second, most databases are continually being added to over the years. So if you have not searched on a certain family branch or individual using a database you had used one or more years ago, you do need to go back again.

A good example is the IGI – the International Genealogical Index which is available online with FamilySearch.org, as well as the Family History Centers run by the Church of the Latter-Day Saints across the country and the globe. This index has some 285 million individuals with their records of births-christenings and marriages. Records cover from the 1500s to the 1900s and come from original or primary sources, such as church records.

The index will have a person’s name, the event such as a marriage, the parents, the spouse, the date and location. Most important included will be the source of the information. The index is just that, a brief listing, so going to the microfilm with the scanned original source can prove to be very helpful. To view the film, you would need to go to a Family History Center, However, using the online index will help narrow down your search.

Just since January 2012, thousands of new records linked to the index have become available. With just birth-christenings and marriages thee are over 775 collections of records from all over he world.

When you begin the search, whether your first time or returning visit do use the ‘Community Indexed IGI’, this will be sourced from actual records. The other choice is ‘Community Contributed IGI’ which has data submitted by fellow family researchers. Go with the indexed material and then look over the contributed information, but never use that as your sole source.

So see what new information you can locate using the IGI.

Image:  The IGI listing of a 1865 birth and 1866 christening.

< Return To Blog Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!
28/09/12


I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
28/09/12




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