Understanding Church Records

Types of Church Records

  • Baptism/Birth Records
  • Marriage Records
  • Death/Burial Records
  • Confirmation Records
  • Family Registers

Denominations

  • Roman Catholic
  • Lutheran/Protestant
  • Reformed/Calvinist
  • Jewish Records
  • Orthodox Christian

Reading Church Records

  • Understanding Latin terminology
  • Gothic script interpretation
  • Common abbreviations
  • Record formats by region

Access and Archives

  • Diocesan Archives
  • State Archives
  • Online Databases
  • FamilySearch Collections
  • Regional Church Archives