5 Steps to Research
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5 Steps to Research
Tracing Roots Through Religious Records
by Charles Dickson, Ph.D.
To begin with, the more information you can find about your family tree, the more tools you will have to work with when you approach a genealogical society. Provided that an ancestor was active in a particular religious group you can begin by focusing in on historical repositories of that group.
The next piece of information you will need to know is the area of the county where they lived or immigrated to when first coming to America. For example, if your ancestors were Presbyterians who came to the Carolinas, the Presbyterian Church department of History in Black Mountain, North Carolina is much more likely to have some of their records than the equally good, but much further removed Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia. In other words, identifing a specific locality may help to fine tune your research.
Once you have identified a repository, you need to make contact with the Archivist. This person is usually well trained in family research mythology and can provide you with valuable leads. The more information you can give the Archivist, by mail, or preferably in person, the easier the search becomes. Thus, details like the date of arrival in an area and the ship name, if your ancestor was a new immigrant, are important. If the person was active in a religious group, the name and location of a particular congregation or parish can be helpful.
Another interesting item is name changes, particularly if your ancestors came from a non English-speaking nation. In my own Swedish tradition, for example, many Swedes came to America with the name of Skoog, but decided to change it to Wood, since Skoog is the Swedish name for wood. Knowing this may help you expand your search.
Following is a list of major religious groups in America and sources of their family records. This information represents a compilation of data from the American Library Directory, The Genealogist's Address Book, and my own research travels.
ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC
Armenian Church of North America
1201 N Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90038
Armenian Library & Museum
65 Main St., Watertown, MA 02172
Armenian Church of America
630 Second Ave., New York, NY 10016
Armenian Cultural Foundation
441 Mystic St., Arlington, MA 02174
BAPTIST
American Baptist Historical Society
1106 Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14620
Golden Gate Baptist Seminary
Seminary Dr., Mill Valley, CA 94941
Free Will Baptist Historical Collection
634 Henderson St., Mt Olive, NC 28635
Stetson University Dupont Library
Deland, FL 32720
North American Baptist Heritage Commission
1525 South Grange Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Mercer University Library
Macon, GA 30161
Southern Baptist Historical Society
901 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203
Shorter College Livingston Library
Rome, GA 30161
Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society
3120 Kennedy Rd., Janesville, WI
Bates College Ladd Library
Lewiston, ME 04241
Sanford University Library
800 Lake Shore, Birmingham, AL 35229
Andover Newton Seminary
169 Horrick Rd., Andover, MA 02159
Ouachita Baptist University
410 Ouachita, Arkadelphia, AK 71923
Baptist Gen. Conf. Archives
3949 Bethel Dr., St. Paul, MN 55112
American Baptist Seminary
2515 Hillegas, Berkley, CA 94704
Oklahoma Baptist University Mabee Library
Oklahoma City, OK 74801
Winfield College Northrop Library
McMinnville, OR 97128
Southwestern Baptist Seminary
2001 Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX 76122
University of Richmond Boatwright Library
Richmond, VA 23172
New Orleans Baptist Seminary
41101 Seminary, New Orleans, LA 70126
BRETHREN
Church of the Brethren Library
1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
McPherson College Miller Library
McPherson, KS 67460
Messiah College Library
Grantham, PA 17027
Juniata College
18th & Moore, Huntington, PA 16652
Church of the Brethren Library
2710 Kingston, York, PA 17402
CATHOLIC
American Catholic Historical Society
PO Box 84, Philadelphia, PA 19105
Diocese of Tucson Library
880 E 22nd, Tucson, AZ 85710
Diocese of Fresco Library
1510 North Fresco, Fresco, CA 93703
National Czech & Slovack Museum
30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington DC 20013
Loyola University Library
6525 N Sheridan, Chicago, IL 60626
Loyola University Library
6363 St Charles, New Orleans, LA 70118
Boston College Library
Chesnut Hill, Boston, MA 02167
College of the Holy Cross
College St., Worchester, MA 01610
St. Paul Seminary
Ireland St., St Paul, MN 55105
Kenrick Seminary
7800 Kenrick Rd., St. Louis, MO 63119
St. Anselm College Library
Manchester, NH 03102
Seton Hall University
McLaughlin Library Society, Orange, NJ 02079
St. Bonaventure University Library
Olean, NY 14778
Slovenian Heritage Library
211 East Mesa Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004
St. Vincent College Library
Latrobe, PA 15650
Villanova University Falvey Library
Villanova, PA 19085
Providence College Phillips Library
Providence, RI 02918
Texas Catholic Historical Society
16th & Congress, Austin, TX 78711
St Michael's College
56 College Pkwy., Winooski, VT 05404
St. Francis Seminary Library
3257 S. Lake, Milwaukee, WI 53207
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
Center for Restoration Studies Abilene Christian University
Box 29429, Abilene, TX 79699
Pepperdine College Central Library
Malibu, CA 90265
Churches/Disciples of Christ Historical Society
1101 19th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37234
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
Disciples of Christ Historical Society
1101 19th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212-2196
Christian Theological Seminary
1000 W 42nd, Indianapolis, IN 48267
Northwest Christian College
828 E 11th, Eugene, OR 97401
Abilene Christian University
1600 Campus St., Abiline, TX 79699
Texas Christian University
TCU Station, Ft. Worth, TX 76129
EPISCOPAL
Church Historical Society
606 Ratherview, Austin, TX 78768
Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Mt. St. Albans, Washington DC 20016
Seabury Western Theological Seminary
2121 Sheridan, Evanston, IL 60201
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Obe Joy St., Boston, MA 02108
General Theological Seminary
175 9th Ave., New York, NY 10011
University of South Dupont Library
Sewanee, TN 37375
Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
111 Torcado, San Antonio, TX 78209
Nashotah House Seminary Library
Nashotah, WI 53058
EASTERN ORTHODOX
Orthodox Church in America
6850 Northern Blvd., Syosset, NY 11791
Greek Archdiocese
10 E 79th St., New York, NY 10021
Antiochain Orthodox Church
358 Montana Rd., Englewood, NJ 07631
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church
312 Garfield St., Johnstown, PA 15906
Hellenic College Library
50 Goddard Ave., Brookline, MA 02146
Holy Trinity Orthodox Library
Jordanville, NY 13361
St. Vladimires Seminary Library
Tuckahoe, NY 10707
EVANGELICAL MISSION COVENANT
North Park College Library
5125 N Spaulding, Chicago, IL 60625
Evangelical Covenant Library
1260 Jefferson, Muskegon, MI 49441
JEWISH
Brandies-Bardin Institute
Brandeis, CA 93064
Hebrew Union College
3077 University Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90007
Hebrew Theological College
7135 Carpenter, Skokie, IL 60077
American Jewish Historical Society
2 Thorton Rd., Waltham, MA 02154
Hebrew Union College
3101 Clifton, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Dropsie College Library
Broadand York, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Center for Jewish Genealogy
618 S Michigan, Chicago, IL 60605
World Jewish Genealogy
Box 190420, Brooklyn, NY 11219
Southern Jewish Historical Assn.
Valdosta State College, Valdosta, GA 31698
New York Public Library-Jewish Division
Room 84 5th Ave. & 42nd St., New York, NY 10018
LATTER DAY SAINTS
Ricks College Learning Resources Center
Rexburg, ID 83440
Graceland College Smith Library
Lamoni, IA 50140
Reorganized Church of LDS
1001 N. Walnut, Independence, MO 64051
Family History Library of LDS
35 N West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Brigham City Library
26 E Forest, Brigham City, UT 84302
Brigham Young University
Brigham Hill, Provo, UT 84602
Salt Lake City Public Library
709 E 5th, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Utah State Historical Society
300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Early Mormon Research Institute
PO Box 2650, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
Pioneer Genealogy Society
PO Box 11488, Salt Lake City, UT 84147
LUTHERAN
Luther College Preus Library
Decorah, IA 52101
Grand View College
1351 Grandview Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316
Finnish American Archives
601 Quincey, Hancock, MI 49930
Concordia College
Ylvisaker Library, Moorhead, MN 56560
Evangelical Lutheran Church Of America
9765 W Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Historical Institute
2929 N. Mayfair, Milwaukee, WI 53222
Muhlenberg College Haas Library
Allentown, PA 18104
Lutheran Theological Seminary Wentz Library
Gettysburg, PN 17325
Thiel College Lagenheim Library
Greenville, PN 16125
Lutheran Theological Seminary
7301 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19117
Gustavus Adolphus Bernadotte Library
St Peter, MN 56082
Augusta College Mikkelsen Library
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
MENNONITE
Mennonite Historical Society
2215 Mill Stream Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601
Goshen College Library
1700 S Main, Goshen, IN 46526
Fresno Pacific library
1717 S Chesnut, Fresco, CA 93702
Associated Mennonite Seminary
3003 Benham, Elkhart, IN 46517
Eastern Mennonite University Library
Harrison, VA 22801
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies
400 S Jefferson, Hillsboro, KS 67053
Mennonite Heritage Museum
200 N Poplar St., Goessel, KS 67053
Mennonite Library and Archives
300 E 27th St. North, Newton, KS 67117
METHODIST
General Commission on Archives and History
36 Madsison Ave., Madison, NJ 07940
World Methodist Council
39 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
Huntington College Library
1500 E Fairview, Montgomery, AL 36106
Iliff School of Theology Taylor Library
Denver, CO 80210
Florida Southern College Roux Library
Lakeland, FL 33802
Emory University Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
Garrett Theological Seminary
2121 Sheridan, Evanston, IL 60201
Centenary College Magel Library
Shreveport, LA 71134
Albion College Library
Stockwell & Mudd, Albion, MI 49224
Hamline University Bushman Library
St. Paul, MN 55104
Central Methodist College Smiley Library
Fayette, MO 65248
Roberts Wesleyan College
2301 West Side, Rochester, NY 14624
Pfeiffer College Library
Misenheimer, NC 28109
Baldwin Wallace College Ritter Library
Berea, OH 44017
Allegheny College
North Main St., Meadville, PA
Southern Methodist University Library
Dallas, TX 75275
Emory and Henry College Library
Emory, VA 24327
Methodist Historical Center
326 New St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
MORAVIAN
Moravian Historical Society
214 E Center St., Nazareth, PA 18064
Salem College Granley Library
Salem Square, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Gnadenhutten Public Library
160 N Walnut St., Gradhutten, OH 44624
Moravian College Library
Main and Elizabeth St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
Tuscarawas Genealogical Society
310 Grant Street, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
The Moravian Heritage Society
31910 Road 160, Visala, CA 93292
NAZARENE
Church of Nazarene Archives
6401 Paseo Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64131
Northwest Nazarene College Riley Library
Nampa, ID 83651
Olviat Nazarene College Benner Library
Kankakee, IL 60901
Nazarene Theological Seminary
1700 E Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64101
PRESBYTERIAN
Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard St., Philadelphia, PA 19147
Columbia Theologial Seminary
701 Columbia Dr., Atlanta, GA 30031
Hanover College Duggan Library
Hanover, IN 47243
Louisville Presbyterian Seminary
144 Alta Vista, Louisville, KY 40202
Belhaven College Hood Library
Jackson, MS 39202
Princeton University Library
Princeton, NJ 08540
Geneva College McCartney Library
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Erskine College Library
Due West, SC 29639
United Theological Seminary Library
4301 Brook Rd., Richmond, VA 23227
Presbyterian Church USA Department of History
318 Georgia Terrace, Montreat, NC 28757
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Friends Historical Society Swathmore College
Swathmore, PA 19081
Whittier College Warman Library
Whittier, CA 90608
William Penn College Wilcox Library
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
Friends University
2100 University Ave., Wichita, KS 67213
Malone College
515 25 St. NW, Canton, OH 44709
Wilmington College Watson Library
Wilmington, OH 45177
George Fox College Shanbaugh Library
Newburg, OR 97132
Friends General Conference
1216 Arch St. 2B, Philadelphia, PA 19107
National Society, Descendants of Early Quakers
111 Webster Park Ave., Columbus, OH 43214
REFORMED
Historical Foundation of Presbyterian & Reformed Church
Montreal, NC 28757
Historical Society of the Reformed Church of America
21 Seminary Pl., New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Northwestern College
Gaisler Center, Pella, IA 50219
Central College
3207 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Hope College Van Zoern Library
Holland, MI 49423
Western Theological Seminary
85 E 13th, Holland, MI 49423
Huguenot Historical Society
18 Brodhead, New Paltz, NY 12561
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army Southern Historical Center
1032 Stewart Ave. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
The Salvation Army Western Territorial Museum
30840 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
SCHWENKFELDER
Schwenkfelder Library
1 Seminary St., Pennsburg, PA 18073
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
Oakwood College Dyke Library
Huntsville, AL 35896
Pacific Union University Nelson Library
Angwin, CA 94508
Loma Linda University Webb Library
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Aurora College
347 S Gladstone, Aurora, IL 60507
General Conference
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904
SHAKER
Shaker Heritage Society
1848 Shaker Meeting House Rd., Albany, NY 12211
Shaker Historical Society
16740 S Park, Shaker Heights, OH 44120
Shaker Heights Public Library
3450 Lee Rd., Shaker Heights, OH 44122
United Society of Shaker Library
Sabbathday Bay, Poland Springs, ME 04211
SWEDENBORGIAN
Swedenborgian Library
79 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116
Urbana College
College Way, Urbana, OH 43078
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Washburn University Mabee Library
Washburn, KS 86621
American Congressional Association
14 Beacon St., Boston, MA
Harvard University Library
Cambridge, MA 02138
Yale University Library
120 High St., New Haven, CT 06520
Doane College Parkins Library
Crete, NE 6833
Eden Theological and Reformed Historical Society
555 West James St., Lancaster, PA 17603
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
Unitarian Universalist Association Archives
25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108
Some closing notes: When conducting your investigation you must be aware of the fact that there are often numerous specific groups under each of the larger headings. For example, there are two different groups of Latter Day Saints, at least six bodies of Eastern Orthodox, and several dozen sections of Baptists. Don't neglect the resources that many individual congregations and synagogues maintain on their own families as well.
America has a rich treasury of family history documents. Those willing to make the effort to discover more about their backgrounds may find the search most rewarding.
Happy Hunting!
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