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#3 of FamilySearch’s Top 10 Most Searched Record Collections

2/1/2015

 

Collection #3- US Public Records Index,1970–2009
We encourage you to read and view all 10 of these Most Searched Record Collections
We have added instructions on how to find this article again in FamilySearch - below. 

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January 21, 2015 By Alivia L. Whitaker

The United States Public Records, 1970–2009 collection is the third most searched collection on the FamilySearch.org website. The public records index is a valuable tool that researchers should never overlook. It is an index of names, birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, and possible relatives of people who resided in the United States between 1970 and 2010.

According to the FamilySearch wiki article “United States, Public Records,” “In the United States, public records comprise an important class of genealogical sources. Public records are most often records collected and subsequently released by . . .

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local, state, and federal government agencies. Many genealogists are familiar with public records such as the federal censuses and the Social Security Death Index. Other types of public records exist and often go underutilized by genealogists.”

This collection is an index of names, birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, and possible relatives of people who resided in the United States between 1970 and 2010. Not everyone who lived in the United States during this time will appear in the index. These records were generated from:

  • Telephone directories
  • Property tax assessments
  • Credit applications
  • Other records available to the public.
Birth information may be included for those residents born primarily between 1900 and 1990.

These records a gold mine of genealogical and family history information. They help in many ways to shape a family tree. For example, you can find the trail of a relative through various home addresses. These markers along a relative’s timeline might also provide leads to other useful information, such as the names of other family members and related records, which ultimately help unravel the history and life of an individual.

Mark Hamp, the project manager for the United States Public Records Index, 1970–2009, collection on FamilySearch.org, recently said: “This collection is especially important to those new to family history research. It can be a great starting point to help someone find missing relatives. This information could then help them find other family members.”

He added, “These records are for living individuals who have resided in the United States between about 1970 and 2009. They were generated from telephone directories, property tax assessments, credit applications, and other records available to the public. If you don’t know where to start your genealogy, you may find a father, mother, or grandparent in the U.S. public records. The collection shows a phone number and lists addresses and dates and the names of others who resided in the same household at the time the records were created. The collection doesn’t indicate relationships, but sometimes a missing name is all you need to get started finding your ancestors and your family’s history.”

No one doing their own family history research should skip searching public records. These records have so much to offer. That’s why they are the third most searched record collection on FamilySearch.org.

 How to Locate the United States Public Records Index, 1970–2009 again in FamilySearch 
To locate the "United States Public Records Index, 1970-2009 ( a FamilySearch Collection Title), you can remember the title's link, OR learn how to find it or any other Collection Title, any time you need it by using the following 5 easy steps.


1.  Click on "Search" at the top of a FamilySearch page as shown here:
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2.  A drop-down list will open. Click on "Records."  A new page will open.

3.   On the top left of the page. see the word "Records." It is highlighted in green. 
          Look lower and to the right to see these words "Browse All Published Collections."                      Click on those words. A new page will open.
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The Collection Tiled Used Is Not the Same the topic for this article, but the instructions are still the same.
4.  In the top left of the new page, locate the box below the words "Filter by collection name."        In this box, correctly type the title of the desired collection. Next move down to  "Place."      
     Locate the best description of the "place" of your collection and click on it. Next, scan down      to "Collections," and select the closest description for your collection. If your title is     
     specific  and correct the link will probably come up under "Title." If it does not come up,          scroll through the alphabetical list to find the links you want. Click on     
     the chosen red title to open it. However, before clicking on it, consider taking a minute to          look over some of the other collections listed near your selection for possible future    
     research. 
5. You will need to know the title of the Collection you want, but if you cannot remember it  exactly type in the topic then choose a "Place" and a type of "Collection" if you can. A variety of collections that are in those parameters will then show or the specific title will come to the top. Click on the title, or Scroll down through the alphabetized listing of records and see if you can locate the one(s)  you want on others that might be of of similar help. We hope this helps.  We welcome your comments.


The FamilySearch 10 Most popular Record Collections in FamilySearch. So far we have seen: 
#1.  U.S. Census Records
#2  England Births and Christening Records, 1538-1915
#3  United States Public Records - 1970 - 2009

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