How to Use Microfiche Records for Genealogy Research

Every one leaves behind a trail of records: birth, baptismal, census, military, marriage, land ownership, death and burial. Combing through these records can provide key information about your ancestors. Because of the large volume of records, many have been converted to microfilm and microfiche for easier storage. Here's how to find these records and the information that you can extract from them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Microfilm/microfiche
• Microfilm/microfiche reader (available at local library)

Finding the Records

1. Visit the local library. Most libraries have microfilm or microfiche copies of local newspapers; those with dedicated genealogy sections also feature U.S. Census records, state census records, plat maps and cemetery indexes.
2. Contact your county or state historical society. They may have or can obtain for you archived county or state records, as well as provide access to a wider range of newspaper records.
3. Pay a call to your local Mormon Family History Center. In addition to census records, they can provide you with access to ships' passenger lists and other records not available from the local library. Many of their records, however, must be ordered from their central library in Salt Lake City, so expect a delay from when you place a request.
4. Order microfilm and microfiche records from a reputable genealogy site, such as Cyndi's List. If uncertain of what records you need, post a request for advice on a genealogy forum.

Extracting the Information

5. Mine census records for ancestors' names, approximate years of birth, native countries of birth and occupation. State census records also can give details on farm acreage and crops and livestock raised for farm families.
6. Comb through ship's passenger lists for the name of the vessel your ancestors came over on, their point of departure and their occupation in the home country. Look also for the names of family members who traveled with them.
7. Review cemetery records for dates of birth and death, as well as to find where in the cemetery your ancestor is buried.
8. Consult church records for baptism, confirmation, marriage and death records. Baptismal records include the child's name and date of birth as well as the parents' and sponsors' names.
9. Obtain obituaries from newspapers, from which you can extract details of how your ancestor lived and what he accomplished in life. You also can comb through a series of newspapers to build a narrative of how your ancestors lived from day to day; old small-town newspapers were often more like newsletters.
10. Get information about your ancestors' military careers from their service records. If they didn't serve in the military, but were of draft age during wartime, you also can extract information from their draft cards.
11. Read plat maps and land ownership records to learn where your ancestors lived in relation to others and how they lived. Coordinate this information with state census records where possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Most libraries will let you use their microfilm and microfiche readers with microforms you bring in from outside. They can also assist you with using their readers.
• Many of these records have now been digitized and can be searched electronically on websites such as Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online. Some records, however, have yet to be converted to microfilm or microfiche.
• Document your findings as you go. Be sure to credit your sources for family information as much as possible.
• Always try to corroborate information from multiple sources. Do not assume that information about someone with the name of your ancestor is necessarily that ancestor.
• Be aware that name spellings were not consistent throughout history. Your ancestor's name may be spelled differently in different sources--and sometimes differently within the same source!