Selected Federal Publications of Interest to Genealogists  Collections of federal publications are often referred to as “Federal Documents” but include only published items rather than individual records and manuscripts. However, some groups of records and biographies have been published and the Law and Research Library's Federal Publications' Collection includes Congressional and federal agency publications on a wide range of topics including topics of interest to genealogists. For more information or to access a resource, select one of the following:
Federal publications housed in the Genealogy Section
A few Federal publications are housed in the Genealogy section, for example: - The American State Papers series was published privately by authority of the U.S. Congress between 1832 and 1861. It includes records that were previously available only in manuscript format, such as land grants and claims, as well as printed executive and legislative documents. The series covers a period starting at 1789 and ends with dates varying between 1823 and 1838. The set is available on microfiche at the beginning of the CIS US Serial Set and the volumes containing land grants and claims are also available in paper behind the librarian’s desk in the Genealogy section. (SuDocs No.: Y 1.1/2:28-36). These volumes are indexed in two places:
- Grassroots of America: A Computerized Index to the American State Papers: Land Grants and Claims (1789-1837) with Other Aids to Research. Phillip W. McMullin, editor. Salt Lake City, UT: Gendex Corp., 1972. (Genealogy Call No.: 333.1 M16)
- CIS US Serial Set Index. Washington, DC: Congressional Information Service, c1975-c1997. (Law and Research Reference Call No.: 348.73 C74)
- African American Research: Records of Post-Civil War Federal Agencies at the National Archives. Reginald Washington, compiler. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2001. (Housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 929.1 B627)
- Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790-1900. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1909. (SuDocs No.: C 3.2:P 81 but housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 312 U58) Includes maps.
- Civil War Manuscripts: A Guide to Collections in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1986. (SuDocs No.: LC 4.2:C 49 and also housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No.: 973.78 L69)
- Generations Past: A Selected List of Sources for Afro-American Genealogical Research. Sandra M. Lawson, compiler. Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1988. (SuDocs No.: LC 1.12/2:AF 8/4 and also housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 929.1 A25L)
- A Guide to Pre-Federal Records in the National Archives. Howard H. Wehmann, compiler; revised by Benjamin L. De Whitt. Washington: DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1989. (Housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 016.973 W 41)
- Hoskins, Janina W. Polish Genealogy and Heraldry: An Introduction to Research. Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1987. (Housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 929.3438 H35)
- Lavender, David Sievert. The Overland Migrations: Settlers to Oregon, California, and Utah. Washington, DC: National Park Service, 1980. (Housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 979.02 L39)
- Spanish Name Book. [Washington, DC]: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Nationalization Service, [1973]. (Housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 929.4 S73)
- The Territorial Papers of the United States. Washington: DC: Government Printing Office, 1934- . (SuDocs No.: S 1.36:1-28 but housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 973.08 T32 V. no.) This is a collection of papers and correspondence from selected territorial governments.
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1901. Includes an index. (SuDocs No.: W 45.5 but housed in the Genealogy Section under Call No: 973.7 U58W)
top of page Examples of federal publications of interest to genealogists - Directories and lists of members of Congress, civil service personnel, military personnel and pensioners
- Annual Register United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 1913-1947. (SuDocs No.: N 12.5:yr.)
- Army Register, 1951-1976. (SuDocs No.: D 102.9:yr.; earlier see: W 3.11:yr. and M 108.8:yr.)
- Congressional Directory. (SuDocs No.: Y 4.P 93/1.1/congress)
- List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883. 47th Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Executive Document 84. (CIS US Serial Set on microfiche)
- Official Army Register, 1908-16, 1922, 1924-47. Includes officers only and is arranged by service unit. (SuDocs No.: W 3.11:yr.; later see: M 108.8:yr. and D 102.9:yr.)
- Official Army and Air Force Register, 1948-50. (SuDocs No.: M 108.8:yr.; later see: D 102.9:yr.; earlier see: W 3.11:yr.)
- Official Register of the United States, 1933-1959. (SuDocs No.: CS I.31:yr.; earlier see: C 3:10:yr. (1895-1932, irregular))
- Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 1950-1970. (SuDocs No.: D 208.12:yr.; earlier see: N 1.10:yr. and M 206.10:yr.)
- Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on Active Duty, 1971-1985. (SuDocs No.: D 208.12:yr.; later on microfiche)
- State Summary of War Casualties [Arizona]. U.S. Navy casualties from Arizona during World War II. (SuDocs No.: N 1.34:Ar4I)
- Guides and forms
- Family Ties in England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland: Sources for Genealogical Research. (SuDocs No.: LC 1.2:F 21)
- Military Operations of the Civil War: A Guide-Index to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1861-1865. (SuDocs No: GS 4.21:V.1-5)
- Plant a Family Tree. (SuDocs No.: P 1.2:F 21)
- Records Relating to Personal Participation in World War II: Military Awards and Decorations. (SuDocs No.: AE 1.124:92)
- Using Maps in Genealogy. (pdf) (SuDocs No.: I 19.2:G 29/28)
- Histories, biographies and bibliographies
- Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. (SuDocs No.: I 20.1:yr.)
- The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge. (SuDocs No.: D 114.7:AR 2)
- Breaking Codes, Breaking Barriers: The WACs of the Signal Security Agency, World War II. (SuDocs No.: D 101.2:C 64)
- Carl T. Hayden: Late Senator from Arizona: Memorial Addresses and Tributes in the Congress of the United States. (SuDocs No.: Y 7.1:H 324/1972)
- The Era of the Civil War, 1820-1876. This is a bibliography. (SuDocs No.: D 114.14:11/2)
- Naval Documents of the American Revolution. (SuDocs No.: D 207.12:9-)
top of page Examples of federal records, guides and directories on the web - Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Certificates
- Casualties by State - Korean and Vietnam War
- Census Records - Unites States
- AIS Census Indexes on Ancestry.com
URL: http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/ais/main.aspx - Civil War Records - United States
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
URL: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/ This system is hosted by the National Park Service and is a database of basic facts about servicemen who served on both sides during the Civil War. The information comes from 6.3 million soldier records in the National Archives. - Death Records - Social Security
- Social Security Death Index
- Geographic Names
- History of the United States
- Immigration and Naturalization Records
- Castle Garden: America's First Immigration Center
URL: http://www.CastleGarden.org/
This site offers free access to information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. Over 73 million Americans can trace their ancestors to this early immigration period. - Ellis Island records: American Family Immigration History Center
URL: http://www.ellisisland.org/
This site offers access to the millions of records about people who passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924 including: passenger names, dates of arrival, ships of travel, age on arrival, and more. - Library of Congress
- Local History and Genealogy Reading Room
URL: http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/lhgcoll.html
The Library of Congress has one of the world's premier collections of U.S. and foreign genealogical and local historical publications. This is a gateway to information about the collections and resources available. - National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
- Personnel Records - U. S. Military and Civilian
- National Personnel Records Center
URL: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/index.html
This site provides information about accessing U.S. military and federal civilian personnel records. top of page Additional resources
Federal Depository Libraries around the country have created finding aids to help their clients understand the breadth of the resources available in Federal publicationss collections. For example: top of page Updated: 03/16/2009 |
