The Catholic Church has been keeping key vital records of religious ceremonies and events for hundreds of years. Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and other events have been well documented and serve as key vital records in genealogical research. Local parishes keep most of the records associated with these key events. However, diocesan archives keep records which can help the researcher find the local parishes, as well as other Catholic institutions, such as schools and hospitals. Other records held by the diocesan may include diocesan newspapers, parish and institutional histories, records from closed churches, and more.
U.S. Catholic Sources: A Diocesan Research Guide, compiled by Virginia Humling, provides information on addresses, contact information, and briefly outlines the holdings and research policies for each. Geographical boundaries for every diocese and archdiocese in the country are also included. This handbook is broken down by state, listed alphabetically, making finding the diocese nearest your ancestor’s home as easy as can be.
The introduction to the book discusses the types of records the researcher may find and what information the records may contain.
Get a copy of U.S. Catholic Sources: A Diocesan Research Guide from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TP604.