There is a very good chance that somewhere in your family’s past you have Catholic ancestors. If so, then a small, green handbook compiled some years ago by the Indiana Historical Society may be just the little treasure you need to finding and using those Catholic records.
The Catholic Church has been keeping records for hundreds of years. Key records which often provide vital family data include baptisms, confirmations, marriages, event records, and more. This guide is a primer to understanding and finding these records. The booklet contains three parts, as follows:
- Genealogical Use of Catholic Records in North America; by Monsignor John J. Doyle – Archivist and Historian of the Indianapolis Diocese
- Genealogical Research In Protestant and Catholic Church Records in Ireland; by Donna Hotaling
- A List of References for Catholic Research
These documents were papers given for the family history sessions at the annual meeting of the Indiana Historical Society, November 5th, 1977. This booklet was first printed in 1978 and reprinted in 1992. Though small and relatively old, this short booklet provides a great starting point to accessing Catholic records.
For under $5, you get get your own copy of this booklet on Catholic Records from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: IHS018. The guide is a great companion to U.S. Catholic Sources: A Diocesan Research Guide, also available from Family Roots Publishing.