Every recreational activity, whether it is a sport such as golf or a hobby such as genealogy, has certain fundamental elements that must be understood and practiced. Without mastering these fundamentals, an individual cannot expect to have much success with the activity.

When it comes to genealogy, birth records are among the most basic elements of the hobby. These records constitute the very fabric from which generational links are determined, and they are the foundation upon which an entire research project is based. Birth records, along with marriage and death records, are three of the most important records for genealogical research. They are known as vital records. Every researcher should be proficient in the use of these records.

Birth records have been around for centuries. Unfortunately, they have not been kept continuously nor have they been kept uniformly. For the most part, Western European countries began recording births for the general population (royal families were always well-documented) in the sixteenth century. These recordings were usually a responsibility of the church that was predominant in a particular area. Many of these early birth records, however, have not survived.

In the United States, it wasn't until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that birth records were kept consistently by civil government. Even then, there is no guarantee that these more modern records are available.

The farther back in time your research takes you, the less likely that you...

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