Finding Records

Guides to Finding Irish Records

Frank Smith's Inventories: This is probably the single most valuable finding aid to British Isles sources held in the Family History Library collection. Smith's Inventory of Genealogical Sources was compiled by Frank Smith and a team of researchers who searched periodicals, books, and microfilms in the Family History Library Collection and indexed the individual items found in these materials that often not been separately listed in the Family History Library Catalog. For example, the Family History Library Catalog will list the name of a periodical but will not list the individual articles contained within. Smith's Inventory will contain names of the articles. All serious researchers must use both the FHLC and Frank Smith's Inventories. Fiche 6110527.

Ireland at Your fingertips: Index of Irish Microfilms at the Family History Library indexes many will and probate records, parish registers, encumbered estate tenant lists, and more. It is on compact disc.

Richard J. Hayes, Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation: Despite its title, this source is for finding information about people in Ireland, not just about the general history of Ireland. These volumes list the location of Irish Manuscripts. The first 11 volumes are on films 1440939 - 1440943. The Index to Persons is volumes 1-4; Index to Subjects vols. 5-6; Index to Places (by county) vols. 7-8, index to Dates vols. 9-10; and Lists of Manuscripts is volume 11. There is also a Supplement to Hayes at the National Library of Ireland and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The Supplement is not on microfilm.

Richard J. Hayes, Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation: Articles in Irish Periodicals, is an excellent source to see if an article has been published about your family in an Irish periodical. This index is found on films 0973222 to 0973230.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Card Index of Names. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has created a card index of names from various collections in its holdings.