How to Use Diaries and Journals to Trace Ancestors

Use diaries and journals for ancestry and genealogy research.

What are diaries and journals?

The terms diary and journal are used interchangeably today. No matter what you call them, these accounts are the autobiographies of ordinary people. Don’t be surprised if are the only existing records of their personal lives. Along with genealogical data, diaries give you an extraordinary glimpse into someone’s daily life, thoughts, and attitudes. A diarist may also record feelings on national events, such as a war or its impact on family and the community.

Other Resources to Help Search Individuals

Where can I learn more about how to trace ancestry? The following are important articles for learning about ancestry and historical research.

Where can I learn more about records to trace ancestry?

The following is an overview of 15 types of vital, government and historical records I have found constantly valuable in my individual, family, and narrative research. These records provide vital and biographical information on individuals and families. When I mastered researching these resources, I could quickly expand my research to other records to help me connect the pieces for writing narratives and other historical research.

For each record type, I have included what you will find, how to use the resource, and research insights for each record type. I would encourage you to use this article as a starting point from which you can search out and find other record tutorials guides and help to provide deeper insights.