Kentucky Genealogy Search at a Glance
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1Kentucky Genealogy
Kentucky statewide genealogy links
- Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Collectionskdla.ky.govOverview of the Kentucky Archives Collection
- Electronic Records at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archiveskdla.ky.govKentucky Government Archives
- Kentucky State Archives and Libraries Searchwww.kdla.ky.govKentucky Archives and Libraries Search
- Kentucky Secretary of State Land Officesos.ky.govLand Patent Historical Documents
- Filson Historical Society Library in Louisville Kentuckyfilsonhistorical.orgFilson Historical Society Library Genealogical Resources
- USGenWeb Archives Kentuckywww.kygenweb.netSearch Kentucky GenWeb Archives
- National Archives Southeast Region for Kentuckywww.archives.govKentucky Genealogy Research at the National Archives
2Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement Kentucky's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Kentucky state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
The federal government's primary archive. Holds the U.S. census (1790, 1950), ship passenger lists, naturalization records, military service files, and land entry files.
https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy (archives.gov)
Free online genealogy platform operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Digitized microfilm copies of many county and state records worldwide.
https://www.familysearch.org/ (familysearch.org)
The LoC's research guides, city directories, newspapers, and Civil War records, most accessible free online through loc.gov.
https://guides.loc.gov/genealogy (loc.gov)
Kentucky Genealogy Search, FAQ
Is the 1950 census released?
Yes. Under the 72-year rule, the 1950 U.S. Census was released by NARA on April 1, 2022 and is free to search on archives.gov and familysearch.org.
How do I request a military service record?
NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis holds military service records. Requests use SF-180 and are free for the veteran or next of kin.
Do I need a paid subscription to do genealogy?
No. FamilySearch, Archives.gov, the Library of Congress, and most state archives provide substantial free access. Commercial services (Ancestry, MyHeritage) add convenience and private trees but not exclusive records.
Where are vital records for the 1800s kept?
Before state-level vital registration (roughly 1890, 1920 depending on state), most births, deaths, and marriages were recorded only by the county, the church, or the family Bible. State archives and FamilySearch are the primary starting points for that era.