American Cemetery & Mortuary Records.






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Until about the mid-20th century, most churches were constructed on 
lots large enough to provide their members with burial facilities. 
As cities and congregations grew, burial yards were established 
in outlying areas. 

These cemeteries may have index cards listing information about 
those buried on their premises. 

You also will find published abstracts of thousands of church, 
public, and family cemeteries in large archives and libraries 
with genealogy collections. 

Also search mortuary records. Morticians kept detailed records 
for accounting purposes. In some places, morticians or funeral 
directors gathered the information recorded on the death certificate, 
obtained burial permits, and arranged to ship the deceased 
to their next-of-kin. 

If you know where a relative died, check, 
"The Red Book,"published by the:  
<a href="http://www.funeral-dir.com/">National Directory of Morticians</a> 
for the names and addresses of morticians and funeral directors 
in that location. You may also find the name of the 
undertaker or funeral home on the death certificate. 
 
If the mortuary is no longer in business, its files may be in the 
custody of the county clerk, the local library, or the local 
historical society. In the files you may find funeral or burial registers, 
funeral books, funeral cards, and even telegrams or correspondence 
to the next-of-kin. 
Those records may contain the deceased's 
date and place of birth, 
date and place of death, 
parents' names and residence, 
spouse's name and residence, 
occupation, 
military service, 
religious affiliation, 
fraternal organizations, and survivors. 

If possible, capture an electronic image of that document. 
and then print it in your family history.

Jack R. Schmidt
National Directory of Morticians, The Red Book
www.funeral-dir.com
dcjack@funeral-dir.com
440-247-3561
Fax 440-247-0164

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