Some of the first records we need to find in our genealogical research are vital records. Before spending any money on Civil Registration certificates, check out these two websites that have a massive collection of vital records that you can view online for free.

OliveTreeGenealogy.com
Founded in 1996 by Lorine McGinnis Schulze, OliveTreeGenealogy.com was one of the first websites to make primary sources available on the Web with its Ship Passengers lists. Lorine was encouraged by her father to research her family genealogy at an early age, and accelerated her efforts after he passed away. Genealogy has become a life long love of hers, which is reflected in the impressive collection of databases she now hosts on her website.

The Native American indexes are only a fraction of what OliveTreeGenealogy.com has to offer, other indexes include:

• Huguenot Resources
• Mennonite resources
• Quaker resources
• Immigration and Ship’s Passenger lists
• Almshouse records
• Orphan records
• Canadian Naturalization records and Census reports
• Military records

FamilySearch.org

The website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints (Mormon Church) houses the largest database of genealogical records in the world, the collection containing over one billion records. The database is known as the International Genealogical Index (IGI), and it has been compiled by dedicate volunteers consisting of genealogists and church members who over the years continue to add vital records of people from around the world. There are too many indexes held in the IGI mention them all here, but following is a summary of the records you can access online according to geographical location.

Canada
1. Birth, Death, Burial and Marriage registrations from 1661-1910
2. Baptismal records from 1661-1900
3. Census reports – 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891
4. Parish records form 1621-1905

Mexico
1. Civil Registration from 1860-1950
2. Marriages from 1570-1950
3. Deaths from 1680-1940
4. Baptisms from 1560-1940
5. Census 1930
6. Church records from 1886-1933

United States
1. Alabama – Births, Deaths, Burials, Baptisms and Marriages 1816-1974
2. Arizona – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1870-1994
3. Arkansas – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1837-1963
4. Connecticut – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1649-1934
5. Delaware – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1710-1955
6. District of Columbia – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1830-1964
7. Florida – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1837-1974, Census reports 1885, 1935,1945
8. Georgia – Deaths and Marriages from 1808-1967
9. Hawaii – Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Christenings 1826-1933
10. Idaho – Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Christenings from 1826-1965
11. Louisiana – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1804-1954
12. Maine – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings from 1739-1907
13. Massachusetts – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1639-1915, Census reports 1855, 1865
14. Michigan – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings from 1775-1995
15. Minnesota – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1840-1990, Census reports 1885, 1895
16. New Hampshire – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings pre-1654 – 1920
17. New Mexico – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1726-1955
18. New York – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings from 1640-1962, Ellis Island Passenger Lists 1892-1924, Census reports 1865, 1892, 1905
19. North Carolina – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1759-1994
20. Texas – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1796-1973
21. Utah – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings from 1887-1956
22. Vermont – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings from 1769-1965, Enrolled Militia records 1861-1867
23. West Virginia – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings 1853-1970
24. Wisconsin – Births, Deaths, Marriages, Burials and Christenings from 1826-1930, Census reports 1855, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905
25. United States Census reports – 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 11920

The above are merely the top twenty five databases for United States vital records contained on the FamilySearch.org website. There are also worldwide databases, and other state databases, including the Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files and Civil War Pension Index cards, and the Freedmans Bank records 1865-1874,. The international databases are as extensive and detailed as those of the united States, and one has to appreciate the work done by the Latter Day Saints and the thousands of non-member volunteers who have worked tirelessly to create this genealogical goldmine.