Understanding the International Genealogical Index (IGI)

by Joan Wood

The IGI (International Genealogical Index) is an index compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). It is an alphabetical, geographical listing of deceased persons from all over the world whose names have been submitted to the Church, and for whom religious ordinance work in an LDS temple has been completed. The IGI, on CD-ROM or microfiche, is available for use by the public both in the Church’s main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and at the various local LDS Family History Centers found throughout the world. It may also be consulted at numerous society and public libraries. This valuable resource is very well known and often the first thing beginning genealogists desire to search. Following is a little background on the development of the IGI, and some benefits to be gained through the use of this unique tool.

Members of the Mormon Church have been engaged in genealogy and temple work almost from the beginning of the Church’s history, with files of completed work maintained in Salt Lake City. A Temple Record Index Bureau card (TIB) was one of the first ways in which an individual could gain access to a completed "family file." In the period from about 1924 through 1978 the Church had a Four Generation Program. Members were encouraged to complete at least the first four generations back of their family trees. Beginning in the late 1960s these names were submitted to Salt Lake City on pink ordinance entry forms. One was for "individual" ordinances, the other for "marriage." The submitted information was then checked by the genealogy department for basics such as proper county names, listing of a death date or the word "deceased," obvious inconsistencies of dates (e.g., parents being listed as younger than their children) and a listing of the sources used by the submitter. The submitter’s name and address were also included at the bottom of the page. These submissions became known as the Family Group Record Archives (FGRA). With the advancement of computers, increased submissions, and an expanding extraction program, these types of records were subsequently replaced but may still be viewed in Salt Lake City. The Church then began to list family file names on microfiche referred to as the Computer File Index (CFI), which eventually was renamed the International Genealogical Index (IGI). Although the two previous programs (TIB and FGRA) are not the basis for the IGI, they merit some explanation because they have been included in, and make up part of, the present IGI.

If you have done some genealogical research, and can make an accurate name connection, much time and effort may be saved by accessing the IGI. Being an alphabetical listing, it is fairly easy for a researcher to look up family names of interest. Inexperienced genealogists can gain an understanding of the variety of ways in which their family names may be spelled. Also included (when known) are the mother, father and spouse of the individual listed. The particular event type - birth, christening, or marriage - is indicated by the code letters "B," "C" and "M" respectively, listed along with the event date and the town or parish where it took place. LDS ordinance dates are also given, as well as a source number.

When using the IGI several things need to be kept in mind. First, it must be remembered that the IGI is a compiled record, meaning that the information contained therein comes from many different sources. Along with the usual original source material (marriage, birth, etc.) several other types are accepted by the LDS including census records (coded "N"), and a first child's christening date (coded "F") in lieu of an exact marriage date. Then there are other miscellaneous sources (coded "S") which could be just about anything from handwritten bible records to 101-year-old "Grandma Goomies’" memory. Considering the wide range of acceptable sources for a submission you will want to investigate each as thoroughly as possible. Keep in mind that, with the great volume of names submitted to the Church, the correctness or strength of a submitter’s source cannot be fully investigated. As much as the LDS Church stresses that submitters be accurate and sure of the sources of the submitted information, they are not "genealogical police" and cannot investigate the correctness of every submission. That is our job as responsible genealogists and family historians.

When viewing the IGI it is wise to ask yourself, "How was the name of my ancestor submitted?" Generally, there are two ways in which the Church obtains the names contained in the IGI. One is through its member/non-member submissions; the other through its extraction program. This program is one in which the names of deceased persons are taken out of historical records such as church, census, probate, and the like, by trained volunteers. They are then submitted, temple work completed and a listing added to the IGI thus making the names available to the general public. It should be pointed out that it is not always the case that extracted material is more accurate than submitted material. A submission source might be a birth or marriage record, while extracted material might be taken from a compiled historical record. Submitted material could possibly contain information lacking in extracted records. On the other hand, if the information was extracted from an original source, for example a church record, wouldn’t it be nice to see that record and any additional information it may contain such as the particular religion your ancestor professed? Invaluable family information can also be gained by reading wills and probate materials which also belong to the class of extracted records.

How does a researcher distinguish between an extraction and a submission? If you examine the batch/source column that is listed at the right of all IGI microfiche entries, you will see that each has been given a number. If there is no letter preceding the number, and if the fourth digit is less than four, the information was not extracted by the Church but was a submission. The batch number refers the user to the exact source of the entry. In most cases, microfilm copies of the source are available from Salt Lake City. Ask your LDS Family History Center librarian for assistance. Looking at the LDS ordinance dates you will see that there is a column for Baptism, another for Endowment and the last for Sealings. If these were performed after 1969, there is a good chance that the FGRA pink forms were used. The submitter’s name will then be listed on the bottom of the form with his/her address at the time, along with death dates, family relationships, and resources listed in more detail. These batch numbers are also call numbers that you, as a researcher, can gain access to and view. To acquire the seven digit ordering number ask your LDS Family History Center librarian.

The LDS Church does have printed instructional pamphlets for the IGI which should be located in each FHC.¹ They can also be obtained by writing or calling the Salt Lake Distribution Center, 1999 West 1700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104-4233, Telephone 1-800-537-5971 (U.S. and Canada). A series of articles by Elizabeth L. Nichols, AG in the Federation of Genealogical Societies FORUM is another good guide for using the IGI.² Additional information can be found in The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy.³

If used correctly and wisely, the IGI can be of enormous help to the genealogist. Any associated weakness lies in a researcher’s inability to fully understand what is being viewed, and failure to take responsibility for investigating all source data. The efficient manner in which the material is presented, and the opportunity provided the researcher to acquire and view primary material, are among its principal strengths.