What is the International Genealogical Index
All About Batch Numbers and Understanding IGI Entries
Jun 9, 2009
The International Genealogical Index, or IGI, began as a database for members of the Church of Latter Day Saints (often called Mormons) to keep track of important events, such as the baptisms of ancestors and marriages. It has since developed into a major player in the genealogy toolkit of all family historians—not just the Mormons—with records of birth, marriage and baptism of individuals worldwide.
Each entry in the IGI usually contains the full name, the type and location of the event, and the names of that person’s parents or the spouse. They will also often contain information on the source upon which that entry was based. These records span quite a vast stretch of time, covering the 1500s up until the 1900s. Accessible at Family History Centers strewn throughout America, as well as on an easy-to-use online version, this is yet another readily available resource that could help you get past that seemingly impenetrable brick wall.
What is a Batch Number? Parish Records Vs Member Submissions
Not all IGI records are created equal. The entries in the IGI come from two sources: those from ‘extraction’ programs that transcribe marriage and baptism information from various parish registers, and those that are submitted by members of the LDS church. Records that come from parish registers are generally more accurate, although of course they are still prone to transcription errors. There is much less assurance on the accuracy of records submitted by LDS. Such entries may not be complete and often do not provide source information; some may even be based on simple speculation.
If you look at an IGI entry online, you may notice a string of numbers preceded by “C,” “M,” or another letter. This is the batch number of an entry. A batch number describes the parish register that the entry was based off of, and as such signifies that the entry was extracted from a parish register. Therefore, a batch number is an indicator that the entry may be a more reliable one.
Verify Information from IGI Entries
Regardless of whether the entry is from the extraction program or an LDS member, as a good family history researcher, it is always important to verify your findings. IGI entries based on parish registers (e.g. those with batch numbers) will also contain a link to the source information. Clicking on this link will provide you with the information necessary to request the microfilm or microfiche of the original resource for that entry. Microfilms and microfiches can be ordered through any nearby Family History Center.
For member-submitted entries on the IGI, it is even more imperative to verify the information you found in that entry. These entries will seldom contain the source information link, so it is often up to your genealogical prowess to hunt for public records and other clues that might corroborate or refute the findings from the IGI entry.
Although not all IGI entries may have the full details of the person or be completely reliable, it can still serve as a central resource for international ancestors—and in America, most ancestors were ‘international’ at some point. Using the IGI just may provide the crucial clues to teasing apart your lineage.
