From Dust to Data – How ILCD and ICD Codes Can Guide Genealogical Journeys

From Dust to Data – How ILCD and ICD Codes Can Guide Genealogical Journeys

Description:

The language of death records can feel like a foreign dialect to today’s genealogist. Words such as “dropsy,” “consumption,” or “brain fever” may appear on a death certificate or cemetery register, leaving us unsure what they truly mean—or how to use them in our research.

That’s where the International List of Causes of Death (ILCD) and the later International Classification of Diseases (ICD) become powerful tools for family historians.

Developed to standardize how causes of death were recorded across time and place, these coding systems can help genealogists translate confusing historical terminology into modern understanding. More importantly, they allow us to move beyond vague descriptions and uncover deeper context about the health, hardships, and lived experiences of our ancestors.
In this session, you’ll discover how ILCD and ICD codes can serve as a bridge—from dusty old documents to meaningful data that strengthens your genealogical conclusions.