An abstract of title, as compiled in the United States, is an abridgment of the public records, to which it also bears the relation of a special index, they being the great repositories of title and the source from whence the examiner draws the greater part of his information.

A record, it has been said, is a written memorial made by a public officer, authorized by law to perform that function, and intended to serve as evidence of something written, said or done. The acts of Congress and of the State Legislatures are the highest types of records, while the proceedings and determinations of the courts are scarcely less in dignity, and by statutory enactment the enrollment of deeds, though made primarily to perpetuate the memory of the facts which they recite, is given the operation and effect of records. These records are of controlling efficacy in the State where made, and by the Constitution of the United States it is declared that ' 'full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State." In matters of sales and conveyances of lands, records acquire a new importance from the peculiar American doctrine of constructive notice, which casts a knowledge of their contents and import upon subsequent purchasers, and forms one of the chief incentives to the production of abstracts.

13 Howe vs. Hutchinson, 105 111., 501.

14 Chapman vs. Lee, 55 Ala., 616.

Under the general name of records are classed all official acts of the public officers in relation to title; the adjudications and determinations of courts; ministerial acts of officers in furtherance of the taxing power, and incidentally all papers, whether filed or engrossed, which affect title by relation and through operation of law. Popularly, the term is applied to the registry of deeds rather than to the other classes mentioned; but all come within its signification, so far, at least, as the purpose of abstract making is concerned, and from all these varied sources the examiner draws the details which go to make up a full exposition of the title. The registry of deeds furnishes the most fruitful field, and the great bulk of the examination is drawn therefrom, but recourse must also be had to the government archives, the transactions of the State Legislature, the files of the courts, ordinances of the municipality, and acts of the officers exercising the ministerial duties of taxation.15

15 Warvelle on Abstracts, 69.