Alan E.
Mann, AG
byu@alanmann.com Accredited
Genealogist
BYU
Computerized Genealogy Conference March
2004
Strategies for Using Family Search Internet
FamilySearch is on the Internet is at www.familysearch.org. The site is
divided into four major sections—Home, Search, Share, and Library. This
syllabus material focuses on the tips and
tricks rather than explaining each section. However, these tips and tricks
are arranged by site sections. Note that the IGI online is updated weekly.
Home
1.
The FamilySearch Questions section is
where you should look for answers to questions or just to learn more about
using this web site.
2.
Product Support gives many more answers
to questions about the web site and products of the Family History Library. It
also allows for connection for live answers.
3.
The Order/Download section is where you
download your free copy of PAF, but you must click on Order/Download, then select Download Software.
Search
This section has five subsections, which
appear in bold in the following paragraphs.
Search
for Ancestors. This screen requires you to input the
first and last name of a person you would like to find. There are additional
boxes into which you can enter father's name (first and/or last), mother's name
(first and/or last), spouse's name (first and/or last), event type
(birth/marriage/death), and place.
1.
Fill out as little information as needed for an effective search. With an
unusual name, searching by surname without entering a first name may give you
results otherwise overlooked. Even if you know the birth year and parents’ full
name, you may want to leave some or all of those fields blank so as not to miss
an entry that varies only slightly from the information you think you know.
2.
Look at the Sources Searched box, which tells you which databases (Ancestral
File, IGI, etc.) had that name in it (and how many). You can click on any of
the sources in that box to restrict your view of results to just that source.
3.
The Sources Searched will tell you if there were more than 25 hits
from that source. NOTE that only 25 are shown in the combined search results
screen.
4.
You may have additional search options
if you select one database rather than searching all at once. You also will see
up to 200 hits from that database rather than be limited to just 25.
5.
Use caution before using the exact
spelling box. If there are other spellings of the surname, consider an exact
spelling search anyway—just do more than one search.
Down the left is a list of databases it
searches. You can also restrict your search to a single database by clicking on
the database you want to search on the left.
1.
Use the batch number search in the IGI. This allows you to do a limited
search by town or parish. It also lets you see all the names submitted in
particular batch or on a specific sheet.
2.
Use the submission number search in Pedigree Resource File. This allows you
to see every name submitted by that person in that single submission.
3.
Specifically, let’s look at Census
Records
a.
Three censuses (U.S. 1880, Canada 1881,
Great Britain 1881) are fully indexed with full information. Every name is
indexed. Most people can easily find their ancestors for two or three
generations—back to a person who was alive in the 1880-1881 time period. When you find a person on the census, you are able
to see their parents, brothers, and sisters.
b.
Each of these censuses can be searched several
ways. It is important to experiment and discover the various search options. Consider
reading search tips on the site. Remember, there are at least two places for
each person—the place they were born and the place they were when the census
was taken. Often they are living in a different state, county, or province than
where they were born. You must consider this as you are searching.
c.
On the search screen, select place of
birth or census place (where living when census was taken) or both. Don’t
confuse the two if they aren’t the same. For example, your ancestor was born in
Research
Guidance asks you to select a place where the person
you are trying to trace lived (state or country), then guides you step by step
through the process of finding the desired information on that person. You tell
the time period he or she lived, and RG tells you what records exist for that
time period in that place and outlines how you can go about finding what you
are looking for. Give it a try!
1.
See "How Do I Begin," and
"Determining the Country Where Your Ancestor Lived,” links on the left
hand side of the screen when you click on Research Guidance.
2.
Have a specific ancestor and goal in
mind before using Research Guidance.
Research
Helps has all of the publications of the Family
History Library, including Research Outlines, Research Guides, Forms, Word
Lists, and more.
1.
Use the option to sort by different
criteria.
2.
Offers help on "Organizing My
Files," contents of FHL registers, and much more.
3.
Check out the forms available.
4.
There are guides to writing letters in
other languages.
Web
Sites searches the list of
other web sites that FamilySearch volunteers have categorized. You can search
by place or subject (category). However, this feature has been discontinued and
is no longer updated. It is of limited usefulness.
1.
Note that the default is BROWSE. This
allows you to select a subject such census or vital records or a place such as
Germany or Massachusetts, and then see web sites that have or mention that
place or tell about that subject for that place.
2.
Search web sites allows you to restrict
your search to certain features, such as pictures, coats-of-arms, or
lineage-linked data. You can even specify a language.
3.
Once you see results of a web site
search, there is a link to Refine search. Unlike Refine search elsewhere on this site,
this refinement searches ONLY the results of the previous search.
4.
Consider leaving the surname field
blank. For example, if you are trying to find record repositories that have
records from Idaho and whose catalogs are online, search the place Idaho,
category Archives, and check the feature online catalog.
Family
History Library Catalog is the same as shown below under
Library.
Share
This section allows you to log in to the
familysearch.org web site. Click on the share tab. If you have never registered
with familysearch.org, click on “I need to register” and fill out your
information. Once registered, you can enter your username and password each
time you visit familysearch.org and click on the Share tab. If you are a member
of the LDS church, enter your username and password, and then click the box
that says “I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
The first time, you will need to confirm your membership by entering you
membership record number and confirmation date. You only have to enter the
information once, but you will need to log on each time you visit in order to
see ordinance data. This section, once logged in, has two separate areas, as
follows:
Collaborate
with others.
·
Note that there are four types of
lists--same ancestor, surname, place, or topic (the same topics used in Browse Web Sites).
·
When searching, you will get better
results using the second radio button (The e-mail list name starts
with the keyword). Thus a search for Mann will not get Ackermann or
Hermann.
·
When using the keyword search, consider
entering a space after the name. Thus, a search for Mann with a space after it
will exclude the names Manning and Manners.
·
If your search doesn’t find anything,
create a group.
·
Join those groups that apply to your
ancestry, but remember that you won’t get anything until someone sends another
message. Past messages are not available.
Share
my Genealogy.
1.
Check your notes and sources before
submitting. Take out any derogatory comments or anything else you don’t want
shared.
2.
Remove details on living people before
submitting.
3.
You can check the status of your
submission at any time.
4.
Be sure to use the box to add a
descriptive paragraph. Make the paragraph useful (the major surnames, places,
and time period in the database being submitted).
Library
Check classes being taught at the Family
History Library. Also notes on major conferences. The major section here is the
FHLC. Consider the following tips:
1.
Want a copy of the catalog record?
Don't click the print button! Look at the bottom of the screen, where it
probably says "For a printable version of this record, click here."
Click there and then print. It will print title information and film number(s)
rather than just one or the other.
2.
When a number of record titles are
returned, they appear in alphabetical order by the title in the catalog.
Sometimes the title is not what you expect (for example, an English parish
register usually is listed as Church of England, parish of….).
3.
Once a record is displayed, click on
View Film Notes to get the microfilm number. If there is no View Film Notes
button, the source is not available on film or fiche.
4.
Use View Related Places. This requires
using the level above the one you want (e.g., you want a town, so find the
county first—if you want a county, go to the state first). Can’t find Stanton
le Vale in
5.
Use an online gazetteer to know how a
place is listed. For example, an FHLC search for
6.
When there are more than 50 results,
only 50 will be displayed, and the total number of "hits" will be
given. There will be a box at the bottom giving you the option to jump to later
results. If there are hundreds of results, consider where your desired result
would be in the list alphabetically.
7.
A subject search returns subject
headings, not records. Even though few subjects are given, the # of records
under those headings could be thousands.
8.
The subject search itself is literal,
not intelligent. A search for genealogy will give 448 hits even though every
subject heading in the FHLC has something to do with genealogy. Only 448
subject headings actually contain the word genealogy.
Other
You may want to consider using familysearcher or PAFInsight to
get more from familysearch.org (for more info, see my other article in this
syllabus). Other improvements to FamilySearch on the Internet are planned for
the future. This site is now the emphasis was making more resources available
for the benefit of all. Watch for future announcements!
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©Copyright 1997-2004 by Alan E. Mann. All rights reserved. Written permission to reproduce all or part
of this syllabus material in any format, including photocopying or the Internet,
data retrieval or the Internet, must be secured in advance from the copyright
holder.