Project 4: Discover

Note : Be sure to verify information in a genealogy tree before adding it to your line in FamilySearch.

1. In the Search menu, choose Genealogies.
2. At the bottom of the screen, read about the types of genealogies that are available to search.
3. Specify your search fields in the left side, such as Ancestor Information, Events, Search by Relationship, and Other Options. You can select the "Match all terms exactly" box if you want.
4. To select a certain types of genealogy to search, click All and select the genealogy name from the list.
5. Other Options: To search a particular collection, click the Collection button and make a selection from the drop-down menu. (These include community trees, partner trees, etc.) If you have the submission ID for a particular genealogy, or an Ancestral File ID number, you can click the corresponding button to specify it.
6. Click Search.
7. If you want to submit a family tree (GEDCOM file) to the Genealogies collection,
   a) Click Submit Tree;
   b) Read the instructions on the Submit Your Trees screen;
   c) Click Add GEDCOM;
   d) Navigate to your GEDCOM file and click Upload.

Resources

1. Learn about genealogies available from FamilySearch.
   
   FS—How do I search the Pedigree Resource File and other genealogies? - 2020
   RIV—FamilySearch Genealogies and Books—3 pgs. - 2018
   


2. Learn more about the Genealogies feature.
   
   RT—Discovering Genealogies on FamilySearch—3:21 - 2021
   
   
   RT—How to Find Ancestors in FamilySearch Genealogies—18:05 - 2022
   
   
3. These articles provide an overview of GEDCOM files and how they are handled.
   
   TH—Genealogy GEDCOM 101 - 2019
   FS—What happens to information uploaded from a GEDCOM file? - 2020


4. Learn more about Community and Partner Trees that are available for searching.
   
   FS—Community Trees: A Reliable Resource for Genealogy Breakthroughs - 2021
   

The FamilySearch Catalog contains additional records that may be helpful in your searches. There are other online catalogs as well that can prove useful.

1. In FamilySearch, click the Search menu and choose Catalog. You can read about online catalogs in the right pane of the screen.
2. Click one or more "Search By" fields and fill in the search information.
3. If you have a call number for a library item or microfilm/microfiche number, click the Search For item, and then fill in the field. Or to limit the search to one FamilySearch center, select its name from the drop-down list.
4. Click Search.
   
5. On the FamilySearch Catalog page, under "Other Catalogs to Consider", click the OCLC World Cat link. WorldCat is the world's largest network of library content and services.
6. On the FamilySearch Catalog page, under "Other Catalogs to Consider", click the Archive Grid link. ArchiveGrid is a collection of nearly a million archival material descriptions.

Resources

1. Learn more about the FamilySearch Catalog in these articles.
   
   FS—Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog
   RIV—FamilySearch Catalog—4 pgs. - 2019


2. Get an overview of the FamilySearch Catalog in this video.
   
   BYU—Demystifying the FamilySearch Catalog—66:26 - 2020   
   • Library
   • Location
   • Record type
   • What to expect
   • Catalog examples
   • Review
   
   
   


3. Learn about searching for items in the FamilySearch Catalog.
   
   RT—The FamilySearch Catalog: A Researcher's Best Friend - 2019
   FS—How do I search the Catalog for records? - 2020


4. Learn how to add items to a print list in the Catalog.
   
   FS—Where do I find the print list in the Catalog? - 2020


5. Practice basic research tasks with the FamilySearch Catalog using these articles.
   
   FS—FamilySearch Catalog Class
   FS—Find - FamilySearch Catalog


6. Learn about using catalogs in FamilySearch and Ancestry.
   
   BYU—Catalogs for FS and AC—56:00 - 2016   
   • FamilySearch Catalog
   • Ancestry.com Catalog
   • What is a jurisdiction?
   • FamilySearch Catalog details
   • Ancestry Catalog details
   • Things to Learn
     
   
   
   
   


7. Learn how to find unindexed records in the FamilySearch Catalog.
   
   BYU—Discovering the Unindexed Records in the FamilySearch Catalog—60:11 - 2020   
   • The FamilySearch Catalog organization
   • Know at least one exact location in ancestor's life
   • Keep clicking
   • Scroll down
   • Scroll downSearch all categories
   
   
   


8. Learn about call numbers and notes used in the Catalog.
   
   FS—What are call numbers? - 2020
   FS—What are Notes or Film/Digital Notes in the catalog? - 2020

1. In the Search menu at the top of the screen, choose Books.
2. Type the name of the book to search for and click Search.
3. To explore books from partner institution websites, click any of the links in the Additional Resources section.

Resources

1. Here are additional steps for finding books on FamilySearch.
   
   FS—How do I find a digitized book in the FamilySearch Digital Library? - 2020


2. Learn about books available from FamilySearch (see page 3).
   
   RIV—FamilySearch Genealogies and Books - 2018


3. Learn methods for searching online books effectively.
   
   FS—A Better System for Searching Books - 2019


4. Explore online biographies. See this FamilySearch Wiki article for resources.
   
   FS—U.S. Biography


5. Learn about using the FamilySearch Digital Library for online books.
   
   FS—Is Your Family in the Updated Digital Library? - 2019
   BYU—Books on FamilySearch—28:03 - 2019
   
   
   


6. Learn about additional resources in the FamilySearch Digital Library.
   
   BYU—Finding Your Ancestors in the Updated FamilySearch Digital Library—51:58 - 2022   
   • What is the FamilySearch Digital Library?
   • Advantages of the Digital Library
   • Where is it?
   
   
   
   


7. To visit the website for a large public family history library, click one of the links on the Family History Books page.

This feature helps you search images in FamilySearch collections that are online but not yet indexed. Searches are done by location, not by name.

1. Open this link on FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/.
2. In the Place box, type the name of a location to search and select it from the list. You can also click Show More Search Options to specify a date or date range, and an event type, and you can click a link to show the most recently added images.
3. Click Search Image Groups.

4. A list of unindexed image collections appears for the location you chose. To view the images, click the place name in the row. The following options are available:
   • Select and enlarge an image by clicking it.
   • Zoom an image by clicking the plus, minus, or broken-box (full-screen) icons.
   • Go to an image by typing its number in the box (upper left).
   • Switch between single and multiple view format by clicking the icon belowe the broken box (upper left).
   • Read image group information in the right pane.
   • Attach the record to Family Tree (button in upper right). Follow the instructions shown in the pane on the right.
5. To control the columns shown in the search results, a) Click Show (upper right); b) Select the column titles; and c) Click the "x" (upper right). You may need to scroll horizontally in the results to see new columns added.
6. To see an enlarged map above the results list, click Map View You can zoom the map or return to the List View. You can also use a smaller map for reference in the left pane.
7. To see additional collection results, use the page controls at the bottom of the results screen.

8. To redo a basic search in the left pane, a) Type the place name and select it from the list; b) Type a date or date range for the results (optional); c) Select a Life Event from the list (you can further refine the search options by selecting or clearing checkboxes); and d) Click Update.
9. To do an Advanced Search, also fill in the fields at the bottom of the left pane, as desired, and click Update.
10. To redo the search by area,
    a) Drag the map in the left pane to the desired location;
    b) Select "Search by Map Area" (you may need to zoom in to cause the option to appear); and
    c) Click Redo area search.

Resources

1. For additional information on using historical images, read these articles.
   
   FS—How do I use the "Explore Historical Images" feature? - 2020
   FS—Searching Digital-Image-Only Collections - 2019


2. Learn how to understand and use search results from historical images.
   
   FS—How to understand your search results in FamilySearch Explore Images - 2020
   BYU—FamilySearch Historical Image Search—12:34 - 2020
   
   
   
3. Learn more about searching Historical Images in this video.
   
   RT—Searching FamilySearch Record Images that Haven't Been Transcribed—32:16 - 2023


4. This article compares the features in Historical Images and the FamilySearch Catalog.
   
   FL—Finding Your Family in FamilySearch Images - 2022

1. In the Search menu at the top of the screen, choose Wiki.
2. Type a location or topic in the Search bar and click Go; or click an area on the world map at the right to search by region.

Resources

1. Watch this video for an introduction to the FamilySearch Research Wiki.
   
   FS—FamilySearch Wiki: What It Can Do for You—47:11 - 2020


2. For additional tips on using the FamilySearch Wiki for research, read the article and watch the video.
   
   RIV—Finding Ancestors Using the Research Wiki—4 pgs. - 2019
   BYU—The Research Wiki—34:12 - 2016
   
   
   


3. Here is some additional information on using the FamilySearch Wiki for research.
   
   FS—How do I search the FamilySearch Research Wiki? - 2020

1. Access the ancestors.familysearch.org website. This site can be accessed without logging in to FamilySearch.
2. Click Browse Surname Directory. A page will be shown with surname ranges, listed alphabetically.
3. Click a surname range link on the first page, or click a letter at the top to change the alphabetical selection. For example:


4. Continue clicking additional surname ranges until you have narrowed the ranges down to a single name link. Birth and death dates are included, as well as blue and pink markers for male and female names. If you need to change your language script, click "Select a Script" (bottom of the window) and make a selection.
5. Click an individual name of interest to display more information. The FamilySearch ID number for this person appears in the URL bar (top of the browser window). You can also see family member information and follow available links.



6. To learn more about ancestors.familysearch,org, read the article.
   
   FS—Explore Ancestor Discovery Pages - 2021


7. To learn more about meanings and origins of surnames, use the Surname Search screen.