Genealogy Pointers

In part one of Family History Centers, I introduced you to the large resources the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and its network of Family History Centers, has to offer. We also talked about how the Church’s FamilySearch Web site searches for ancestors in Ancestral File, IGI, the Pedigree Resource File and family Web sites. These resources contain millions of names and are a great resource for genealogists.

Most people do know about the Familysearch.org Web site and its search features, however, the backbone of the service is the Family History Library Catalog. This is the “card catalog” for the Family History Library. In this online catalog you can find what types of original records might be available for your ancestor.

Currently, there are over two million microfilm reels housed in the Family History Library. More are added everyday. These films contain such information as:

1. Bible Records
2. Church Records
3. Newspapers
4. Vital Records
5. Cemetery Records
6. Census Records
7. Immigration/Emigration Records
8. Probate Records
9. Published Family Histories

These records are organized by location, so it is important to be familiar with the location you are researching in order to find which records are available. Also different countries in the world are organized differently. The best way to learn about these available records is on the Research Guidance section.

In order to learn how the research guidance works, select an ancestor you want to learn more about. Try to chose an ancestor that you already know some basic information, like geographical area, approximate date of birth, marriage or death. The research guidance helps you find copies of original records, like census, birth, marriage records, and death. You select the place and time, the research guidance provides a search strategy and records to search in priority order including:

1. Family History Library Catalog records
2. Guides for finding and using the records
3. Related web sites
4. Other search helps

The Research Guidance tool is very easy to use. It takes you through step-by-step and then provides you with the information that you need. I have listed the basic steps for you.

1. Select a Place
Select a country, state, or province from the list. For some countries you will be prompted to make a further selection.

2.Select an Event and Time
To select an event and time, click the time under birth, marriage, or death that you are interested in. If you need help, click on Events in Your Ancestor’s Life.

3. Search Strategies
Now that you have selected an event and a time period the research guidance automatically takes you to the Search Strategy screen. There are three tabs open on top.
These tabs are very important.

1. Historical Background – List of important events in history in the location, which affects political boundaries, record keeping and family movements

2. For Beginners – Ideas and guides to help you get started in genealogy research.

3. Search Strategy – Lists strategies and records for the place and time you selected in the order that expert genealogist at the Family History Library would use them.

In order to use these tabs, click on the tab of your choice to see a detailed list of activates and/or records that applies to your research.

Select any of the activities or records to view a description of the records and guidance on what you can do with them. Work through these tabs, in the order as they appear. The search strategy tab is especially useful, because it takes you to a step-by-step research guide for each of the listed records.

The step-by-step guide provides specific instructions about how to search the record type that you have chosen. It provides a variety of options to help assist you in your research. All of these options are not necessarily available for all record types/ locations.

Be sure to print out these guides and carry them with you whenever you will be researching this type of record.

Once you have read the information for the record type and how to use it, look in the left hand column of the page for a list of links called “What to do Next.”

Sources in the Family History Library Catalog are a list of records that pertain to your research and can be viewed at your local Family History Center. These may contain genealogical information that may help you find your ancestor. Each record is accompanied with a brief description and research notes, as well as a call number to help you locate the record.

The tabs are organized by locality with the country on the left, down through jurisdictions and ending with the city or town on the right hand tab. Each tab that you select will be appropriate for the place you have selected. Each place level will often vary, so you will want to view all the available records.

Now that you have selected the place tab, you will see a list of records. At the top of the page you will see links to some very helpful guides in selected locations and type of records. These guides will be helpful in locating certain records, Web sites and contact addresses for government resources, and tips on analyzing the record once found.

You will also see a recommended list of records, which are set off by stars. These are records, which are recommended by experts at the Family History Library as the best for your search so you should explore them first.

The next step is to select a record and click on the title. Three tabs and a list of records appear. The tabs have information about the record you have selected.

1. Film/Call Numbers – List of all the microfilm, fiche, or other individual records available in this collection. It also has the Family History Library Catalog number and the area where the film is located. Some records are kept at the Family History Library main building, while others are kept in the vault. All types may be requested through your local Family History Center.

2. Description – Basic bibliographic information on the record including the title, author, format, language, publisher, and a physical description.

3. Notes – Notes the microfilm recorder made about the record. It may contain tips and information about possible missing information.

Related Web sites and Research Help are the two final tools. These can be found in the left column on the Search Strategies page.

Related Web sites are an excellent tool because it searches the large database of Web pages. This includes the surname and family pages that have been submitted to the FamilySearch site by visitors and FHL volunteers.

The Research Helps are a list of research outlines, maps, world list, glossaries, etc., that may help you in your research.

At the bottom of the Research Helps screen, you will have the option to view the complete list of research helps. This includes the research outline, forms, worksheets, indexes, and how-to, and other research produced by the Family History Library.