Genealogy Pointers

In part two of the Family History Centers, I talked about the Family History Library Catalog’s Research Guidance. This is what helps you find copies of original records. It provides a search strategy and records to search in priority order.

The Family History Library Catalog describes over 2 million rolls of microfilm and hundreds of thousands of books and maps. It doesn’t contain the actual records, only the descriptions of them. The records described in the catalog come from all over the world. It has been called the best resource of the Family Search Web site. The amazing benefit is it is available for online searching. You can do much of your research from home at whatever time is convenient for you; therefore, it maximizes your research time at your local Family History Center (FHC).

To access the online version go to Family search homepage (www.familysearch.org) and select the Family History Library System picture or the search tag. From there, select the Family History Library Catalog. Here you are presented with the following options:

Place Search
This option is used to find catalog entries about a place or for records from a place.

Search
This option is used to find catalog entries about records that include a specific surname, such as written family histories.

Author Search
Us an Author Search to find the author detail records for a person, church, society, government agency, and so forth, identified as an author of a specific reference. This will list titles linked to the author and may include notes and references.

Call Number Search
This is used to find an item by its call number; the number used to locate items on the shelves in the Family History Library or the Family Search Center.

Film/Fiche Search
Use a Film/Fiche Search to find the titles of items on a specific microfilm or microfiche in the Family History Library Catalog.

Starting with the Place Search, this one you will like the most. It contains two boxes:

The first box, type the place you want to find entries for, like a city, town or county.

The second box is optional. Since many places have the same names, you can limit your search by adding a jurisdiction of the place you want to find.

Place Search Tips: Keep in mind that the names of the countries are in English, the names of the states, provinces, regions, cities, towns and other jurisdictions are in the language of the country in which they are located.

Place Search will only find the information if it is part of the place-name. To see places that are part of a state, select the View Related Places. To see the towns in one of the counties, you will have to click the county, and then click View Related Places again.

The more specific you make your search, the shorter your list of results will be.

If you have trouble finding a specific location, don’t just think that the catalog doesn’t have the records for that place. There are many reasons why you may be having difficulties. Before you give up, make sure you try these strategies:

Type the place-name correctly.
If you searched with a jurisdiction, try the search without this.
Search for records using a larger jurisdiction.

Once you locate the place you are looking for, you will find a list of places. If this list the place you want, click on it to see the place details record. These records usually contain the following items:

View Related Places
Clicking on this will give you a list of other places you might by interest in.

Notes
A few facts and details about the place.

Topics
A list of topics for the place you are looking for.

This is a list of all of the categories (topics) for which the FHL holds microfilmed records for the place, which you specified in your search.

In the place detailed record you will probably see a list like:

Bible Records: for (the place you search for).
Stmnt. Resp: This is the representative that submitted the information.
Authors: List main author and maybe an added author.
Notes: Includes index.
Subjects
Format: A book or on Fiche.
Language
Publication
Physical: How many reels and measured in cm.

If this title has been microfilmed, the View Film Notes button will appear. Click on it to see a description of the microfilm and to obtain the numbers for ordering the film through your local Family History Center. Most items can be ordered but a few cannot due to licensing regulations. Before you order any films, check the “Notes” field for your title. Any restrictions will be mentioned there.

There are other ways to search the Family History Library Catalog. Place Search is the most useful for the FHLC. There are several other options for you to use.

Surname Search
A surname search is primarily used to find published family histories. It will not find surnames listed in census records. A surname search will only provide you with a list of titles of catalogs tied to that surname. Some published family histories are only available in book form and are not available to be sent to a Family History Center.

Author Search
This search is primarily used for catalog entries by or about a certain person, organization, church, and etc. The author search finds records, which include the name, you typed as the author or the subject.

Film/Fiche Search
Use this search to find the titles of items on a specific microfilm or microfiche. It is a very exact search and will only return the titles on the particular microfilm or microfiche number that you input.

Call Number Search
Us this search if you know the call number of a book or other printed source and you want to learn more about what records it contains.

For those of use that can’t travel to Salt Lake City, UT, this is invaluable both as a research tool and as a learning tool. Play around with different techniques and you may be amazed at the things you will find.