Using FamilySearch.org Lorraine Minor [email protected] April 2020

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has gone all over the world filming records of genealogical interest. Now they are digitizing these records. Those that were filmed in the past are in the process of being digitized and indexed.

You will need to have a login (free) to access records Click on Create Account and follow directions

FamilyTree - Viewing Family Trees - all information needs to be verified Click on FamilyTree Click on Find and enter name of interest Click on name and then tree to see the person’s tree Click on upside down caret (v) to see additional spouses and children

Using the Tree View Navigating - zoom level, center, following the arrows and moving the screen Options menu on the right Views - fan chart, portrait/landscape, descendency

Using the Person View - Details Click on name and then “Person” to see information Detail view provides details for each event mentioned and who entered Click Edit to make changes Can add information with the “Add Information” option - including a custom fact Family Members Can edit by clicking on the pencil icon including Remove or Replace Preferred spouse box checked-show that spouse and family in tree view and charts Righty Screen of the Person View Research Help - may give ideas for research or point out problems with the data Search Records - uses the information to search the various web sites - need account Latest changes - Show All Tools Possible Duplicates - can combine two people Report Abuse - someone keeps changing something you have proved Delete Person Unavailable if multiple contributors Print - can print the information If more than one spouse mark the spouse as preferred before using Other Person View Options Time Line - shows information sequentially Sources - Can view and see who added Collaborate - Notes and Discussions - click to view Memories - For uploading photos and documents Top of Person Screen Watch - to have FamilySearch notify you if a change made to this person View My Relationship - if you have your tree entered and linked to this person

Other Options Recents gives a list of people you have search recently Lists - people you are watching and a list of changes to people you are watching

To start your tree - Recents - your account at top of list Anyone without a death date or marked as deceased is considered living Will only show in your account - cannot let others see that information Cannot add sources Can add memories which will be seen by others Can take information from Roots Magic and merge into FamilyTree Can upload a GEDCOM to enter in FamilyTree - will need to merge with entries already there - better to just upload people not already there - see below

Three ways to view the films digitized by the LDS Church 1. Some digitized and indexed for searching online at .org 2. Some digitized and available online but not indexed at familysearch.org 3. Go to - still have microfilm that can be viewed Can always hire a researcher - https://www.apgen.org/ Find a Professional - Other Searches - Biography - enter Select people who live in Utah Note: Usually the digitized records can be viewed from home. Sometimes you must come to the Family History Center to view them or they are only available at a “partner”site. May be able to view these images at the Family History Center through the FHC Portal

Viewing Records that have been indexed Go to familysearh.org and select "Search" then "Records" Enter the name you are searching for - Click Search Click on Collections to see the titles and then select each title of interest Only shows top 5 - show all to get full list Can do an exact search by clicking the box next to first and last names If still too many hits, try entering birth, spouse or parent information Click on name to see transcribed information Don’t forget to look at the original image (click on camera) if available Look at all the databases - may be more than one record of the event If you find that a name is incorrectly indexed you can now request that it be changed See https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/edit-names-indexed-records/

Using FamilySearch Catalog - first place new digitized images can be found Goal is to look at every record for the time period that your ancestor lived in a place Go to familysearh.org and select "Search" then "Catalog" Start entering the place you are looking for (city/town, county, state or country name) Don't use the word County Select place from drop-down menu Click on Search If "No Results Found" click on See ... Check all jurisdiction levels Click “Part of ....” to see databases at next higher level Click "Places within .." to get names of next lower subdivision Very helpful for foreign countries - place names not anglicized Select Topic Click on Record Title Look for film of interest and click on camera icon Sometimes see note saying “Records are available online” Will take you to a search page - all images may not be indexed Scroll down to the Browse and then select county and item of interest Always look at all records available and check out both image groups Other searches Last Names Search - Prominent surnames in published family histories Film number - Know film/fiche number and want to see the catalog entry Keywords - Search for words that may only be in the notes section Can use with other searches (place, surname)

Wiki Click on the Continent - then the country - then the state - then the county Good place to go when starting to research in an History Record availability Links to the catalog and to other web sites Follow the links to such articles such as Catholic Church Records or just search for a topic

FamilySearch Indexing - a way to help yourself and others Click on Indexing - overview Scroll down to “Try A Guided Tour” Find a Project - can select area and project If are proficient in a language - select area that uses that language If records too hard to read - turn them in and try another project Can do from home when have just a few minutes

Other free resources - may have to register Montgomery County Public Library https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library/ Guides and Research - - HeritageQuest Online Fairfax County Public Library - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/ - get a library card online and get access to Ancestry (while closed) and Fold3 (always) Legacy - https://familytreewebinars.com/archived_webinars_free.php https://genealogybargains.com/a-free-legacy-family-tree-webinars-each-day-during-april-2020/ MyHeritage in Color to colorize your family photos https://www.myheritage.com/incolor Some ideas of things to do: https://news.legacyfamilytree.com/legacy_news/2020/03/a-genealogical-to-do-list-while-you-kee p-your-distance.html