Finding Your Ancestors with FamilySearch By Shirley-Ann Pyefinch, MIM Ottawa Family History Centre

Transcription

1 Abstract: Learn abut the free glbal resurces and tls available fr yu thrugh the FamilySearch.rg website. Frm searching histrical recrds t using ur cllabrative tls, this sessin will help yu understand hw t imprve yur research strategy, and get results. The bjectives f this presentatin are t help researchers becme mre knwledgeable in effectively using the resurces and family histry tls available thrugh the FamilySearch website; and t develp effective research strategies in finding their ancestrs. Tpics that will be cvered during the presentatin include: 1. Family Tree: An pen cllabrative ne-wrld tree. Adding names, editing infrmatin and navigating in Family Tree. 2. Searching Histrical Recrds: Overview f histrical recrds, and hw t effectively search and filter results. 3. Histrical Bks: Hw t search fr histrical bks. Examples f selected resurces fund in Histrical Bks. 4. Genealgies: Hw t search thrugh submitted genealgies, and hw t cntribute t genealgies. 5. FamilySearch Wiki: Hw t use and cntribute t the FamilySearch Wiki. 6. FamilySearch Catalgue: Hw t use the catalgue. 7. Get Help: Hw t cntact FamilySearch, hw t use the Learning Centre, and explain the free nline webinars, alng with the Getting Started sectin fr beginners, and the resurces fund in the Frequently Asked Questins sectin f the website. 8. Understanding Lcal Resurces: Teaching abut Family Histry Centres. Family Tree: An nline cllabrative family tree where there is ne instance and nt multiple trees with errrs that are replicated. Everyne manages this ne wrld tree tgether and with ver a billin names in this tree, it is a valuable tl and resurce fr family histry researchers. T use this tl users need t pen a free FamilySearch Accunt, and then yu can either start building yur tree r use yur chice f a FamilySearch Certified family histry sftware prgram t imprt yur Gedcm file frmat int FamilySearch Family Tree. A recmmended FamilySearch Certified sftware prgram is called RtsMagic. The sftware has a free versin that can be dwnladed frm their website r yu can btain a full versin f the sftware fr $29.95 US. See the RtsMagic website at: If yu want t use anther sftware check with the FamilySearch App Gallery t see if the sftware is FamilySearch Certified by clicking n the fter f the FamilySearch website fr the FamilySearch App Gallery and lk at tree syncing sftware prgrams. If the sftware is FamilySearch Certified yu will see a FamilySearch lg n the sftware prgram in the FamilySearch App Gallery. Fr syncing t FamilySearch Family Tree fllw the instructins in yur sftware prgram fr exprting Gedcm files and syncing t nline trees such as FamilySearch Family Tree. 1

2 There are 4 different frmats f trees: Landscape, Prtrait, Fan Chart and Descendancy. There are navigatin buttns, and a hme buttn t help yu mve arund n the tree and dn t frget t click n the lightbulb icn in the bttm crner thrughut the website t shw yu hw t d varius actin in the tree. Yu als have ptins t shw recrd hints n yur tree, research suggestins (suggested areas fr yu t research), data prblems (system will flag what it thinks are errrs), prtraits, marriages, and yu can invert the clurs n yur tree frm light t dark and vice versa. Yu can use the Find feature t search fr ancestrs in Family Tree, the Recents will shw whm yu visited recently n yur tree, and Lists will shw yu whm yu have n watch. Persn prvides yu quick access t the Persn Pages in yur tree. It is easy t add names by simply clicking n the add fields fr Add Father, Add Mther, Add Spuse, Add Child, etc. Clicking n names will pp up the Persn Card. The Persn Card will prvide a quick summary f yur ancestr and yu can access their Tree and Persn Page by clicking n either Tree r Persn. The Persn Page is where yu can find all f the details abut yur ancestr and als edit infrmatin, manage duplicates, print charts, view surces and their timeline where yu can utilize the map feature t see where life events tk place fr yur ancestr. Here is a breakdwn f the cntents f the Persn Page: Details Life sketch, vital infrmatin (BCMDB), ther (nicknames), family members (parents, siblings, spuse and children) Timeline Shws the sequence f events in yur ancestr s life, and displays a Ggle map f where life events tk place. Yu can custmize the timeline appearance, view tree, watch and view yur relatinship t yur ancestr Surces Tracks the surces attached t yur ancestr Cllabrate Discussins with thers abut yur ancestr Memries Dcuments, Phts, Stries, Audi Files Research Tls - Research Help: Recrd Hints, research suggestins, data prblems Search Recrds: Partner links (need t sign in) Latest Changes: Viewable audit trail f changes Tls: Edit labels, duplicate management, reprting and deleting Print: Printing charts 2

3 It is easy t edit infrmatin in the Persn Page by simply clicking n the blue link wrd fr edit and then yu can cmplete an nline frm that will pp up in a separate windw. Nte privacy fr living persn s infrmatin is prtected and nt displayed t the public, but is visible nly t yu. Searching Histrical Recrds: There are millins f histrical recrds t search thrugh n FamilySearch. It is imprtant t knw that there are 2 main ways f searching histrical recrds: 1. An enterprise wide search (searches fr indexed recrds thrugh the entire cllectin). 2. By gegraphic lcatin (can search by lcatin and brwse nn-indexed recrds). Yu can be mre effective in yur research strategy and histrical recrd searches by applying search filters and sub-filters. Bth help t narrw yur search in rder t get the search results yu are lking fr. Fr example, yu culd filter yur search results by Birth Year, and then apply a sub-filter by a specific century. Yu can add ther filters at the same time. Smetimes it is better t cast yur search bradly and then narrw yur search with filters and sub-filters. Yu can als refine yur search by adding relatives, selecting different life events, and residence places and dates. Persnally, I like t als search in specific cllectins and I like t brwse thrugh all published cllectins and click n the link under the map t d s. Remember, while the digitizatin partnership is prceeding with Ancestry regarding the Granite Muntain Recrd Vault, it is imprtant t check the FamilySearch Catalgue first when search histrical recrds. This is dne because f the rapid prductin f the digitizatin prject; many recrds are nt first listed under the Histrical Recrds Cllectins but are fund first in the FamilySearch Catalgue. If the recrds are available nline, yu will find a link in the FamilySearch Catalgue t the nline publicatin. Each recrd cllectin als has a FamilySearch Wiki article that yu can read abut which prvides valuable backgrund infrmatin fr each recrd cllectin. Search results will display icns fr Family Tree, Indexed Recrds, and Images. The Family Tree icn will shw yu that the search result is already attached t an individual in Family Tree. The Index icn will shw yu the indexed recrd, and the image icn will either take yu t the digital image n FamilySearch r prvide yu with a link t a FamilySearch partner website where yu may be required t sign in t view the image. Histrical Bks: There are ver 350,000 digitized histrical bks that can be accessed frm the FamilySearch website. 15 libraries are cntributing t this digital prject. Keep in mind that due t licencing and cpyright restrictins, sme digital bks can nly be viewed while at a Family Histry Centre r at the main Family Histry Library. The cllectin includes family histries, cunty and lcal histries, genealgy magazines and hw-t bks, gazetteers, and medieval histries and pedigrees. Genealgies: Genealgies are trees submitted t FamilySearch that can help yu fill ut yur family lines within Family Tree. Accuracy f the data in these genealgies varies frm tree t tree; we encurage yu t validate all data. In Genealgies, this is where yu can cntribute a static, read-nly versin f yur 3

4 Family Tree by clicking n the buttn called Submit where yu can uplad a GEDCOM file frmat t FamilySearch. Genealgies is made up f a variety f family histry databases: 1. Guild f One-Name Studies A cllectin f lineage-linked surced genealgies frm the Guild f One-Name Studies. 2. Cmmunity Trees A cllectin f lineage-linked, surced genealgies fr specific cmmunities and time perids. These are merged frm cmpiled and riginal surce recrds t identify the cmmunity genealgy. Recrds include specific surce data, and mst are part f extended pedigrees and family grups. 3. Oral Genealgies Oral Genealgies are spken lineage-linked genealgies frm lcalities thrughut the wrld. Many lcalities have n written recrds and ral genealgies may be the nly recrds available fr genealgical research. 4. Partner Trees This grwing cllectin f lineage-linked ancestr trees is submitted, curated and expanded by users f the varius partner sftware applicatins and websites that integrate with FamilySearch. 5. Pedigree Resurce File A grwing cllectin f genealgies submitted by users including hundreds f millins f ancestrs. Entries include names, family relatinships, and dates and places f events. N crrectins r merges are made. 6. Ancestral File A static cllectin f genealgies submitted by users, prir t 2003, including 40 millin ancestrs. Entries include names, family relatinships, and dates and places f events. Submissins were merged t eliminate duplicatin. 7. Internatinal Genealgical Index (IGI) Infrmatin fr ver 430 millin ancestrs cntributed by members f The Church f Jesus Christ f Latter-day Saints. Each recrd cntains ne event, including birth, baptism (christening), marriage, r death. Searches in Genealgies can be cnducted by Relatinship, AF Number (Ancestral File Number if ne is assigned), by the deceased ancestr s name, by life event (birth, marriage, residence, death), and by relatinships (spuse, parents), and by submissin ID number. Each submissin f genealgies is given a submissin ID number, when yu search by the submissin ID number yu can view the cunt f persns and all f the entries in the submissin. FamilySearch Wiki: The FamilySearch Wiki cntains ver 88,027 wiki articles and is a great place t begin ding backgrund research. The wiki cntains a tutrial t help yu learn abut all f the features f the wiki. There is a sectin fr new genealgists called New t Genealgy where yu can learn the basics. There is als an 4

5 area where yu can learn hw t cntribute and authr wiki articles called Want t Help. If yu search by cuntry, yu can find a prtal fr each cuntry, which links researchers t multiple articles and links t specific resurces fr the cuntry f research. This includes links t Facebk Cmmunity Pages where yu can use scial media t help yu slve yur research questins. The Facebk Cmmunities replace the FamilySearch Frums and frms a great netwrking capability fr researchers searching in the like cmmunities. FamilySearch Catalgue: The FamilySearch Catalgue is where yu search fr resurces that can help yu in yur family histry research. Yu can search in the catalgue by the fllwing terms: Places Surnames Titles Authr Subjects Keywrds Call number Fiche/Film numbers Availability (at Family Histry Centres r nline) Remember the FamilySearch Catalgue is the first place where digitized recrds will be published, and then recrds are added t the Histrical Recrds Cllectin fr ease f access but there is a lag in publishing t Histrical Recrds Cllectins. If recrds are available nline, yu will find a link in the FamilySearch Catalgue t the recrd cllectin where yu can search and view the recrds. In additin, remember t check if a FamilySearch Wiki article is published yet fr new recrd cllectins. Get Help: Yu can access all kinds f assistance nline frm the FamilySearch website by clicking n the wrd Help in the header f the FamilySearch website. This will prvide yu access t the Help Centre where there are FAQs and specific instructins fr each part f the website (i.e. Family Tree, Histrical Recrds, Memries, etc.). Fr bth beginners and nt s beginners, yu may want t check ut the Getting Started sectin in the Help Centre. Getting Started prvides users with tips and vides t put yu n the right path in beginning yur family histry research. The Learning Centre prvides yu access t free nline curses that yu can take which features an instructr, handuts, and vides. Please d prvide feedback fr the nline curses s that materials can be imprved. Cmmunity is a new feature recently added t the FamilySearch website where yu can find slutins and ask questins. Yu can find grups and pse questins r prvide answers in Cmmunity Grups. There are cmmunity grups fr family histry research, varius cuntries, FamilySearch Indexing, Feedback and Suggestins, and Cmmunity Help. Since this is a new feature, the depth f resurces will vary frm cmmunity t cmmunity depending n usage. 5

6 Cntact Us is here yu can access varius ways f cntacting FamilySearch (live chat, , phne, family histry centres, etc.). My cases allws users t track their cases that have been pened with FamilySearch. Each is given a case number fr tracking and fllw-up. Understanding Lcal Resurces: Lcal Family Histry Centres. There are well ver 5,000 Family Histry Centres arund the wrld. What is special abut a Family Histry Centre is the fact that yu can get ne-n-ne assistance in getting started with yur family histry. In additin, there is access t free premium family histry subscriptin websites (i.e. Ancestry, FindMyPast, Newspaper Archives, American Ancestrs, British Newspapers, Fld3, etc.). These subscriptin websites can be accessed thrugh the Family Histry Centre Services Online Prtal, which is available at every Family Histry Centre. Sme digitized bks and micrfilm/micrfiche are nly viewable at Family Histry Centres because f the cpyright hlder agreement between FamilySearch and the cpyright hlder. If yu try accessing these types f recrds with limited availability, yu will see a pp-up message n yur cmputer screen ntifying yu f this limitatin. Many Family Histry Centres have their wn unique permanent cllectins that are suitable fr patrns searching in their gegraphic lcatin s it is wrth lking at lcal Family Histry Centres fr lcal resurces. Each Family Histry Centre is suppsed t maintain a FamilySearch Wiki page s if yu are lking fr a particular Family Histry Centre yu can search n the FamilySearch Wiki fr a Family Histry Centre t find their address, and hurs f peratins. Smetimes they may advertise special events, r even vlunteer s areas f specialty. The features a cmputer lab, micrfilm / micrfiche readers, printers, and a micrfilm / micrfiche scanner. We ffer family histry classes n Wednesday mrning by advanced registratin nly, and run a series f classes thrughut the year. Yu can register at the Family Histry Centre, and further details abut ur Family Histry Centre can be fund n ur website at: 6