Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

by Dana McCullough

Overview

Master the #1 Free Genealogy Website!

Discover your ancestry on FamilySearch.org, the world's largest free genealogy website. This fully-updated in-depth user guide shows you how to find your family in the site's databases of more than 3.5 billion names and millions of digitized historical records spanning the globe. Learn how to maximize all of FamilySearch.org's research tools—including hard-to-find features—to extend your family tree in America and the old country.


In this book, you'll find:

• Step-by-step strategies to craft search queries that find ancestors fast
• Practical pointers for locating your ancestors in record collections that aren't searchable
• Detailed overviews of FamilySearch.org's major U.S. collections, with helpful record explanations to inform your research
• Guidance for using FamilySearch.org's vast record collections from Europe, Canada, Mexico and 100-plus countries around the world
• Tips for creating and managing your family tree on FamilySearch.org
• Secrets to utilizing user-submitted genealogies, the site’s revamped Digital Library with digitized family history books, and the FamilySearch catalog of 2.4 million offline resources.
• Expanded coverage of the FamilySearch mobile app, and updates on FamilySearch-compatible services and apps
• A new chapter on accessing records on-site at the Family History Library, local FamilySearch Centers and affiliate libraries
• Worksheets and checklists to track your research progress
• Illustrated step-by-step examples teach you exactly how to apply these tips and techniques to your own research.

Whether you're new to FamilySearch.org or you're a longtime user, you'll find the guidance you need to discover your ancestors and make the most of the site's valuable resources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440300783
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	444,972
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

DANA MCCULLOUGH is a writer and editor who creates content on genealogy and higher education topics. A former editor at Family Tree Magazine, she has contributed to 20 magazines and several books. Her writing has been published in Family Circle, The Artist’s Magazine, Brain Child, Better Homes and Gardens’ Simply Creative Weddings, My College Guide, The Iowan, and Scrapbooks, etc., among other national and regional consumer magazines. Dana has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Iowa State University.  She lives in Milwaukee, WI.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Chapter 1 Getting Started 8

Get acquainted with FamiIySearch.org and learn genealogy basics to set yourself up for success.

Chapter 2 The Familysearch Family Tree 26

Learn how to find new ancestors in Family Search.org's giant user family tree, as well as how to create and manage your own family tree on the website.

Chapter 3 Searching and Browsing Historical Records 56

Discover tips and strategies to mine the billions of ancestors in FamilySearch.org's Historical Records collections.

Chapter 4 Searching Genealogies, the Catalog, and Books 78

Move beyond the main search form to uncover genealogy clues in the Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource File, International Genealogical Index, FamilySearch Catalog, and a massive archive of digitized family history books.

Chapter 5 Us Census Records 96

Count on the tips in this chapter to find your ancestors in FamilySearch.org's collections of federal, state, and special censuses.

Chapter 6 Us Vital Records 115

Revitalize your search for vital statistics on FamilySearch.org. This chapter walks you through the site's birth, marriage, and death collections.

Chapter 7 Us Immigration and Naturalization Records 133

Sail to new discoveries about your immigrant ancestors' journey to America and to citizenship. You'll learn how to locate passenger lists, naturalizations, and more.

Chapter 8 Us Military Records 155

Learn strategies to conquer record collections from the American Revolution through World War II (and beyond)-plus get a debrief on records from draft cards to pension files.

Chapter 9 Us Probate and Court Records 173

Get pointers for probing into state and local collections with probate files, land records, naturalizations, tax records, voter lists, and more.

Chapter 10 European Records 189

Trace your family tree across the pond in FamilySearch.org's growing European record collections. This chapter walks you through available collections and strategies to use them.

Chapter 11 Global Records 208

Take your genealogy search into Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and all around the world with helpful hints and background information on FamilySearch.org collections, country by country.

Chapter 12 More Historical Records 225

Discover the genealogical gems you can unearth within the Miscellaneous and Other categories of Historical Records on FamilySearch.org.

Chapter 13 Accessing Records at Family History Centers and Affiliate Libraries 236

Find out all that the Family History Library, local Family History Centers, and affiliate libraries have to offer! Also learn valubale tips for preparing for a research trip to these locations.

Appendix A The Familysearch Wiki 244

Appendix B Familysearch Indexing Projects 248

Appendix C Research Worksheets 250

Index 257