Table of Contents
# Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website
Welcome to the exciting world of family history! For millions around the globe, the journey to discover their ancestors begins and often thrives on FamilySearch.org. This remarkable website stands as the world's largest free genealogy resource, offering an unparalleled collection of records, a collaborative family tree, and powerful tools to connect with your past.
This comprehensive guide is designed specifically for beginners. We'll walk you through the fundamentals of FamilySearch.org, from creating your first account and building your initial family tree to effectively searching historical records and leveraging the site's hidden gems. By the end of this article, you'll have a solid understanding of how to navigate this incredible platform and confidently embark on your quest to uncover your unique family story.
Getting Started: Your First Steps on FamilySearch
Embarking on your genealogical journey with FamilySearch.org is straightforward. The first few steps are crucial for setting a strong foundation for your research.
Creating Your Free Account
The best part about FamilySearch.org is that it's entirely free, thanks to its sponsorship by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Creating an account unlocks all its features, including building your family tree and saving your research.
1. **Visit FamilySearch.org:** Open your web browser and go to the official website.
2. **Click "Free Account":** You'll usually find this button in the top right corner.
3. **Provide Basic Information:** You'll be asked for your name, birthdate, gender, and contact information (email or mobile number). This helps create a unique profile for you.
4. **Create a Username and Password:** Choose something memorable but secure.
5. **Agree to Terms:** Review the terms of service and privacy policy, then check the box to agree.
6. **Verify Your Account:** FamilySearch will send a verification link to your email or a code to your phone. Click the link or enter the code to activate your account.
That's it! You now have full access to the vast resources of FamilySearch.
Building Your Initial Family Tree
Once logged in, your next step is to start populating your family tree. Think of this as your home base for all your research. FamilySearch's tree is collaborative, meaning you might connect with others researching the same ancestors.
1. **Start with Yourself:** On the "Family Tree" page, you'll see a prompt to add yourself. Enter your known information: full name, birth date, and birth location.
2. **Add Your Parents:** Next, add your father and mother. Include their names, birth and death dates (if deceased), and places.
3. **Expand to Grandparents:** Continue adding your paternal and maternal grandparents. The more information you can provide initially, the easier it will be for FamilySearch to suggest record hints later.
4. **Use Known Information:** Don't guess! Only add information you are reasonably sure of. If you're unsure of a specific date or place, leave it blank for now. You can always add it later as you discover more.
As you add relatives, FamilySearch will automatically try to link them to existing people in its massive collaborative tree, which could instantly connect you to generations of research!
Navigating the Core Features: Where to Find What You Need
FamilySearch offers a suite of powerful tools. Understanding where to find and how to use them is key to successful research.
The Family Tree
Your family tree is more than just a list of names; it's an interactive hub.
- **Different Views:** Explore your tree using various views:
- **Landscape:** Shows you and your ancestors extending to the left.
- **Portrait:** Displays you and your ancestors stacked vertically.
- **Fan Chart:** A visually appealing chart showing generations in a fan shape, great for spotting research gaps.
- **Descendancy:** Shows your descendants, helpful for living family connections.
- **Adding and Editing:** Click on any person to view their detail page. From here, you can add spouses, children, parents, and update facts like birth, marriage, and death.
- **Record Hints:** Look for the small blue "Record Hints" icon on a person's detail page. These are potential historical records FamilySearch has found that might belong to that ancestor. We'll cover leveraging these in detail shortly.
- **Potential Duplicates:** FamilySearch will also alert you to "Potential Duplicates," suggesting that the person you added might already exist in the collaborative tree. Review these carefully to merge if appropriate, preventing duplicate research.
Searching Historical Records
This is where the real digging begins! FamilySearch boasts billions of digitized records.
1. **Go to "Search" -> "Records":** This takes you to the main search page. 2. **Basic Search:** Start with your ancestor's name, a significant event (birth, marriage, death), a place, and a date range.- **Example:** Searching for "John Smith" born around "1880" in "New York."
The Genealogies Section
Found under the "Search" menu, "Genealogies" allows you to search through millions of user-submitted family trees and compiled genealogies.
- **Purpose:** This can be a goldmine for connecting to research already done by others. If your ancestor appears here, you might find a link to a much older, already established tree.
- **Caution:** Always verify information found in other users' trees with original source records. Not all submitted genealogies are fully sourced.
The Catalog and Wiki
These two often-overlooked tools are absolute powerhouses for serious researchers.
- **The Catalog:** Accessible from the "Search" menu. The Catalog is a comprehensive listing of all the books, microfilms, and digitized records held by FamilySearch, organized by locality, subject, and author.
- **Use Case:** If you're looking for records for "Fairfield County, Ohio," search the Catalog for that location. It will show you all available record types: probate records, land deeds, church records, tax lists, etc., and tell you if they are digitized, on microfilm, or available at a Family History Center.
- **The Wiki:** A collaborative encyclopedia of genealogical knowledge.
- **Use Case:** Search the Wiki for "Ohio Genealogy" or "Fairfield County, Ohio Genealogy." You'll find detailed guides on record availability, research strategies for that area, historical context, jurisdictional changes, and links to relevant record collections. It's the ultimate research assistant.
Practical Strategies for Effective Research
Successful genealogy isn't just about clicking buttons; it's about strategic thinking.
Start with What You Know and Work Backwards
This is the golden rule of genealogy. Begin with yourself, then your parents, grandparents, and so on. Don't jump to a distant ancestor without solidifying the generations in between.
- **Interview Living Relatives:** Before diving into records, talk to your older family members. They might have vital names, dates, places, stories, and even old documents or photos that provide crucial clues.
Leverage Record Hints
FamilySearch's record hints are incredibly helpful.
1. **Review the Hint:** When you see a blue record hint, click it. Review the suggested record (e.g., a census record).
2. **Compare Information:** Carefully compare the details in the record hint with what you already have in your tree. Do the names, dates, and places match?
3. **Attach the Record:** If it's a match, attach the record to your ancestor. This adds the source to your tree and often extracts new information directly into their profile. Always extract all relevant information from the record, not just the name of your ancestor.
4. **Find Other Family Members:** Often, a record (like a census) will list other family members. Use these records to add or confirm spouses, children, and parents.
The Power of Place
Understanding the geography and history of where your ancestors lived is critical.
- **Jurisdictional Changes:** County lines, state borders, and even country boundaries have changed over time. Knowing these changes helps you find records in the correct location for a specific period. The FamilySearch Wiki is invaluable for this.
- **Local Records:** Many crucial records (land, probate, marriage) were kept at the county or local level. Use the Catalog to pinpoint these.
Collaborate and Connect
FamilySearch's collaborative tree means you're part of a global community.
- **Contact Researchers:** If you see an ancestor already in the tree with contributions from another user, you can contact them through the site. They might have additional information or be willing to collaborate.
- **Following Individuals:** You can "follow" individuals in the tree to receive notifications about changes or additions made by other users, keeping you updated on shared research.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Even experienced genealogists make mistakes. Being aware of common pitfalls can save you time and frustration.
- **Believing Everything You See:** Just because an ancestor is listed in someone else's family tree doesn't mean it's accurate. Always verify information with original source records. If a claim doesn't have a source attached, treat it as a clue, not a fact.
- **Jumping Too Far Back Too Soon:** Resist the urge to connect to famous historical figures without solid evidence. Building your tree one generation at a time, moving backward, ensures accuracy and prevents errors from being propagated.
- **Ignoring the Wiki and Catalog:** These aren't just for advanced users. The Wiki provides essential context and strategies, while the Catalog reveals the types of records available for specific locations, often guiding you to collections you might not discover through a simple name search.
- **Not Citing Sources:** Every piece of information in your tree should ideally be linked to a source (a record). FamilySearch makes it easy to attach records, so make it a habit. This not only proves your findings but also helps future researchers.
- **Not Being Specific Enough in Searches:** A search for "John Smith" will yield millions of results. Add a birth year, a place, and perhaps a spouse's name to narrow down your results to something manageable. Conversely, if a search yields nothing, try broadening your search slightly (e.g., a different spelling, a wider date range, or just the county instead of the specific town).
Conclusion
FamilySearch.org is an extraordinary, free resource that empowers millions to connect with their family history. From its intuitive family tree to its vast collection of historical records, and the invaluable research guidance found in the Catalog and Wiki, it offers everything a beginner needs to start their genealogical journey.
Remember to begin with what you know, work backward one generation at a time, and always verify your findings with original sources. Embrace the collaborative spirit of the platform, learn from its extensive resources, and enjoy the thrill of discovery. Your ancestors are waiting to be found, and FamilySearch.org is your ultimate guide to uncovering their stories. Start building your family tree today, and embark on a rewarding adventure into your past!
