1. Beyond the “Search” in FamilySearch
Fairfax Genealogy Society Conference, April 5, 2013
Carol Petranek, Co-Director
Washington DC Family History Center
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2. What is FamilySearch?
Area Studies and
History Nearly 1000 Languages
people staff
operations
worldwide
Archival &
Library Science
Computer Micrographics &
technology Digital imaging
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3. The Largest Genealogical Library in the World
2.4 million rolls of microfilmed records, plus books, maps and other resources from all over the world
Open to the public at no charge
4. Granite Mountain Records Vault
• Permanent repository of 2.4 million rolls of microfilm
and other digital media
• 20 miles southeast of SLC
• Storage chambers are under 700 feet of stone
5. Inside the Vault
• storage facility for microfilm & digital media
• 700 feet underground
• 6 chambers, temp + humidity ideal for storage
• can withstand nuclear blast
6. What is the Purpose of
FamilySearch?
Help people connect with their ancestors
through easy access to historical records
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10. New! FamilySearch FamilyTree
• Connect and collaborate with others
on shared family lines
• Edit and delete incorrect data,
including relationships
• Provide sources and links to online
information that shows where you
found family information
• Preserve family tree information for
future generations
•Print pedigree charts, family group
records, and other reports
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15. Portal - British
19th Century British Library Newspapers
This fully searchable database of the British Library's newspaper holdings
provides a complete run of 48 national and regional Victorian British newspapers
for the 19th century from 1800 to 1900. These support the study of colonial
history, genealogical research, politics, urban studies, and media courses.
Find My Past
Search census records and trace births, marriages, and deaths. Also available
through this site is the 1911 British Census.
The Genealogist
English parish records, directories, census, civil registration, surname mapping,
and selected army and navy lists.
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16. Portal - Specialized
Historic Map Works Library Edition
One of the most extensive digital map collections available, with over 470,000 high-
resolution, full color historic and antique maps, property and land ownership maps and
illustrations, city directories.
Alexander Street Press, American Civil War
Research Data: indexed, searchable information on over 4 million soldiers and
thousands of battles, together with 15,000 photographs.
Letters and Diaries: 100,000 indexed pages of diaries, letters, and memoirs
Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera: over 1,400 images
Paper Trail
19th-century westward American migration documents.
ArkivDigital Online
The largest private provider of Swedish Church Records and other historical records online.
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17. Portal - General
Access Newspaper Archives
Features billions of articles from historical newspapers around the U.S.
and the world. All are full-page and fully searchable.
Ancestry.com
The world’s largest for-profit genealogy website.
World Vital Records
Birth, marriage, and death records; SSDI; family trees; census records; immigration
records; court, land, and probate records; military records directory lists; newspapers,
family histories, reference materials, biographies, wills, gravestone photos, ship
manifests, map collections, and yearbook collections.
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18. Portal - General
Godfrey Memorial Library
U.S. and international resources, local histories, church and vital records, military
lists, city and business directories; vital records; family Bible records; service and
pension records.
Fold 3
The best online collection of military records and stories; also historical documents
and photos (including many naturalization records and city directories).
Heritage Quest Online
Access : census; books (24,000 family and local histories), PERSI index of over 2M
genealogy and local history articles; Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Files;
Freedman’s Bank; U.S. Serial Set.
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19. FamilySearch Wiki
Find out what
historical records are
available in localities
around the world
Learn how to access
those records
Learn research
strategies
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21. General Topic Research
You can
edit, add,
correct
any page! General information
State-specific
information
Research guides
Links to articles,
libraries, historical
societies, online
websites
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23. STATE PAGE
Links in left column or
at bottom
Each category leads to
additional information
Resources include
digital, libraries,
articles,
historical societies
The green “online” box
will take you directly to
online resources
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27. FamilySearch.org: Learn
Over 400 courses
FS YouTube videos
Interactive Slides
Handouts/Podcasts
Beginning & experienced
levels
Taught by experts worldwide
Language assistance
Word guides
Research Guides
States
Countries
Topics
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38. Indexing
• Over 250,000 volunteers worldwide
• Can be done by anyone of any age
• Use your own personal computer
• Choose the project you want to
work on
• A “batch” takes about 20 minutes
• Do as many batches as you wish
• Start and stop a batch as you wish
• Images that are difficult to read can
be returned
44. Global Service Organization
Free global service
organization with over
70,000 volunteers.
Local and online support
24/7 live assistance
Call toll-free 1-866-406-1830
Chat online
E-mail at support@familysearch.org