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Searching for Your Family in FamilySearch.org. International Genealogical Index (IGI) Ancestral File Census Pedigree Resource File Social Security Death Index Vital Records Death Index.
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Searching for Your Family in FamilySearch.org International Genealogical Index (IGI) Ancestral File Census Pedigree Resource File Social Security Death Index Vital Records Death Index Created by Joyce A. Brannan, Technical Services Librarian, Julia Tutwiler Library, University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama. 8/20/2004
You create your own user name and password. Keep them simple. Only members who have registered with their membership information are able to view ordinance data.
This is the home page for Family Search. Select “Search for Ancestors.”
This is the basic search screen. All resources will be searched. The only required field is the surname. There are tips for searching. I am signed in.
We may want to enter more search terms. There are 540 hits. The right sidebar links to the hits by source.
This is one feature I do NOT like. I don’t want all the Hollands in the US; I only want one state!
There are 3694 IGI hits in Alabama for the name Holland. Each IGI record may contain more than one name.
I have started a different search using a name for which I know the results.
The individual record for a marriage sealing. Ordinance data is only available to members who have registered their membership information.
This how the screen will look if you have not signed on. You can click on several different places for additional information.
This is a family group record for Hezekiah and Sarah. I have no idea who sent this in. It only shows one child. They actually had four.
This is the most serious drawback using the IGI as a source. Too many people have sent the same names in and frequently do so with incomplete information. As a research tool, the IGI should be considered a simple road map drawn by someone to help you get started. It should not be considered a valid research source.
This is Hezekiah C. Adams, the son of Hezekiah and Sarah. It contains more complete information. Ancestral File records usually contain more information than IGI records.
And on the mother’s side. You can select any individual from this screen to go to his individual record.
Some Ancestral File records will contain the name and addresses of the submitters. For some reason, my name has been removed.
Go back to the results list for Hezekiah Adams. There is some census information available.
Information is extracted from the census record. You can click on household.
A new search. Remember, many records for women will use their maiden names.
I had exact spelling turned off. This is recommended. Select pedigree resource file.
This is minimal information. Information on the compact discs are available at Family History Centers only. Submitter information is provided.
240 Joyce Adamses have died since the beginning of social security. However, if someone was looking for me, social security does not use a woman’s maiden name. It uses the name that the person died under. (They would also have to wait a few years. This is a death index.) Select number 236.
Minimal information is available. If a survivor applies for the death benefit, a zip code will be shown.
More information may be available by contacting the Social Security office.
Go back to the Search for Ancestors page. Each resource can be searched individually.
Vital Record Indexes are only available for a few countries.
One last search. I am searching all resources with just a last name.
The record says “All sources – 631.” This is the number showing on this page.
Scroll down to numbers 25 and 26. Notice it says “Ancestral File – over 25.” If I select that . . .
I get a web page with 165 names. Abel Adams is early in the alphabet so I can assume that there are a lot of Adams. I would want to refine this search.
Go back to the results list of Adamses and scroll down to number 607. At the end of each All Records search there will be web sites. This is not a comprehensive listing of all existing web sites for your name.
You do not know what these pages might contain. Usually the information will be of some use. Number 626 has an unusual number of pop-ups.
After I close the 16 pop-ups, I get a page worth looking at.
We have seen this woman on several screens. Make use of the helps.
This has been a brief overview of some of the features of the Family Search provided by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. For information about their research guidance, education, publications, and library catalog, see the presentation, “The Family History Library System.”
