Hide and Seek on FS Record Collections

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Do you ever feel like Family Search has hidden the records you are seeking like a squirrel hides nuts for the winter?  Seriously it has gotten so much better since the last time you gave up and went to another big website.  I have complied this list of links so that you can navigate more successfully in Record Search.  Happier hunting to you!

Searching for Records on Family Search

 http://tinyurl.com/j97snwn   A FS Video on some simple searching techniques.

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https://familysearch.org/ask/#/search/

Here’s how to get there from the home page:

familysearch.org>Sign on>Get Help>Help Center>Search Icon>

This section has several areas to explore. Frequently asked Questions, Tips and Tricks, Research Strategies, Other Resources.  Take a look at each section.

 Tips and Tricks-

This contains some very basic search ideas, a video (Requires Silverlight installation) and some handouts that can be printed for those beginning their journey in genealogy.

 Research Strategies-

This is part 2 of the searching techniques on Family Search. It goes into greater depth on how to find and browse through records that have not been currently indexed by name of the person you are seeking. There are things here for all levels of users. This is worth checking out for your use and to help patrons. 70% of our records are currently Browse Only. 

It is harder to find something that way but the collections contains a wonderful array of records. There are ways to filter these records to make the browsing more manageable. Learn them.

The first video listed above goes into filtering for best results on the person details page in the Family Tree.

On FS website go to the search page from the dropdown menu on the toolbar. To find the indexed records use the search box.

For the browsable records go to the main search page also under the search tab. You will see the search box on the left and the clickable maps on the right. Look down in the lower right corner for the over 2,000 record collections on FS.

The last video on the page goes into advanced searching of these browse only records.

 Other Resources-

 Check out the Riverton FamilySearch Library for a lesson on Searching on Family Search. The resource allows you to teach and use the handout or pass it along to patrons. It is great for teaching the step-by-step method of finding records. They have a good one on Genealogies and Books. Ogden has many great links there as well.

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Also check out the resources on The Family History Guide. This is one of the best ways to learn about Genealogy and Family History in an organized sequential way. It is a Family Search Partner. You are going to be hearing a lot about The Family History Guide in the next several months.

 http://thefhguide.com   Click on Project #4 Discover.

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Another blogger named Amy Johnson Crow did this presentation and it is great!

http://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/2015/09/11/find-collections-on-familysearch/

Below is her Video found on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/MWFqCe2FaEc

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The last resources I am including is this in current video from RootsTech entitled Finding Elusive Records. This is by Robert Kehrer (pronounced Care) 60 minute presentation.

 https://www.rootstech.org/video2/4741844756001

There are so many helps out there to train us how to master the learning curve to success in our searching for records.  Each of the big databases has them!  The name of the game in FH and Genealogy is resources!  Consider adding these links to your Source Box to help our patrons learn to search effectively through the records.

Searching Ancestry~Part 1

How many times have you searched Ancestry and wondered why you can't find things?  Did you know that Ancestry has over 12.5 billion records?  Two years ago they only had 6.5 billion.   At that same time they had over 30,000 record collections.  The number today was not readily available.  So there has to be a way to find your one little person that goes far beyond typing everything you know about them in a search box or two.  Right?  Some tips and trick that will help you narrow down your search are what this lesson is all about.

I think the first thing we need to talk about is the definition of Algorithm when trying to understand searching on Ancestry. Algorityms are the behind the scenes pathway a computer uses to find what you are searching for in the database.  And that is about as technical as I'll ever get on that being neither mechanical or mathematical! Research this further if you are so inclined but for our purposes here the Wikipedia definition is sufficient.

A quote from Linda from the lesson this week found below in the Dropbox download option is as follows:

"In general, when you do a search, the software looks through all its records looking for matches for each search criteria and then assigns points to each criterion based on how close the match is. 

 If filters have been applied these searches are given higher points but not always top priority.  Additional algorithms are also applied depending on the type of database being scoured.  The points are then totaled and the results are displayed with (we hope) the most relevant ones showing first."  

I once heard Crista Cowan of Ancestry say, "If you don't find what you are looking for in the first few pages, refine your search."

This is going to take some practice but eventually you will start seeing much better results in your searching.  This will be invaluable when working with our patrons and as always the added blessing of being able to find and solve our own research problems will be ours.  The exercise below in the lesson will give us some practice with some of the basics tips.  Thank you, Linda!

If I can give you just one tip it is this:  As you search broadly and cast a big net you will get many hits. Think 12.5 billion records and start eliminating as many possibilities as you can through filtering.  If you are looking for someone in North Dakota, filter by locality and eliminate all records that are not pertinent to North Dakota. Poof billions are gone right from the start.   Keep eliminating by adding filters for time frame and names and events to keep casting away everything you don't want to scroll through.  Eventually, hopefully you will find your person.

This hit is a huge simplification but the visualization of casting off what I don't need helps me a lot in finding what I do need.  There probably is at least one more great lesson coming on this from Linda.

You can also always go to ancestry.com to their learning center and watch training videos.  Hmm, I am beginning to see a pattern here.  Researching each website you want to use is probably a good idea.  They have a lot in common but they also have tips and tricks unique to their particular website. I have heard this is particularly true regarding filtering.

Researching how to use various sites is pretty important in actually finding what you are looking for on their site.  I watched a few of the Ancestry Getting Started ones and they were excellent.

If you are interested in the Ancestry Day in San Francisco, it is November 9th at the Hyatt Regency right across from the Ferry Building.  Crista Cowan will be teaching several classes on the workings of ancestry including searching.  She does a great job.

Searching Ancestry Part I (1).pdf

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