What is FamilySearch.org?

Located at www.familysearch.org, this website is designed to give everyone, from beginner to expert, the training and tools they need to do family history research. The website is divided into four sections:

1. Home - gives news about FamilySearch, answers to frequently asked questions, product support, and product orders.

2. Search for Ancestors - includes searchable record collections and websites, step-by-step guides and other research helps.

3. Share Information - allows collaboration of research interests and submission to Pedigree Resource File.

4. Family History Library System - tells about the Family History Library, family history centers and how to access their records.

Home

This is the main page that contains information concerning FamilySearch's news, frequently asked questions about the website as well as other products, and a link to order FamilySearch products.

The links on the blue bar will take you to the following pages:

1. Welcome: The homepage where you can register for the site,  do a quick ancestral search, download PAF and find easy access to all other sections of FamilySearch.

2. News: Find out all the recent updates and news releases concerning FamilySearch.

3. FamilySearch Questions: Answers to frequently asked questions about FamilySearch in general, the Family History Library and the family history centers around the world, registering and sharing information with FamilySearch, and GEDCOMs.

4. Product Support: Answers questions about all of the programs on FamilySearch as well as the Family History programs and software available through the website.

5. Order/Download Products: This is a link to the Online Distribution Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where all of the FamilySearch products are available (as well as many other products).

Search for Ancestors

Many of these programs found on FamilySearch.org can also be found on the older FamilySearch (DOS) version. To learn more about FamilySearch (DOS) please see Lesson 6: Family History Centers.

Click here to open FamilySearch.org. Click the search tab.

You will then see the following files listed on the left side:

Ancestral File: Ancestral File is a lineage-linked database compiled by the Church, containing 35 million names submitted by users of FamilySearch. It has been around for about 25 years. It is a searchable database, but it can no longer be updated or corrected. The information is NOT verified or checked by anyone, so there are many errors. You will only find deceased individuals in this file. 

Pedigree Resource File: The Pedigree Resource File (PRF) is another database of records. It is available on compact disc and contains family history records submitted by individuals through FamilySearch.org, via the Internet. Family information is organized in family groups and pedigrees and includes submitted notes and sources. It is a fairly new database that began in 1999 and currently contains 126,500,000 million names. Like Ancestral File, the Pedigree Resource File has NOT been checked for accuracy, so it is very important to verify information found there! What you see on FamilySearch.org is only the index to this file. To see the complete submission, you must use the Pedigree Resource File CD's, found at some family history centers. They can also be purchased through FamilySearch.org.

What is the Difference Between Ancestral File and the Pedigree Resource File?
There are three main differences:

1. Ancestral File is no longer an active file, meaning there will be no more submissions accepted, although you can still use the database as a resource; Pedigree Resource File submissions are uploaded to the internet. This means that the PRF is more current and is the only place to submit files.

2. Ancestral File has had all the duplicate people merged together, which created errors in some cases.  In the Pedigree Resource File, separate submissions are not merged with any others, and corrections cannot be made to the files. Thus, you can find only one Prophet Joseph Smith in the Ancestral File, but you could find ten or twenty in the Pedigree Resource File.

3. No sources for event dates, places and relationships, or notes can be included in Ancestral File. The Pedigree Resource File allows you to see an exact copy of the submitter’s notes and sources (since none of the information is merged).

To see a more detailed comparison chart about these differences, click here.

Census: The 1880 United States Census, the 1881 British Census, and the 1881 Canadian Census have been placed on FamilySearch.org. Search by full name to find the person in the household where he/she was living in 1880 or 1881. Whole families can be pieced together, as well as neighborhoods.

The International Genealogical Index (IGI): The IGI contains several hundred million deceased individuals extracted from vital records or submitted by LDS church members, all of whom have had their temple work done. This file is the same as the Ordinance Index found in family history centers (to learn about the Ordinance Index go to Lesson 6: Family History Centers). In order to access the ordinance dates through the IGI online, LDS church members must sign onto the website and also include their confirmation date and membership number (shown on your personal "Individual Ordinance Summary", obtained through your ward clerk).

To register on FamilySearch.org with access to ordinance dates:

1. Open FamilySearch.org.

2. Click Sign On.

3. Click I need to Register (If you are already registered, sign on and click the box for “I am a member...". Then fill in the requested information and save it).

4. Fill out the requested form, including membership number and confirmation date.

5. Click Register. You will only have to fill out this information once. When you return to the website, simply sign on with your username and password and you will be able to access the ordinance information.

6. Perform a search in the IGI. You should now see ordinances listed with the individuals' information.

The IGI online will give you the most updated temple ordinance information. This index will be regularly updated and is more up-to-date than the Ordinance Index found in family history centers.

US Social Security Death Index: This is a file of deceased individuals whose deaths have been registered with the Social Security Department. Social Security began in 1937, but wasn't widespread until the 1960's, thus most of the entries are dated accordingly. Even if your ancestor died after 1937, if he/she did not have a social security number, or if the family did not report their death to the Social Security Administration, they will not be in this index.

Vital Records Index: The Vital Records Index is a partial index of vital records around the world. It currently indexes records from Mexico and Scandinavia, but should soon include North America, the British Isles, and Western Europe.

Family History Web Sites: This will search 61,000+ family history web sites according to category, surname or place.

Now that you have learned about these sources, try searching for some of your ancestors! At the search screen in FamilySearch.org, click the resource you would like to search (on the left side). Then type in at least a first and last name and click search. Click on the result that would be of interest to you, and see what you can find. If you find information you would like to add to your PAF file, go to Lesson 5: GEDCOMs to learn how.

There are also other helps available under the search tab. In the blue bar at the top you will see:

1. Research Guidance: a program designed to guide you through the process of finding your ancestors through a suggested list of records in the order they should be searched. It then provides step-by-step instructions for finding and obtaining copies of those records. To learn more about this resource, go to Lesson 6: Research.

2. Research Helps: provides research guides, research outlines, word lists, maps, and blank forms to assist you in your research.

3. Websites: browse websites according to subject.

4. Family History Library Catalog: a link to the family history library catalog.

Share Information

To use this part of the website you must be a registered user. To register, simply click "I need to Register" and follow the directions. Once you have registered, you will be able to:

1. Provide feedback about FamilySearch - click feedback

2. Submit a website to FamilySearch.org - click add a website

3. Email others through family history mailing lists - click create a new email list

4. Share your genealogy by submitting to Pedigree Resource File - click share my genealogy

5. Preserve your records in the Granite Mountain Record Vault. - created when submitting to PRF.

After you develop your PAF file, you should submit a GEDCOM of it to PRF so that others can benefit from your research findings.

Family History Library System

This part of the website will tell you about the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah along with the 3700+ family history centers throughout the world. You will first see hours, rules, resources, etc. of the library.

Use the links in the purple bar under the library tab to learn about:

1. Family History Centers: Use this link to learn about family history centers and find one near you.

2. Family History Library Catalog: This is the catalog to all of the holdings in the Family History Library. This is a helpful resource in locating original records. To learn more about this process, go to Lesson 6: Research.

3. Education: Use this section to find family history instruction through classes, conferences, institutes, courses, and publications.

Assignments

Your instructor may assign you one or more of the following assignments:

Assignment #4 -- Print a pedigree from Ancestral File

1. Click here to open FamilySearch.org. Click on search.

2. Click Ancestral File on the left of the screen.

3. Type in an ancestor's first name and last name. Remember you will not find living people in this file, then click search.

4. Review the results and find your ancestor or an individual of interest, and click their name. You will be taken to the Individual View.

5. To view the pedigree, click Pedigree.

6. At the pedigree screen, click file, then print.
   
   Note: You may not find an ancestor in this file. If you do not, search for someone with the same surname. If you still do not find anyone, search for Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743 in Virginia.

Assignment #5 -- Print a family group record from Ancestral File

1. Click here to open FamilySearch.org. Click on search.

2. Click Ancestral File on the left of the screen.

3. Type in an ancestor's first name and last name. Remember you will not find living people in this file, then click search.

4. Review the results and find your ancestor or an individual of interest, and click their name. You will be taken to the Individual View.

5. To view the family, click Family.

6. At the family screen, click file, then print.
   
   Note: You may not find an ancestor in this file. If you do not, search for someone with the same surname. If you still do not find anyone, search for Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743 in Virginia.

Assignment #6a -- Print findings from IGI

1. Click here to open FamilySearch.org. Click on search.

2. Click on International Genealogical Index.

3. Perform a search for your ancestor.

4. Print the individual records of two of your findings.
   
   Note: You may not find an ancestor in this file. If you do not, search for someone with the same surname. If you still do not find anyone, search for Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743 in Virginia and his wife Martha Wayles, born 1748, also in Virginia.

Assignment #6b -- Print findings from IGI with ordinance dates

1. Click here to open FamilySearch.org.

2. Sign onto the website with your membership number and confirmation date (remember: you will only have to enter this once).

3. Click on search.

4. Click on International Genealogical Index.

5. Perform a search for your ancestor.

6. Print the ordinance records of two of your findings, including all completed ordinances (baptism, endowment, sealing to spouse and sealing to parents). Make sure the temple ordinance dates showing.
   
   Note: You may not find an ancestor in this file. If you do not, search for someone with the same surname. If you still do not find anyone, search for Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743 in Virginia and his wife Martha Wayles, born 1748, also in Virginia.

Assignment #7 -- Print findings from Pedigree Resource File

1. Click here to open FamilySearch.org. Click on search.

2. Click on Pedigree Resource File.

3. Perform a search for your ancestor.

4. Print the individual records of two of your findings. Remember, this is only the index. To see the full information, you must use the CDs.
   
   Note: You may not find an ancestor in this file. If you do not, search for someone with the same surname. If you still do not find anyone, search for Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743 in Virginia and his wife Martha Wayles, born 1748, also in Virginia.

Assignment #8 -- Print findings from other files

1. Click here to open FamilySearch.org. Click on search.

2. Click on Social Security Death Index, or Vital Records Index.

3. Perform a search for your ancestor.

4. Print the individual records of two of your findings.