FamilySearch and the One-Step websites are, for many researchers, mandatory search stops no matter your level
of expertise. You are probably hoping
that I will give you hints which will help crush a family brick wall by showing
you how to master these types of websites.
Both have a great deal of information in many forms, but unless you have
hours to spend every day researching most people never tap their true potential
as an outstanding web resource. In this
handout I am going to give you a few strategies you can use on these sites for
more success. These tips are also great
for other types of online genealogy research too, just in case you get
stuck.
Strategy: Start Broad, Then Refine
One of
the simplest things you can do for a successful search is to use the process of
elimination. Beginning with a basic
search that includes the minimum amount of information is key. Sometimes too much information can get in the
way. Start with a name, maybe a place, and a date range. Date ranges are key since not all records
have reliable dates on them. If you
have a large number of results start adding more information. One thing people
forget about is using the friends, associates, and neighbors (or FAN) network
in a search. If you are looking for a
family name that could be easily misspelled, mispronounced, or butchered in
some other do not forget to look for as many variations on the spelling as
possible. That includes maiden names
when known. Think about all the ways
someone could be found or how an office might have abbreviated a person’s name.
Strategy: Using Advanced Menu
Options
After
you type in the basic initial information for the person you are researching you
get a results page. If there are a large
number of hits this may seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. Now is the time for you to narrow your
results down by using any advanced search menus options available on many
search screens.
Strategy: Using Boolean Searches
and Wildcards
Hopefully
most of you know what Boolean searches and wild cards are. For those that need a refresher, in a nut
shell, they are ways that you can make your searches broader and can cover a
multitude of spellings. Investigate if the website you are searching allows
these since it can help you find misplaced or hidden ancestors. Wildcards will
give a large number of results however. Make sure you have an idea on how you
will pare them down if you need to.
Strategy: Record Collections
Instead
of messing with the filters, because you know exactly the types of records you
want to view, why not go directly to them. If the site has a listing of its
collections make sure to investigate it completely. I always use any “learn more” features to see
if the information I want is there. It
really stinks to search for hours for a record that does not exist.
Strategy: Explore the Entire
Website
Many
people want to hit a site and never go further than what is easy to find in a
first search. I am here to tell you that
is a huge mistake. Take the time to
really explore. Start out by looking for
collections, databases, and etc. that your ancestors could be in and just go
for it. By using clues from other
sources you can narrow your searches down to a few collections and weed through
it all fairly easily. Take copious notes on what you find, and particularly
what you don’t find. One of the ways I
track my progress through a record collection is by what I call carrot short
hand. I write each collection name or
page and then with arrows I show the clicks I made to get to the next one. This way when I go back to look at my notes
later I knew where I went, what I looked at, and if I found anything.
Strategy: Publications
Did you
know that there are entire digitized books out there on genealogy topics? You can search many of these websites by
generic topics (like a surname or a place) or titles if you know the book you
are looking for. Plus there are advanced
search features available on many sites to filter by material types (periodical,
gazetteers, or books) in addition to languages.
Strategy: Search the Catalog
Catalogs
usually contain the listing of all genealogical materials available from a
website. These are really handy if you need to find a
record again if you forgot to write down the identifying information the first
time. Or if you only remember part of a
name for the record, but aren’t sure where you located it the first time. Search
the catalog and see what comes up.
Strategy: Exploring Wikis
For
those of you who are still unsure what a wiki is, simply put it is a website that allows editing of its content and
structure by its users through collaboration.
Subjects on genealogy wikis range from advice for researchers to the
information you can find in various record collections. The sites are updated frequently, so the key
is to check back often to see if information you want to learn about it
there.
Strategy: Safely using the
submitted genealogies
As genealogists,
we live on clues and hints. Do not be
afraid to look to other people’s research for help. Just realize that until you also confirm that
information it is suspect. That is just
good research practice. One good way to
weed though the massive amounts of possible results is to look for trees that
have source citations and no inconsistencies.
Resources:
Websites:
·
Basic
Search Tips and Advanced Boolean Explained http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Boolean.pdf
Books:
·
Dana McCullough Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History
on the Largest Free Genealogy Website
·
W.
Daniel Quillen Mastering Online Genealogy
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