Using the FamilySearch Catalog

Introduction

The Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) is the key to the collection of the Family History Library.  Therefore effective use of the catalog increases the effective use of the collection.

Record coverage

Most of the records described in the Family History Library Catalog are from the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Europe, Central America, and South America with many from Asia and the Pacific islands.  The records mostly range from the mid-1900s back to the 1300s.

Where to get the FHLC

The Family History Library Catalog is at www.familysearch.org  On the Home Page, on the blue bar:

1. Click Library, then on the drop down menu, click Library Catalog.

OR

2. Click Search Records, then on the drop down menu, click Library Catalog.

Tips

Place Search

• Search all jurisdictions

- If a record contains information for two or more towns the record will be found on the county level.

- If a record contains information for two or more counties the record will be found on the state level.

- If a record contains information for two or more states the record will be found on the country level.

• If part of a place name has the word Saint or Mount, and you get zero results, try St. or Mt.

• For non-English place names, usually the non-English name will be used in the catalog.

• Do not type the word 'county' when doing a place search or you will get zero results.

- Determine the ancestry of a county. You need to determine which county was over the area where your ancestor lived when the ancestor lived there. See Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 or Ancestry's Red Book : American State, County & Town Sources.

• Records may be cataloged under different topics or they may also be part of a collection with other types of records. For example,

- Divorces may be cataloged with the topics of divorces or court records or vital records.

- Obituaries may be cataloged with the topics of obituaries or newspapers.

- Guardianships may be cataloged with the topics of guardianship, probate records or court records.

• The topic of 'Church records' is only used for Christian religions, never for Jewish, Islamic, or Shinto records.

Surname Search

• Try spelling variations for a surname.

• Look for related family surnames also. For many years, only 7-10 surnames were used for a book even if more surnames appear in it.

General Tips • If the catalog shows multiple pages for a search result or a film list, scroll to the bottom of the first page and put an estimate in the box for Get Records.

• Use Ctrl F to search a page for a word or number, such as a film number.

 

Old Film Numbers

 

Old Book Numbers

 

Practice exercises

Find and print the catalog entry for:

1. Saint Albans, Vermont town records
2. Divorces for Albany, Albany, New York

3. Death vital records for Pearl City, Hawaii for a death in 1919

4. A New Amsterdam history by Davis

See Also

Introduction to the Family History Library Catalog

Family History Library Catalog Place Search

Family History Library Catalog Keyword Search

Family History Library Catalog Title Search

Family History Library Catalog Film and Fiche Search

Family History Library Catalog Author Search

Family History Library Catalog Subject Search

Family History Library Catalog Call Number Search