Using the FamilySearch Catalog: Difference between revisions

:• 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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=545087&disp=Map+guide+to+the+U.S.+Federal+census%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920] or [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=611946&disp=Ancestry%27s+red+book%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Ancestry's Red Book : American State, County & Town Sources.]

:• 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.

:• 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 as divorces or court records or vital records.  

:• 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.