Europe "How to" Guides

“How to” guides are created by the international research specialists at the Family History Library. Using these guides and their accompanying activities will enhance your research skills and knowledge and increase the likelihood of success in locating records of your ancestors. To view the guides, click on the country for which you are interested from the map or from the list below.

How to use the guides

Select a guide from the list below based on your interests. Please note that some guides need to be completed in sequence to ensure a successful experience. Build your research knowledge and confidence with each activity you complete.

Each guide comes with three parts - Instruction, which includes a guided activity, Assignment, to test what you've learned, and an Answer key, to check how you did on the assignment. The guides are also rated as either Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced. The majority are designed for beginners. The guides are available in PDF form designed to be downloaded and printed. To view a guide, click on its title. Once the guide has opened, use the PDF tools found in your browser to print and save the document. PLEASE NOTE: Some guides are designed to be completed using resources found in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. These are indicated by an * following the title of the guide. If you cannot visit the Family History Library, check your local library or your local FamilySearch Family History Center for availability of the resources described in the guide.

Countries within Europe can be grouped together into five regions.

The British Isles

England Ireland

Scotland Wales

Central Europe

Austria Belgium Czech Republic Germany Luxembourg

The Netherlands Poland Slovakia Slovenia Switzerland

Eastern Europe

Estonia Latvia

Lithuania Russia

Mediterranean Europe

or Southern Europe

France Italy

Portugal Spain

• Scandinavia
  or Northern Europe

Denmark Norway

Sweden