Our lesson today focused on getting acquainted with the FamilySearch.org website. We explored the different sections of the site, other than Family Tree. We will start working on that next week. We just looked at each menu item briefly. These are some of the things we talked about:
Memories
Upload pictures, documents, and other items about each ancestor. Include current pictures of family and yourself. You can also upload audio, so record interviews with family members and save them to Memories. Click on the green + sign and follow instructions.
Search
1 - Records - We will spend more time on this in a later class. This is where all records can be accessed, either by searching by name or by searching collections.
2 - Genealogies - These are personal genealogies that have been submitted by people. They are not part of Family Tree. You can upload your own, as well, if you wish. I personally only use this section to find clues when I am tired of banging my head on a brick wall. Anytime you take information from someone else, whether from their tree or by sharing some other way, you must personally verify the information to make sure it is correct. There are a lot of errors out there!
3 - Catalog - This gives you access to everything that is available in the Salt Lake City Family History Center. Some things are not available for checkout, so a trip to SLC would be necessary. Some are available on microfilm. The individual page will tell you if it is on microfilm. It will also tell you if it has been digitized and is available someplace on the internet. If it is microfilmed, you can order a copy to be sent to your nearest Family History Center for viewing. There is also a link to WorldCat, which can help you find if the book/item is available at a library nearer to you. This is a page that you will use quite often.
4 - Books - This shows links to several other libraries that hold many genealogy related books. Because of the partnership with these libraries, some of their holdings may be available for online viewing.
5 - Wiki - This is one of the best tools available. It is a research encyclopedia and contains articles and links to FamilySeearch collections and to other sites. You can search by place or by topic. When starting research into something new or in a new area, this is the first place to go to become educated on that new topic or place.
Indexing
This class is not about indexing, so we did not spend much time on this. The point was made that anyone can index and not just church members.
Temple
We will have a class later on using the temple functions.
Find, Take, Teach
The challenge that has been issued to all members of the church. Find a name, take that name to the temple, and then teach others how to do the same. We are encouraged to submit as many names to the temple as we do work for.
Family Booklet
This is a booklet that helps to fill in the basic information about the first four generations, beginning with you. It is available in an online form or hard copies can be ordered for $.50. The booklet was designed for those areas where people do not generally have a computer at home. They could fill in the information manually and then give it to the Family History Consultant, who would enter all the information for that person and prepare the temple file names, which would be returned to the individual to do the temple work. This a a useful book for families to use, as well. It would especially appeal to children and would be a great resource for family home evenings, etc. It is also helpful for those who are new to genealogy.
Messages
A new feature on FamilySearch is the ability to send messages to others who are working on the same ancestors, even when they have not made an email address public. Send the message and FS will notify the other person that a message is waiting. You can click on the Messages button to retrieve any messages sent to you.
Get Help
There are two parts to the Help section. One, on the right, allows you to contact FS for assistance with problems or questions. The other, on the left, links you to videos and training helps. The Help Center answers frequently asked questions about how to do things on FS and other related types of things. The Learning Center has dozens of videos about doing research in different states and countries and also many on general genealogy topics. It is worth spending some time exploring and taking advantage of this huge library.
Question
A question was asked about how to get the free websites, like Ancestry.com. Thsi is how:
Get Help
Help Center
Under Select a Help Topic, choose Partners
Our Partners
Choose the site you are interested in joining
Create Your Free Ancestry Account
Choose whether you already have an account for that site or if this is a new account
Follow instructions from there
All the sites listed are free for LDS members. You must have signed in with your LDS log in. LDS members get this benefit, because the tithing money paid by the members to the church is what funds FamilySearch.
I think that covers the main things we talked about. We will start in on the Family Tree pedigree charts next time.
Thanks.
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