FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world and provides the largest free genealogy website. It gathers, preserves, and shares genealogy records from around the world to help people learn about their family history through free online access to resources and research assistance available at over 4,500 family history centers worldwide. FamilySearch offers a vast collection of digital genealogy records, family trees, research guides and classes, and tools for indexing records to expand free access to historical records.

1. Exploring the “Search”
In FamilySearch
BAAHGS, March 7, 2013
Carol Petranek
Co-Director, Washington DC FHC
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2. FamilySearch.org
What exactly is FamilySearch?
• Largest genealogy organization in the world
• The largest FREE and one of the most heavily used genealogy web sites
• Gathers, preserves and shares genealogy records worldwide
• Has records, services and research help for people to learn about their
family history
• Free online access to resources
• Free personal assistance at more than 4,500 FHC worldwide

3. FamilySearch
History World’s Area Studies and
Languages
Largest
Genealogy
Organization
Archival &
Library Science
Computer Micrographics &
technology Digital imaging
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4. What is the Purpose of
FamilySearch?
Help people connect with their ancestors
through easy access to historical records
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5. Why Do We Do This?
• The family is an
essential part of our
core values.
• Connecting with our
ancestors provides
perspective,
understanding and
strength.

6. What Does FamilySearch Offer You?
World’s Largest FREE Genealogy Website
• Digital Records • Free Online Classes
Worldwide • Blogs
• Family Trees • Facebook pages
• FHL Catalog • Twitter Feeds
– 2.5 M rolls microfilm; fiche • Indexing
– histories of families
– county and local histories
• Wiki
– how-to books on genealogy • Online Research Guides
– genealogy magazines • Collaboration Tools
– periodicals
– gazetteers
First Pres May 2008 6

7. The Largest Genealogical Library in the World
2.4 million rolls of microfilmed records, plus books, maps and other resources from all over the world
Open to the public at no charge

8. Granite Mountain Records Vault
• Permanent repository of 2.4 million rolls of microfilm
and other digital media
• 20 miles southeast of SLC
• Storage chambers are under 700 feet of stone

9. Inside the Vault
• storage facility for microfilm & digital media
• 700 feet underground
• 6 chambers, temp + humidity ideal for storage
• can withstand nuclear blast

10. Records Preservation
• Important for future
generations
• 100 years experience
• Partner with
archives, libraries,
national repositories
• Leading edge digital
preservation

11. Changing Research Techniques
• Traditional • Technological
– Paper forms – Genealogy software
– Microfilm & fiche – Digitized original
– Writing query letters records
– Research trips – Email, smartphones,
– Mailing charts & info iPads
– Online searches
– Upload tree to website

12. Online Access to the World’s Records
Records Digital Online
Negotiation Conversion Indexing
Image Online
Preservation
Capture Access
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13. New Collections Added Weekly
Present:
200 filming projects
in over 40 countries
Each year:
Over 40 million digital
images &
20 thousand rolls of
microfilm uploaded
Granite vault records
to be completely
digitized by 2018
As of January 2013,
There are 1,400
record collections
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14. HOME PAGE
- FamilyTree (new)
- Learn (courses, wiki)
- Centers (local)
- Indexing
- Blog
- Records
- Genealogies (trees)
- Catalog (Salt Lake)
- Books
- Sign in to access
records, FamilyTree
- Help (24/7)
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15. FamilySearch.org – Largest Free Website
Search by Name
Search by Record

16. Name Search Results
Parents
Maiden Name
Children

18. Locality Records
Camera icon =
View original record
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19. Original Image
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20. Family History Library Catalog
Find the records Order the microfilm View the records
you want online from home at a family history
center
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21. Catalog Search: PLACE
South Carolina
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22. Catalog Search: NAME
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23. Online Film Ordering
Order from home at: familysearch/films
Films sent to your local FHC

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26. Search Results for “Walter Mercer” in User-Submitted Family Trees
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27. Search for “Walter Mercer” in Books
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28. Search Results for “Walter Mercer” in Books /Allen County Public Library
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29. What is Indexing?
• Over 100,000 volunteers worldwide
• Can be done by anyone of any age
• Use your own personal computer
• Choose the project you want to
work on
• A “batch” takes about 20 minutes
• Do as many batches as you wish
• Start and stop a batch as you wish
• Images that are difficult to read can
be returned

30. These microfilm records have information
which may help you find your ancestors

31. Indexing
Number of active
volunteers– Over 250,000
Number of current
projects – Over 500 And Growing!
Number of names indexed
per year – Over 300 million
Number of indexed records
added daily – 1.7 million

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33. This is the “test drive”

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36. Current Indexing Projects
Over 500 Indexing Projects
• Spanish
• Italian
• Russian
• German
• French
• Portuguese
• Swedish
• Czech
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37. Why Index?
 Provide meaningful service
 Give back and pay it forward
 It’s fast and it’s easy
 No special skills are required
 Can be done from home, or
any computer
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38. Global Service Organization
Free global service
organization with over
70,000 volunteers.
Local and online support
24/7 live assistance
Call toll-free 1-866-406-1830
Chat online
E-mail at support@familysearch.org

39. Let us know how we can help you!