Finding FamilySearch Images?
The a3Genealogy research team decided to welcome 2018 by responding to some of our most pressing questions of 2017. We are still getting quite a few questions/inquiries and shared frustrations via phone and email on the FamilySearch "no microfilm distribution policy" of 2017. So we turned to the a3Genealogy FamilySearch expert, Lauri Jean Swett to unscramble what's possible and what's not. Lauri Jean shares tips, hints and suggestions on how to succeed at retrieving our ancestor related images and documents. Let us know if you have other questions on this topic that may help with your genealogy project.
Kathleen Brandt, a3Genealogy
Digitizing the Collections
FamilySearch
shocked the genealogical community with its announcement this summer that it
was discontinuing microfilm distribution to local family history centers and
affiliate libraries. Why would FamilySearch
make this change after 80 years? The
primary reason for the change is that most of its microfilm collection has been
digitized and is available online. Additionally, digital cameras are now used
for record preservation not film. According
to FamilySearch, their entire collection will be digitized by 2020.[i] With the ‘why’ out of the way, the next
question is: if most of the collection is already digitized and available
online, how do we access the images?
Images Attached to Indexes
 |
| Sample Icons from FamilySearch Search Results |
The
easiest way to locate images in FamilySearch is to follow those attached to
indexes. To do this, search the
historical records here, with an
ancestor’s name. The entries in the list
of search results will have icons on the far right. The camera icon means an image is available. Click on this icon to view the digital
image. Does the camera icon include a
webpage behind it? This means the image
is available on another website such as BillionGraves.com or FindAGrave.com. Click this icon and you have the option to
visit the partner website to see the image.
Indexes without Images with Film or
Digital Folder Numbers
This
option requires a few more steps. First, open the index entry. The microfilm number may be in two
locations. To the right of the entry
details may be a section that includes the index name, GS Film Number, Digital
Folder Number and Image Number. GS
stand for Genealogical Society of Utah, the precursor to FamilySearch. Take note of these numbers as you will use
them when searching the FamilySearch catalog. Clicking on the film or digital folder number will not take you to the
images but an alphabetical listing of the index entries. If the film or folder number is not listed to
the right, read through the “Citing this Record” section below the indexed
information. Make note of film number, volume numbers, certificate numbers and
other information to more easily find the image of interest.
 |
| Family Search Catalog |
Using the Film/Folder Number to View the
Image
From
the index entry, scroll to the top of the webpage and click on the catalog tab
which takes you to Family Search Catalog. Under “Search for:” click on “Film/Fiche
Number” and enter the microfilm number or digital folder number and click
“Search.” This takes you to the simple
catalog entry. Clicking on the record’s
name reveals the details of author, format, language, and publication
information, followed by notes and subject headings for the catalog. Below this information is the microfilm
information. Scroll down to locate the film or folder of interest and look to
its right for a camera icon. Clicking on
this icon opens the digital images. If
the image number was included in the index entry, replace image "1" with that
number and press enter. Double clicking
on the highlighted image allows the user to view the record of interest.
Microfilm Tips
If
the index entry did not include an image number, look at the beginning and end
of the film for an index or directions on using it. Is the film strip divided by county, organized
by certificate number or by date? It may
take a while to locate the exact record sought. These same steps that helped us find our record on microfilm helps us
find it among the online images.
Catalog Icons
Each
microfilm in the catalog will also have icons to the right. The magnifying glass allows us to search the
index. The camera means digital images
are available. The camera with a key
above it means the images cannot be viewed from home.
 |
| Sample Icons from FamilySearch Catalog |
A trip to your local family history center,
affiliate library such as the Midwest Genealogy Center, or the FamilySearchLibrary in Salt Lake City, UT may be necessary.
A microfilm icon means that digital images are not available from
FamilySearch. Search online to see if
another provider has the images online. The
microfilm may be part of the collection at a local family history center, or an
affiliate library. Scroll to the top of
the microfilm details and look for the location drop down box. This box shows locations that have at least
one of the microfilms in that record group.
Changing to a different location will show only the films available at
that location.
Unindexed Records and Indexes without Film
or Folder Number
A
word of caution. not all FamilySearch indexes include film or folder numbers,
and not all microfilm records have been indexed. With such records, the old school approach is
necessary. Do a catalog search by location, author or subject to find the
record of interest. Once we have identified
the catalog entry we wish to pursue, we look for the icons to determine how to
access that record.
Happy
hunting!
Lauri Jean Swett
An a3Genealogy Researcher
[i] “FamilySearch Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm,” FamilySearch, posted
26 June 2017 (http://media.familysearch.org/ : accessed 28 June 2017)
No comments:
Post a Comment