| You are here: | About>Parenting & Family>Genealogy |
![]() | Genealogy |
The Ancestor Search option on the FamilySearch Web site
searches through a number of large databases of information for your ancestor:
Ancestral File™ When you find a match in the Ancestral file, select the item to see the
individual record for that person. From this screen you will be given the
option to look at a Family Group Sheet (family) or a online family tree
(pedigree). From either of those two records you will be given the option
to download the information in GEDCOM format, easily readable by most family
tree software. If you want contact information on the person who submitted
the file, that is available from any of the individual record screens. International Genealogical Index® When you find a match in the IGI, select the item to see the IGI record.
This will provide you with:
If this is a possible ancestor, it is always a good idea to go back to the original source. Select the Source Call Number or Film Number option (if available) to find the film number and information in the Family History Library Catalog. Select the film to learn more about the types of records it contains, and then select View Film Notes to get the specific film numbers that you will need in order to request the film through your local Family History Center. Pedigree Resource File™ When you find a match in the Pedigree Resource file, it works in much the same way as the Ancestral File. What makes it different is that is includes a field for notes, as well as sources, and the information is not available online in a family tree format. You can see all of the people listed in a single database, however, by clicking on the number after "Submission Search." When the search screen comes up, leave all of the fields blank (including surname) with the exception of the Submission Number. This will provide you with a list of all of the names in that submitter's database. For more information, you can contact the submitter, or you can purchase the CD which contains that particular database for an extremely reasonable $5. Each CD contains about 1.1 million names. Web Sites Next page > More tips for successful searching > Page 1, 2, 3, 4
Stay in touch with what's new in Genealogy by subscribing to our free newsletter, About Ancestry, joining us for nightly genealogy chats, or posting your genealogy questions and/or surname queries in the Genealogy Forum.
URL: http://genealogy.about.com/library/weekly/aa042400a.htm |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
All Topics | Email Article | | | ![]() |
| Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | Help | Our Story | Be a Guide |
| User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | ©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. |


