Attaching FamilySearch (FS) Records to Family Tree Using the Source Linker

Family Tree Training

{| style="float:right; width:50%; border:0px" **This STEPS with Pictures Guide has been revised/updated 9-3-2016

What's Up
Guide to Attaching FamilySearch Records to Family Tree Using the Source Linker. This Lesson guide contains written STEPS interspersed with PICTURES that show how to find and add Family Search indexed records to a person in Family Tree. Indexed records in the Family Search databases can be found in two ways: by looking under RESEARCH HELPS - RECORD HINTS and under SEARCH RECORDS - Family Search in the person's FT Details page. Following this lesson guide leads to a valuable hands-on practical experience for the beginner/intermediate level FT user in locating and attaching FS records to their ancestors using the Source Linker. Before linking the record, the information in it should be compared with proven information about that ancestor to determine whether or not it belongs to that person. Typically you will see an abstract of the record without an image attached to it. Reading "NO IMAGE AVAILABLE" does not mean there is no record. Do not misunderstand-- there is always an image of the actual record or an abstract could not have be made!. When there is no accompanying image, likely it is because, when the indexing was done, digital imagery was not available. Even with the abstract attached to your ancestor, it is always preferable to examine the actual record (for more details and to avoid transcription errors). To find that record search for the GS film number and reference ID under the source citation. Not all FS records have been indexed, many others are available on film and in books. Check the FS catalog for these valuable resources.
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How to best use the "Attaching FS Records..." Guide
This lesson guide can be used individually, in a one-on-one mentoring session or in a class situation. It is designed to provide beginner and intermediate level FT users with a hands-on practical experience in putting documents as sources in their Tree. The lesson guide is found to be most successful in enabling users to do the task independently when it is part of a "Model with Steps;Do with Steps" approach. First the teacher/mentor perform the Steps in their own FT or in the sandbox account... at the same time drawing attention to the specific directions on the handout. After that, the participant does the task in their Tree by following the same Steps. Thus, by the end of the lesson, they have read through the Steps TWICE and performed the task ONCE. Retaining the guide for reference, they can more readily repeat the task thereafter.

Other FT Entry/Intermediate Task Guides(STEPS with Pictures)
1. Putting Photos and Documents as Memories in FamilySearch Family Tree 2. Putting Documents as Sources in FamilySearch Family Tree 3. Fixing Relationships in FamilySearch (FS) Family Tree 4. Finding and Merging Duplicates in FamilySearch (FS) Family Tree