User:Dotxinxoz/locating online records-Sister Hanna

Part 1 - FamilySearch Wiki Sources

In the last decade, there has been a literal explosion in the availability of online genealogy records. This article will explain methods for locating online records using the FamilySearch Wiki.
 * For online records on FamilySearch Historical Records and the FamilySearch Library, see Part Two.
 * For online digitized books, see Part Three.
 * For internet searches for online records, see Part Four.

Complete or incomplete?
In some cases, the database shows a complete copy of all the existing or known records in a collection. However, in many cases It is important to read any descriptive notes about the collection. If it is incomplete, you will want to study the source again from time to time until you can determine that the project is finished.
 * 1) the collection is still being digitized and uploaded. The uploading is a work in progress.
 * 2) the collection is fully digitized, but only partially indexed. The index is a work in progress.
 * 3) the original collection is still being gathered and will eventually be digitized, uploaded, and indexed. The collection is a work in progress.

Index, index and images, images only?
Some databases show digitized copies of original documents. Some databases are indexes of genealogical data found in documents. Some databases have indexed a collection of documents and linked the index entry to the digitized image of the document named. '''Warning! Every time information is copied into an index, abstract, or extract there is a chance of human error.''' An index may speed up location of a desired record. However, if the indexer misread or mistyped an entry, dependence on an index can result in missing a valuable record or greater details found in an original record. Always study the original source. Look at the digitized copy linked by the index. Browse the original source in the appropriate time period or section where you would expect to find your record, whenever possible.

FamilySearch Wiki Locality Pages
Most online sources for countries, U.S. states, English counties, Canadian provinces, and Australia states, are listed in the Online Genealogy Record pages linked above in the left sidebar. At least, a serious effort is made to keep those pages current. However, online databases for lower jurisdictions, U.S. counties and towns, English towns and parishes, European provinces and states, and Latin American are not included in the Online Genealogy Records pages. They are frequently listed and explained in the FamilySearch Wiki pages for these lower jurisdictions. For example, here is a portion of the page for the county (kreis) of Bergstrasse in the state of Hessen, Germany. It gives links to an online database of births, marriages, and deaths from 1876 for this small locality:

Part 2 - FamilySearch Historical Records and the FamilySearch Library

In the last decade, there has been a literal explosion in the availability of online genealogy records. This article will explain methods for locating online records in Family Historical Records and the FamilySearch Library.
 * For using the FamilySearch Wiki to find online records, see Part One.
 * For online digitized books, see Part Three.
 * For internet searches for online records, see Part Four.

Warning Tips
First, here are some warnings to consider.

Complete or incomplete?
In some cases, the database shows a complete copy of all the existing or known records in a collection. However, in many cases It is important to read any descriptive notes about the collection. If it is incomplete, you will want to study the source again from time to time until you can determine that the project is finished.
 * 1) the collection is still being digitized and uploaded. The uploading is a work in progress.
 * 2) the collection is fully digitized, but only partially indexed. The index is a work in progress.
 * 3) the original collection is still being gathered and will eventually be digitized, uploaded, and indexed. The collection is a work in progress.

Index, index and images, images only?
Some databases show digitized copies of original documents. Some databases are indexes of genealogical data found in documents. Some databases have indexed a collection of documents and linked the index entry to the digitized image of the document named. '''Warning! Every time information is copied into an index, abstract, or extract there is a chance of human error.''' An index may speed up location of a desired record. However, if the indexer misread or mistyped an entry, dependence on an index can result in missing a valuable record or greater details found in an original record. Always study the original source. Look at the digitized copy linked by the index. Browse the original source in the appropriate time period or section where you would expect to find your record, whenever possible.

FamilySearch Historical Records
FamilySearch is actively involved in acquiring records from all over the world, digitizing them, and indexing them.

Searching the Historical Records Holdings
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Reading the Records List
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FamilySearch or FamilySearch Catalog: Online Records
The FamilySearch or FamilySearch Library is gradually digitizing its microfilm and printed records, as permission is granted from the authors of the records. Hopefully, this process will be completeed in 2020. Check back from time to time to see if new records are available.

Be sure to search each jurisdiction level: country, state, county, city, parish.

1. At the top of this page, choose "Catalog" from the drop-down "Search" menu.



2. Fill in the search field with your locality details, and select "Online".

- '''3. Choose a record category. Select a record by title. A more detailed description of the record will appear. Online digital records will be indicated in two ways:''' Definitions of icons in film notes: -- '''4. If you receive this message, you will be unable to read the records on your personal computer. You will be able to read the records at a Family History Center.'''

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Part 3 - Digitized Books (of published genealogical records)

In the last decade, there has been a literal explosion in the availability of online genealogy records. This article will explain methods for locating online digitized books of published genealogical records.
 * For using the FamilySearch Wiki to find online records, see Part One.
 * For online records using FamilySearch Historical Records and the FamilySearch Library, see Part Two.
 * For online digitized books, see Part Three. For internet searches for online records, see Part Four.

Warning Tips
First, here are some warnings to consider.

Complete or incomplete?
In some cases, the database shows a complete copy of all the existing or known records in a collection. However, in many cases It is important to read any descriptive notes about the collection. If it is incomplete, you will want to study the source again from time to time until you can determine that the project is finished.
 * 1) the collection is still being digitized and uploaded. The uploading is a work in progress.
 * 2) the collection is fully digitized, but only partially indexed. The index is a work in progress.
 * 3) the original collection is still being gathered and will eventually be digitized, uploaded, and indexed. The collection is a work in progress.

Index, index and images, images only?
Some databases show digitized copies of original documents. Some databases are indexes of genealogical data found in documents. Some databases have indexed a collection of documents and linked the index entry to the digitized image of the document named. '''Warning! Every time information is copied into an index, abstract, or extract there is a chance of human error.''' An index may speed up location of a desired record. However, if the indexer misread or mistyped an entry, dependence on an index can result in missing a valuable record or greater details found in an original record. Always study the original source. Look at the digitized copy linked by the index. Browse the original source in the appropriate time period or section where you would expect to find your record, whenever possible.

FamilySearch Digitized Books
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Other Digitized Books
There are several major efforts to digitize books. Although these projects cover much more than genealogy, some valuable genealogy gems are included. Again, search by all jurisdictions: country, state, count, city, and parish. Search also by surname or keyword. If you find a book mentioned in the FamilySearch catalog that is not digitized by FamilySearch, you can frequently find it in these collections by cutting and pasting the title into the search field.

InternetArchive
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Part Four: Internet Sources

In the last decade, there has been a literal explosion in the availability of online genealogy records. This article will explain methods for locating online genealogy records in a variety of internet sources.
 * For using the FamilySearch Wiki to find online records, see Part One.
 * For online records using FamilySearch Historical Records and the FamilySearch Library, see Part Two.
 * For online digitized books, see Part Three.

Warning Tips
First, here are some warnings to consider.

Complete or incomplete?
In some cases, the database shows a complete copy of all the existing or known records in a collection. However, in many cases It is important to read any descriptive notes about the collection. If it is incomplete, you will want to study the source again from time to time until you can determine that the project is finished.
 * 1) the collection is still being digitized and uploaded. The uploading is a work in progress.
 * 2) the collection is fully digitized, but only partially indexed. The index is a work in progress.
 * 3) the original collection is still being gathered and will eventually be digitized, uploaded, and indexed. The collection is a work in progress.

Index, index and images, images only?
Some databases show digitized copies of original documents. Some databases are indexes of genealogical data found in documents. Some databases have indexed a collection of documents and linked the index entry to the digitized image of the document named. '''Warning! Every time information is copied into an index, abstract, or extract there is a chance of human error.''' An index may speed up location of a desired record. However, if the indexer misread or mistyped an entry, dependence on an index can result in missing a valuable record or greater details found in an original record. Always study the original source. Look at the digitized copy linked by the index. Browse the original source in the appropriate time period or section where you would expect to find your record, whenever possible.

Partner Sites
FamilySearch has a partnership with several subscription genealogy websites making it possible to view their collections without charge from a Family History Center computer.

Ancestry.com
Click to search Ancestry.com by index:  Click to search Ancestry.com by record source:   Catalog Search Use this to find records that are image only and have not been indexed.

Searching Original Images
If original images can be browsed, the direct links to images are found in the right sidebar:

Findmypast
Click to search Findmypast by index: 

Click to search Findmypast by record source: Search A-Z of record sets

Searching Original Images
Enter the word "Browse' in the Search A-Z of record sets search field to browse original images.

MyHeritage
Click to search MyHeritage by index:  Welcome to SuperSearch

Click to search MyHeritage by record source: Collection Catalog

American Ancestors
Click to search American Ancestors by index: 

Click to search American Ancestors by record source:

Geneanet
Click to search Geneanet by index: 

Click to search Geneanet by record source: Geneanet Collections

Cyndi’s List
Cyndi's List is a comprehensive, categorized and cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online. Cyndi's List

Google
Search Google with a combination of your location and a variety of keywords. Try "birth records", "marriage records", "death records", "genealogy", "family history", "probate records", "land records", "census records", etc. Here is an example of a Google search.