FamilySearch is a rich repository of genealogical records, providing researchers with a vast array of information to discover. Its full-text search feature is a game-changer, enabling users to pinpoint specific keywords, phrases, and names within digitized records. This innovative tool can help you find new records about your ancestors.
The Benefits of Full-Text Search
Full-text search can help you discover information in millions of images that FamilySearch that have not previously been indexed anywhere else on the website.
Full-text search is particularly useful for pre-1850 United States genealogy research because FamilySearch has included historical land, probate, and court records for most of the counties in the United States. In the past, these records were time consuming to search, but now these valuable records are easy to search and use. In addition, there are plantation records and other historical records that were previouly unindexed included in this search. In addition to United States records, full-text search also includes records for Canada, Mexico, the UK, and many other countries. Records are being added to the search on a regular basis.
How to Find the Full-Text Feature on the FamilySearch website
Currently to access full-text search you will first need to enable it from the FamilySearch Labs page. Once you are on the labs page and you are logged in to the FamilySearch website, find full-text search and turn on the experiment. You can then go to the experiment and start doing searches.
Tips and Techniques
To get the most out of FamilySearch's full-text search feature, it's essential to use specific keywords and phrases to narrow your search results. This can include names, dates, locations, or events. If you are looking for a particular ancestor, you can search for just their surname or search for their full name using quotation marks such as "George Smith". Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT can be used to further refine your searches. Wildcard searches can also be used to search for variations of words or names. You can experiment with a variety of searches.
You can also try different keyword combinations and use + to include specific words and - to exclude them. Using? for variant spellings and * for root word forms can also be helpful. Additionally, you can search by Image Group Number (DGS) using the FamilySearch catalog so that you search for just one collection in particular.
Applying Filters
Full-text search at FamilySearch, utilizes filters that can significantly streamline your research process. Once you have entered your search terms, you can apply filters can help you pinpoint the most relevant records in the search results.
For example, I am looking for more records about my ancestor George Smith and I know that he lived in Harrison County, Ohio, in the early 1800s. I can first search for his name "George Smith" in quotation marks. I will get many search results to go through. But I can go to the Filters and narrow my search by place and refine to Ohio and then Harrison County. I also filter by year and select just records from the 1800s in my search. I can also filter by record type as well.
Best Practices for Full-Text Search
To ensure successful full-text searches, it is essential to understand the limitations of this feature. Full-text search is still in the experimental stages. Full-text search may not work perfectly for all records, so it's crucial to verify the full text against the text on the image. Using multiple search terms and combinations can also help account for variations. Also, it is important to carefully review search results ensuring accuracy and relevance.
Conclusion
Mastering full-text search on FamilySearch can significantly enhance your genealogical research. With practice and patience, you will become proficient in using full-text search to discover new records, verify existing information, and break down research brick walls. By applying these techniques and best practices, you'll be able to increase discovery of new records, improve accuracy and confidence in your findings, and enhance your research by exploring new avenues and searching for specific information. Happy researching!
Written by Charles Kasozi Sekirangi. Used with permission.
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