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Finding Granddad
By Nancy Hendrickson
The heart of FamilySearch is its search system, which covers the site's Big Three—Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index (IGI) and Pedigree Resource File—as well as the Social Security Death Index and Vital Records Index (currently containing records from Mexico). To conduct the broadest (and easiest) search, click on Search for Ancestors or the Search tab from the home page, then make sure All Resources is highlighted in the left column. Next, simply fill in your ancestor's surname and click the search button. Although you can specify "use exact spelling," we don't recommend it—because a single surname can have several different spellings, you might exclude valid matches. And with the exact spelling option turned on, you can't use any other search fields.
Using the All Resources method, the system will search every one of its databases as well as associated Web sites. Results will be displayed by database groups: for instance, the number of hits in IGI-North America or in the Pedigree Resource File. Click on results from each hit to see more detailed records.
If you find too many names, narrow your search by adding another piece of information, such as a parent or spouse's name. Each time you specify additional search criteria, it will reduce the number of records found. With a surname of Smith, this filtering method is almost mandatory. If your search returns too few names, use only minimal input such as surname or surname plus country. And be aware of search-term combinations the system won't allow: You can't specify state, event or date if you leave the first name field blank; you can't look only for a first name, either.
For many users, this simple search will lead directly to the sought-after ancestor. But, even if you hit paydirt, don't stop here—there's lots more to be found. Let's dig deeper into each of the Big Three databases, what they include and how to find more than "just a name."
For more tips and resources on FamilySearch, see the December 2001 issue of Family Tree Magazine.
Find your ancestors among the 894 million names in the online gateway to the world's biggest genealogy resource with our power user's guide to the secrets of FamilySearch.
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