The Ancestor Hunt
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Newspapers
  • Newspaper Links
  • Obituaries
  • BMD Records
  • Photos
  • Yearbooks
  • Directories
  • By Location
  • Cemetery Records
  • Divorce Records
  • Naturalizations
  • Immigration
  • Mortuary Records
  • Church Records
  • School Records
  • Voter Records
  • Coroner Records
  • Probate and Wills
  • Alumni Records
  • Newsletter Page
  • Tools
  • Genealogy News
  • California Genealogy
  • Videos
  • Fun With Newspapers
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Two Hidden Secrets to Find a Ton More Results from the FamilySearch Catalog

9/25/2020

13 Comments

 
Picture
Source: Logo from familysearch.org

Full disclosure:  I love the FamilySearch Catalog! For those collections that are available online, and the books that have been digitized, there are tens of thousands to choose from. For the online collections and books, I can use my PC at home to scroll through digitized page after digitized page, just as if I had my own microfilm reader, only without the hassle.

But, there are a couple of hidden secrets that you need to know if you wish to maximize your results. And they are not easy to discover, which is why I am relating them to you now.

Secret 1 - Use Keyword Searches

The first secret relates to searching through the catalog for records. Let's first look at the catalog's search box.
Picture
What I want to search for are Funeral Home records from Los Angeles County, California that are available only online. I am not interested in knowing where the microfilm is located or those that are only available at a Family History Center (FHC).

The logical place to start is to enter the place for which the collections have been digitized.

The first two screens are where I enter the Place, and the Online catalog will show me which collections are available. 
Picture
Picture
For entering the place, I click in that box, enter Los Angeles, and then select from the drop downs that are presented, "United States, California, Los Angeles", which signifies Los Angeles County.. 

As you can see, it presents me with (1) Funeral Home collection. Only 1. This is what is presented when I click on that line - a collection for Pierce Brothers Mortuary.
Picture

Now for the Secret Trick that will optimize the number of collections returned to you
This time I am going to go back to the main search screen and click on Keywords, ignoring the Place for now. 
Picture
First, I make sure that the Online button is clicked, and I will enter "los angeles funeral home" in the keyword box and hit "Search".  I will show you that screen before I hit Search and then the results screen after I hit Search.
Picture
Picture
Holy mackerel! Now there are 30 online funeral home collections for Los Angeles County. The one we found in the very first search appears as the fifth hit in the second search using just keywords. So, entering the place in the Place box doesn't retrieve the optimal number of collections.

Secret 1 - Always use keyword searching when looking for online collections from the FS Catalog, and make sure that you click the Online button before clicking on Search. You will receive way more pertinent results.

Secret 2 - Make sure you are always logged in.

​When searching in FamilySearch, however you are doing it, you need to first have a free account and be logged in (or signed in).  It is really easy to sign up.

But here is the kicker - FamilySearch logs me out all the time when I am using the site, unbeknownst to me. I am going to show you the results of a FamilySearch Catalog search, and one of the collections that is in the results list.

The first image example is when I am logged in, and the second image example when I have been logged out, and I will show you the differences.

​The differences are stark when you are looking for online collections, which I will discuss.
Picture
Picture
Sorry, I had to minimize these to fit on this page. They look exactly the same, right?

​Nope. See at the bottom under "Format"? The logged in image has a camera icon, and the logged out image has a camera with a key.

What's the difference, you ask?

Near the bottom of each collection page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable online. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. Finally, if there is a magnifying glass icon, the collection is searchable.

Secret 1​ - Always stay logged in. And regularly check if you are on the site for a long time, because FamilySearch will log you out regularly if you are on a long time, and you won't even know it unless you look at the top right of each page where it tells you if you are signed in or not.

The Moral of the Story is easy to remember: When searching the FS Catalog, always use keyword searches, and always stay signed in. 

​
That's all there is to optimizing your results that you can browse through - online - at home - in your PJs if you are so inclined!
______________________________________________________

Thank you for visiting The Ancestor Hunt!


______________________________________________________

13 Comments
Amy Brown
9/27/2020 01:34:46 pm

This helped me find just what I was looking for!! Thank you!

Reply
Paula K Furick
9/28/2020 07:24:07 pm

Very helpful tips!

Reply
Lynda Lerner
9/30/2020 11:56:05 am

Great tips.

Reply
JARVIS---Chicago
9/30/2020 07:06:26 pm

THANKS. And I thought I was soooo smart!

Reply
Mary
9/30/2020 10:52:42 pm

Tried it, but the camera with the key over it never disappeared.

Reply
Kenneth R Marks
10/1/2020 09:40:32 am

I may not have worded that sentence artfully. If the collection is available online then the icon could be different whether you are signed in or not.

But it is more likely that if the camera and key are there, that is accurate - it is only available at a FHC

Reply
Cindy Beam
10/2/2020 07:54:33 am

This is great - thank you!

Reply
Alice Childs link
10/3/2020 06:05:13 am

Great tips! As a general rule I have only searched by Place when using the FS Catalog. I’m excited to try some keyword searches and see what I can discover!

Reply
Jacqueline Krieps Schattner
10/3/2020 10:09:30 am

WOW!!!!

Reply
Alex Daw link
10/11/2020 04:14:51 pm

Very interesting indeed...particularly that staying logged in bit.

Reply
rick rice
10/31/2020 01:53:16 pm

Wow thanks isn't it interesting how complicated life on the internet can gggget? Well presented. Actually maybe its like that in real too.

Reply
Joel M Cannaday
12/19/2020 06:15:17 pm

I didn't even realize Family Search had a Catalog Search. Thanks for the info, this will be a big help to me.

Reply
Joanne Kitz
12/28/2020 10:35:39 am

Thank you. Very helpful.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Free Resource Links
    ​
    ​​

    By Location Newspapers Obituaries BMD Records Directories Photos Yearbooks Cemetery Records Divorce Records Naturalizations Mortuary Records Immigration Church Records School Records Voter Lists Coroners Records Probate and Wills Alumni Records

    Subscribe
    Option 1 - Receive Links to New Published Articles 4 X per month

    Enter Email

    Subscribe
    ​
    Option 2​ - Receive New Complete
    Bi-Monthly Newsletter​ 
    ​
    Enter Email

    Search This Site


    Need Help With Your Research?
    Picture
    Check out the 4,000 Pros at Trace.com


    Facebook Page
    Picture


    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    November 2010
    October 2010

Picture
©2012-21

Thanks for Visiting The Ancestor Hunt
The Ancestor Hunt is focused on helping primarily hobbyist genealogy and family history researchers to achieve their goals.

"The Ancestor Hunt" is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  There may be a small commission paid to "The Ancestor Hunt" should you purchase from Amazon.
.
"The Ancestor Hunt" is also an affiliate for "A Life Untold", Trace.com, Whoowe, StorySpot, and "Audiobiography". There may be a small commission paid to "The Ancestor Hunt" should you purchase from these companies.