Blog Archives

Free Databases on Subscription Genealogy Websites

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Dana McCullough

Did you know most subscription-based genealogy websites make some of their databases available for free? They do this so you can get a taste of what using their site will be like. The databases they offer range from very narrowly…

Personal Library Apps for Genealogists

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Dana McCullough

Got a huge collection of genealogy books, as well as other books and movies? It might be time to consider using a personal library app to keep track of them. In the September 2016 Family Tree Magazine, my article in the…

Build Your FamilySearch Tree Tutorial

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Dana McCullough

If you’re looking for a place to house your family tree online, consider the FamilySearch Family Tree. This tool on the free genealogy giant website FamilySearch.org lets you build your family tree as part of a world tree, which allows…

2015 Recap: The Ever Evolving FamilySearch.org

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Dana McCullough

FamilySearch.org is constantly changing and improving. Before 2016 gets too far underway, let’s take a look back at six significant changes that were made to the FamilySearch.org website in 2015. Index appears with historical record image. After you search historical…

Tagged with: family history, FamilySearch, genealogy
Posted in Genealogy/Family History

How to Get the Most From FamilySearch.org Historical Records Searches

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Dana McCullough

As the largest free genealogy website—which is rapidly adding historical record images—FamilySearch.org should be a frequent stop for any family historian. And don’t let the simplicity of the search form fool you: As I share in the Unofficial Guide to…

Tagged with: family history, FamilySearch, genealogy, Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch
Posted in Genealogy/Family History

How to Attach Records to Your FamilySearch Family Tree

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Dana McCullough

FamilySearch.org has an awesome tool that lets you attach historical records you find on FamilySearch.org to your FamilySearch Family Tree. When you find a record, you’ll launch this tool when you select the Attach to Family Tree button. This tool…

4 Tips for Organizing Your FamilySearch.org Source Box

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Dana McCullough

If you’re like me, you enjoy having access to millions of free genealogy records on FamilySearch.org, and you may even find yourself having déjà vu as you conduct record searches. When I first started using FamilySearch.org, I didn’t really use…

How to Find Unsearchable Genealogy Records on FamilySearch.org

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Dana McCullough

Did you know that when you search the Historical Records collection on FamilySearch.org that you’re searching only a fraction of the website’s digitized records? That’s because many record image collections on the site are unindexed, and thus not included in…

3 Search Strategies for Military Records on FamilySearch.org

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Dana McCullough

What’s the key to finding military records on FamilySearch.org for your ancestors? Begin with these three search strategies. Start with the big picture Start broadly, then narrow your options by adding filters or additional search criteria. If you know your…

Tagged with: family history, FamilySearch, genealogy, military records, Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch
Posted in Genealogy/Family History

What to Do When You Find a Genealogy Record on FamilySearch.org

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Dana McCullough

After you’ve determined a record truly is for your ancestor, you’ve got several options for what to do with that record in FamilySearch.org and in your personal family history record files. Save it to your Source Box FamilySearch.org’s Source Box…

Tagged with: family history, FamilySearch, genealogy, Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch
Posted in Genealogy/Family History