‘Hidden’ FamilySearch
Many readers may be unaware that there are now three different ways that users of the FamilySearch website ( www.familysearch.org) can access the famous LDS microfilm collection. The first two ways are through ‘Records’ under ‘Search’ on the home page. This leads to ‘Historical Records’, which are divided in two parts: those records with indexes and records which have no index but are available to browse. Some indexed records such as the former IGI (now called England Births and Christenings, England Marriages, etc) have no images.
But there is now a third way to access LDS films. This is also a browse format, but the way to find them is hidden – or at least not obvious. Start with ‘Search’ but choose ‘Catalog’ rather than ‘Records’. Look for the place you are interested in using place search, or find a collection using keyword search. When the catalogue entries appear, choose the records which are best for your purpose and open the full catalogue entry showing a list of film numbers.
For example, searching for Wybunbury in Cheshire, the catalogue description for Wybunbury bishops’ transcripts is a red notice indicating that these records have an online index. This index is not connected to any image. But the full catalogue description shows both a magnifying glass (indicating index available) and also a little camera (indicating browsable images from this film). If you choose ‘ Taxation’ rather than ‘Church Records’ under Wybunbury, you will find that Land Tax Assessments also have been indexed and are also browsable, but that the index and images are also not connected. You need to click on the little camera to see the images.
Note that in the majority of cases, the indexes can be seen at home, while the images found in the catalogue search are only viewable at an LDS family history centre. However,
many films can be seen at home, so you should always click on the camera. In some cases you need a free FamilySearch account to view images.
Currently there are nearly 87,000 films from the British Isles which have images online not viewable through Historical Records. These include such important collections as Principal Probate Registry and District Court Record Copy Wills 1858-1925, about two-thirds of the Irish Registry of Deeds films, surviving First World War service records and many more. Hundreds of thousands of records from many countries are also viewable in this way, and more films are being added each month. You need to keep your eye on records of interest to you, and explore this alternative way to access them. Sharon Hintze, by email
Editor replies: This is an amazingly useful tip, Sharon, and has opened up thousands more record images that I didn’t realise were already online. I should emphasise that you need to make sure you have registered with the site and that you are logged in. Some images say they are only available to view at a FamilySearch centre, but I have found that if you are logged in, you can still view them.