1 The Family History Library System General information Education Research helps Online catalog Web site links PowerPoint created by Joyce A. Brannan, Julia Tutwiler Library, University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama, 2004.

2 This is the home page for Family Search,

3 At the bottom of the home page there is a link to the “conditions for use” and the “privacy policy.”

4 The site is provided for personal use by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

5 Go back to the home page and click on the Library tab.

6 Scroll down to see more information about the library.

7 The Family History Library is the largest library in the world dedicated to genealogical research.

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9 Most towns in the United States will have a branch location within a reasonable distance. There is one in Meridian, Tuscaloosa, and Demopolis.

10 In the side bar, click on “Frequently asked questions.”

11 Select “What kinds of records are in the Family History Library?”

12 The collection is not limited to “Mormon” or church sources. Many government vital records, family Bibles, and personal collections have been microfilmed and are available for use in local branch libraries.

13 Go back to the home page. From the home page, we have access to all the resources that are available online. Select “How do I get started?”

14 This is a guide for getting started. There are many helpful hints even if you are not a beginner. This page has a link to blank pedigree charts and family groups sheets.

15 Go back to the home page. Select “Family History Forms.”

16 There are many free forms and research helps.

17 Go back to the home page. Select “Education.”

18 Select “family history library publications.”

19 Select reference documents.

20 Select “sorted by place.”

21 You can select the first letter of a state or country. Scroll down.

22 More about Alabama.

23 Still more about Alabama.

24 There is a research outline for every state and many countries. Select the Alabama Research Outline.

25 You can look at each item separately or download the whole document as a PDF file.

26 To use PDF files, you must have Adobe Acrobat on your computer. The reader is available as a free download by clicking on the link provided. Click on the OK button to continue.

27 The first page of the Alabama research outline. It is 44 pages long. To print a PDF document, you must print from the second tool bar. If you try to print from “file” or the first toolbar, you will have blank pages.

28 Return to the Library page. Select “Family History Centers.”

29 In the side bar select, “Frequently asked questions.”

30 Notice that this is a different set of questions than those displayed previously. Select “Are there any fees...”

31 Fees cover the postage and cost of making another copy if you decide to keep a film at the branch library indefinitely.

32 Return to the library home page. Select “Family History Library Catalog.”

33 The catalog can be searched online. Most of the holdings are available as microfilm that can be borrowed at local Family History Centers.

34 Do a place search to find what records are available for the area you are searching.

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37 When at first you don’t succeed, think it over and reword your search.

38 If Alabama, Sumter was attached to more than one other location, this screen would list them. Click on the link.

39 Lots of results now!

40 Scroll down and select vital records.

41 Select births.

42 This is a title record. Local libraries may have a copy or might be able to order through interlibrary loan services. Click on the “view film” button in the upper right corner.

43 There are 3 films available. These may be ordered at a Family History Center branch library. Family History Center film numbers are not used at any other library. Go back to the place search screen.

44 Another feature of the place search is the ability to locate all places of the same name. For example, typing in “Berkeley”...

45 There are 12 places in the world named Berkeley (at least in this gazetteer). You can then select any of the locations to see what is available. Select West Virginia, Berkeley.

46 Notice that some screens will include historical notes. This county was only created in If your ancestor lived there in 1680, you will not find him in Berkeley records because it was Frederick!

47 Go back to the Library Catalog page and select “Surname Search.”

48 I have typed in Holland.

49 These titles do not appear to be about the Holland family. The library includes names of collateral families in the indexing. Scroll to the bottom.

50 There were 278 results. Some of these will be films that can be ordered. Some will be books that your local library MIGHT be able to get via interlibrary loans, and some will be books that are only available at the Salt Lake City Library. Select the last item.

51 Some information about the family. Scroll down.

52 More information about the item and other family names in the record. Records may contain more names than what is listed. Click on the “Film Notes” button.

53 This book is available as a film that can be ordered for use in a Family History Center.

54 Return to the Family Search home page, select Find other Web sites...

55 You can browse selected web sites.

56 Scroll down and select vital records.

57 These are links to web pages maintained by various individuals and groups. Select cemeteries.

58 Select Alabama.

59 There are 144 hits. This number may vary day to day. Type Sumter in the search box.

60 There are 2 hits. The second entry is in Barbour Co. but was included in this search because the word “Sumter” appears. Click on McElvin Cem.

61 If you scroll down, there are all these links, and none of them work!!

62 If you have a page where the links do not work or an address that does not connect, try shortening the address in the address bar. For example: The address for the McElvin cemetery that does not work is: Shorten it to:

63 And I get this page where all the links work. The address changed automatically to an updated address.

64 It is suggested that you bookmark web sites that you would like to remember. Do not trust your memory to find a web site.

65 This has been a brief overview of some of the features of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. For information on searching individual names in the complied database “Search for Ancestors”, see the presentation “Searching for Your Family in FamilySearch.org.” Happy Hunting!