Where is the FamilySearch Research Wiki?

With the redesign of the FamilySearch home page, it is now more difficult than ever to find the FamilySearch Research Wiki?  Why FamilySearch would hide one of the most important sources on information on the web is beyond us. 

1.  To access the FS Wiki, go to the FamilySearch.org home page and click Get Help.

2.  Click Help Center.

3.  Under Research Assistance, choose Request Assistance.

4.  Click Visit the Research Wiki.

The FamilySearch Research Wiki now appears:

Once you have successfully navigated through this maze, make sure you bookmark the site: www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Main_Page

so you never have to try to find it again.

What We Learned Today

Note: "What We Learned Today" is a new column that Jan and Doris will be writing each day to capture learnings from the Rootsonomy Research Group in Skype.

Today while looking for a death record of Josiah Oden, we re-realized how important it is to look at the original… We knew that Josiah died in 1925 in Ohio. FamilySearch has the Ohio death collection 1908-1953 online, indexed and images.  We like to work on FamilySearch from the actual collection whenever we can.

1.  To do this, go to FamilySearch.org and click Browse All Published Collections.

2.  In the top left-hand corner in the search box, enter Ohio deaths.  This displays two collections: one with images and indexed, and one with index only.  Click the collection with the image (camera icon) 1908-1953.

Note that if you enter Ohio de, there are 4 collections. I would have missed that if I had not gone back and followed my own instructions. 

  

3.  For the last name enter Oden.  Click the word Death and enter Muskingum for the place, 1925 for the year. Press Enter on your keyboard.

This is what we learned: The first name that pops up is Joseph Oden.  His birth is indexed as 1899.  His death is the correct year and in the correct place.  His father is not the father that we had listed, and 1899 is about 40 years too late.  We didn’t even look at it, but kept on searching and... nothing.  Finally we thought we would go back and reexamine this Joseph.

First thing that jumped out was that the handwriting was very difficult and messy.  We knew the indexer would index what he/she saw.  Nothing “fit” what was in our database.  We looked at the informant and found Clyde as the son of Josiah, whose father was also Josiah.  We relooked at the name and saw that Joseph was actually Josiah.  Also, the father that is indexed as Isaiah is actually Josiah if you look closely.  However, we still had the problem with age.  Our Josiah was born in 1849, not 1899.  Upon closer examination, what jumped out was that the date was 1925 and the person was 76 years, 2 months and 26 days old.  Even for someone who doesn’t like math, we  knew that 1899 could not be correct; however, 1849 would be correct.  Our Josiah was born July 12, 1849.

Upon closer examination, it became clear that:

• The indexed Joseph was actually Josiah
• His birth date was not July 12, 1899 as indexed, but July 12, 1849
• The father was not Isiah, but in fact Josiah

What did you learn today?

Five Rootsonomy Services

1. FHL Lookups

The research firm Rootsonomy provides lookups of film, fiche, books, and magazines at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Plus, our lookup specialists are all professional researchers, so they will do research if needed to find the records.  Simple 2-step process: 

1. Locate the desired collection in the FamilySearch Catalog: familysearch.org/#form=catalog OR familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlc/

2. Facebook users can send the request by going to: www.facebook.com/RootsonomyGenealogy and clicking the button "Request Research or a Lookup".

All others can submit requests at: http://goo.gl/MlzYC. Records will be digitally downloaded and sent via email within a couple days. 

We can provide lookups in other archives as well.  First request is always free simply for liking our Facebook page.  To learn more about our lookup service, go to: http://tinyurl.com/cmol5ul.

2. Research Group
Do you wish you could ask questions of professional family history researchers?  We provides a free online research group (Rootsonomy Research Group) in Skype where you can get help finding your ancestors (via instant messaging) from professionals.  The RRG is moderated by one of the researchers who helped set up the FamilySearch research communities.  To learn more, go to:  http://tinyurl.com/coteqfb.

3. Training Webinars
Do you want to expand your knowledge of how to research your family?  Rootsonomy offers weekly online classes to help you research your family tree. Whether you are just beginning your family history research or are an experienced genealogist, you can learn something new. These classes are taught by professional genealogy researchers from Rootsonomy as well as by experts from around the world.  For more information, see our schedule of upcoming classes at: http://tinyurl.com/awh8z9d.

4. 1-on-1 Coaching

Do you wish that you could have dedicated one-on-one coaching from a professional genealogist who specializes in your area of research?  Someone who will analyze your information and help guide you in what other resources or records would be helpful in your research?  Now you can.  Rootsonomy provides in-depth coaching personalized to meet your specific needs at a time that best fits into your schedule.  To schedule your appointment, send an email to Rootsonomy@gmail.com notifying us of the professional researcher with whom you would like to meet.

5. Research Assistance
Do you have a stubborn brick wall that you just can't break through?  Or, are you new to genealogy and don't know how to get started?  The Rootsonomy Research firm can help.  Rootsonomy (fb.com/RootsonomyGenealogy or Rootsonomy.com) specializes in:

• Foundation building—strengthening the foundation of family trees
• Lineage extension—extending trees back in time
• Online and archival lookups—filling requests for books, microfilm, and  fiche from the world's largest repositories of records, including the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

We recommend starting with 12 hours.  We have very affordable rates. So what are you waiting for?  Contact Rootosnomy@gmail.com to arrange your research consultation.

Where does Rootsnomy have researchers?
All over the world.  In the U.S., researchers are in: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.  Internationally, researchers are in Canada, England, France, Italy, and Germany.

What subject matter expertise do Rootsonomy researchers have?
In addition to having researchers throughout the US and world who are experts in their particular geographical location, Rootsonomy has expert researchers in the following U.S. areas: 20th Century, Colonial Louisiana, Colonial Mid Atlantic, Colonial New England, Colonial New Jersey, Colonial Pennsylvania, Colonial Southern, Midwestern States, New England, New York City, Post 1850, Pre 1850, Southern, and Western.  Rootsonomy also has researchers with expertise in African Americans, Catholic, DAR/SAR, Jewish, LDS, Mayflower, Military Records, Native Americans, Palatine, Photography, and Probate/Heirship/Estate.

What languages can Rootsonomy translate?
Not currently provided as a service, Rootsonomy can translate records for our researchers from most languages into English: French, German, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Middle English, Old English, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and others.

Family History Library Lookup Service

IF YOUR DOCUMENT IMAGE IS ONLINE

Whenever you find a reference to an index entry for a document from FamilySearch.org, you really owe it to yourself to find and pull the original document.  That is because an index page is NOT a SOURCE. Also, the source document may have much more information than the index that is critical for continuing your research. To have credible data, you must have the actual source page, [i.e., the actual census image, vs. the census index page]. Many source images are already online at www.familysearch.org [i.e., the 1940 census]

FamilySearch has published online six hundred million images from 1,225 archives so far, including nearly 3 billion searchable names. The number of records is increasing by about 1.1 million records per day with over 300 camera crews in 48 different countries filing records.  So you can see that FamilySearch.org is an invaluable resource for your genealogical activities.

IF YOUR DOCUMENT IMAGE IS NOT ONLINE

Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

If you have an index but no image is associated with it, it might be located at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City.  The FHL is the largest repository in the world of microfilm, microfiche, books, and other resources (such as maps) for family history research. Since 1938 FamilySearch has captured 3.1 billion records, most stored on 2.5 million rolls of microfilm from 202 different countries.  Twenty-three percent of the images in the Granite Mountain vault have been digitized to date, with the remaining to be microfilmed in 3 to 4 years.  [Note that “Granite Mountain” is a mass of solid rock one mile up Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range of Utah, not too far from Salt Lake City. Despite its name, however, Granite Mountain is primarily composed of quartz.]  To learn more about the FHL, go to: https://familysearch.org/locations/saltlakecity-library

USING CARD CATALOG TO FIND SOURCES NOT ONLINE

FamilySearch Catalog

Your guide to the records in the FHL is the FamilySearch Catalog. This catalog describes the records in each collection of the FHL. It tells you which record collections contain the records for your ancestors, including births, marriages, and deaths; census records; church registers; and many other records.

To access the FamilySearch catalog, go to: https://familysearch.org/catalog-search.

NOW, TO THE ACTUAL “LOOKUP” PROCESS.  

When you have located the book, microfiche, or microfilm in the catalog that you need and the SOURCE is NOT online for you to print, you have three look up options:

a) Physically go to the FHL yourself and view or look up the record.  This option requires you to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, which may not be feasible.

b) Order the item to be sent to your nearest Family History Center.  For locations and instructions on how to do this, go to: https://www.familysearch.org/films/.  This option sometimes takes several weeks before the film is received and can only be used for microfilm and microfiche, not books.

c) Have someone go to the FHL for you to physically retrieve, view, and capture and/or copy the contents of the desired record.  This option is referred to as a “FHL Lookup Request” and is available for books, microfilm, and microfiche.  The research firm Rootsonomy provides this service free of charge.  For those who do not live in the Salt Lake area, this is the fastest/easiest way to obtain information from the actual record.  Requests are processed usually within 5   days and the results are sent to you via e-mail.

SUMMARY

The research firm Rootsonomy provides free lookups of books, magazines, fiche, or film at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It's a simple 2-step process:

1. Locate the desired collection in the FamilySearch Catalog: familysearch.org/#form=catalog OR familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlc/

2. Send the request by going to: http://rootsonomyblog.blogspot.com/p/research-or-lookups.html or http://goo.gl/MlzYC.  Simply complete all the fields as best you can, then click the Publish button.

The lookup specialists at Rootsonomy will search the book, film, or fiche for the requested document and digitally download and e-mail it to you within a couple days.

FHL Records 

NOTE: If you are a Facebook user and would like to be kept up to date with the most recent FHL updates, please “like” the Rootsonomy page at: http://www.facebook.com/RootsonomyGenealogy

SMART Research Objectives

Before beginning any research, especially paid projects, adequate time and energy should be directed toward the creation of clear and measurable research goals/objectives.

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

• Good objectives help ensure the accuracy of the research plan.

• Clearly stated objectives help the researcher understand what they need to discover or uncover and help the client know what to expect

• Objectives provide the means by which the success of the project can be determined.

 Use of the SMART model will help ensure your objectives are well written:

• Specific: both the client and the researcher should be able to clearly identify the purpose of the research.

• Measurable: how will the client and researcher know whether the objectives have been achieved?

• Achievable: if the objective is too large or difficult, the researcher may lose hope of achieving it.  Researchers should be challenged, but be able to achieve the objective.

• Realistic: Is it realistic to expect the researcher to meet this objective given the available documents and time constraints?

• Time-Constrained: when must the researcher achieve the objective, i.e, the project due date,

SMART Model

Follow this basic process to develop objectives for your project:

1. Create objectives based on the needs of your client, not on what you want to find.
2. Check objectives against the SMART model.
3. Gain approval from the client that objectives capture what he/she wants from the project.
4. Document the objectives in the research plan.

Rootsonomy Training Classes

Rootsonomy is pleased to offer research training to the public.  Classes are taught on Thursday night, from 6 pm to 7 pm (Pacific).  Each class is recorded.


To purchase one or more recordings, send an email to Rootsonomy@gmail.com along with the names of the webinars you would like to watch.  In reply, we will provide the instructions for how to purchase them.

Our Classes

“Breaking Down Your Brick Walls” by D Barry Sheldon.  Have you come to a point in your family history research where you are stuck?  Have you hit that proverbial brickwall?  Do you know what to do now?  Barry will teach everyone from novice to expert how to break down those walls.

"Finding Your Ancestors in New England"  by David Appleton.  Genealogical research in the six New England states may seem easier than in many other regions in the United States: "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." However, the many records available can also make genealogical research in these states quite challenging. It can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records. This webinar covers some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and shows several of the most useful places to search.

"What is a 'Reasonably Exhaustive Search'?" by Michael Hait.  What is a "reasonably exhaustive search"? Why is it necessary? How do I conduct such a search?  We will use a case study to explore how failing to carefully consider all relevant records can lead to missing information and forming inaccurate conclusions about our ancestors' lives.

"FamilySearch Overview" by Jan Edwards.  Learn what resources are available in FamilySearch and where to find them.  Includes accessing FamilySearch training, wiki, and resource books.

"Using Historical Record Collections on FamilySearch" by Jan Edwards. Find records in FamilySearch, perform parent searches, search browse only collections, and use * and ? wildcards and keywords to find names, dates, and places.  Log into various collections and navigate within them.

"Searching Browse-Only Collections in Family Search" by Jan Edwards.  Browsable images are records that have not yet been indexed. Because there is no index, some people avoid these collections like the plague feeling it will be too hard to locate the desired record. This webinar teaches how to overcome that fear.

"Leveraging the Power of the FamilySearch Wiki" by Jan Edwards.  Learn important features on FamilySearch wiki and how to use the wiki to research your ancestors.

“Becoming a FamilySearch Power User” by Doris Warner.  Find records in the over 1,509 FamilySearch record collections. Perform parent searches and use wildcards and keywords to find names, dates, and places.  Log into various collections and navigate within them. 

“Using Google to Find Your Ancestors” by Doris Warner.  Clever ways to search online using Google, including Google Books (scanned, searchable images of hundreds of thousands of books), Google Alerts, Google Images, Google Maps, and more. 

"The Interview: Jogging Memories...Filling in the Gaps" by Dave Robison. We've all said "I wish I could talk to my grandmother...my uncle...my parents..." Now that you've caught the genealogy bug, you may have many questions whose answers can't be found in a census record or a birth certificate or from relatives who have gone on to their reward. Nothing can replace a good old story...and the letters, diaries, and artifacts that can come with it! But don't give your Grandmother the third degree! Just start an easy conversation with thought and memory provoking questions. Then just sit back and listen! Here's how!


Our Instructors

 

D. Barry Sheldon is a professional genealogist and research for Rootsonomy.  Barry have over 10 years experience breaking down brick walls.

David Appleton has been researching and teaching family history for 30 years.  He is a frequent speaker at conferences & societies and long-time member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild.  David has written several books and numerous articles.  He is an active member of three lineage societies: Society of Mayflower Descendants, Blaisdell Family National Association, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Michael Hait has been conducting professional genealogy research since 2006 and has performed extensive historical research for National Park Service.  He was a researcher for the Ancestry.com ExpertConnect program from 2009 ̶ 2011 and is a current faculty member of the Institute of Genealogical & Historical Research (Samford University), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (Utah Genealogical Association), and Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh

Jan Edwards is a professional genealogist and lead researcher for Rootsonomy and former lead instructor for FamilySearch. She is also the moderator of the Rootsonomy Research Group on Skype.

Doris Warner is a professional genealogist and lead researcher for Rootsonomy, doing research projects and helping moderate the Rootsonomy Research Group.  Doris has many years of experience performing research, especially in the U.S. (New York & New England).  She is a tenacious researcher with a burning passion to help people.

Dave Robison is a lifelong New Englander. He has been researching privately for 18 years and professionally for 8. An instructor and lecturer on many genealogy subjects. He was the Discussion Moderator at the New England Regional Genealogical Conference 2013 and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), New England Chapter of APG (NEAPG), NewEngland Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), and Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society. Dave is a Research Associate at the Museum of Springfield History and this Spring will receive his certificate of Professional Genealogy Study from Boston University.

Free International Research Group on Skype

We are excited to announce the creation of an online international research group sponsored by Rootsonomy, and we would like to invite you to join! This new community is called Rootsonomy Research Group and is being created to help you and others:

• Collaborate via instant messages on your family history research
• Ask questions of professional genealogists
• Share knowledge you have gained from your own research
• Learn from the experiences of others

Q: How do I join? 

It's a simple two-step process to join the Rootsonomy Research Group:

1. Download the Skype program at Skype.com and register for an account.
2. Send an e-mail to Rootsonomy@gmail.com requesting access.  Be sure to include your Skype username.

That's all you need to do.  It's that easy.

Q: What is Skype?

Skype is a leading chat program that allows interaction and communication between individuals or groups. You can learn more or download the software at Skype.com.

Q: What are the benefits of joining?

Joining the Rootsonomy Research Group will enable you to have your questions answered by a professional genealogist.  You will also be able to collaborate with other researchers.

Q: Will there be a cost to join?

You have hopefully noticed that Rootsonomy loves to help people.  One way we do this is by giving away as much as we can.  Membership in this group is free and you can come and go whenever you like.

Q: How does this group compare to other online communities?

Skype is a chat program that allows for more detailed communications and interaction between individuals or groups of users than what is provided by other social communities.  Unlike e-mail or Facebook, Skype allows groups to participate together in group discussions.  It also allows for sending documents that others can review in order to help evaluate records, and if desired, live video discussions or screen sharing are also enabled.

Q: Who will answer the questions I post?

Questions will be answered by the other members of the group.  Membership is open to everyone and includes the professional researchers who make up the Rootsonomy research firm. 

Q: What kind of questions will that person answer?  For example, will he or she tell me who my paternal great-great grandmother was?

Yes, if you provide sufficient information, it may be possible to get specific answers to your questions.  At a minimum, you will receive advice on how you can conduct the research to provide the answers you are seeking.

Q: What days of the week and hours of the day will this community be accessible?

You can post your questions at any time, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Q: Who will moderate this group?

The primary moderator will be Jan Edwards, who achieved distinction as one of the leaders in launching the FamilySearch Skype research community and is one of the lead researchers for Rootsonomy.  Other members of Rootsonomy will also help monitor the discussions.