How do I browse a collection?

Ajpet

I’ve searched for the answer but all the solutions that have I found have not worked for me. I used to be able to browse through the films for collections by either finding the collection through searching records or the catalog. Now when I select the collection it just gives me the page to search the index with no option to browse the collection. I could also get to the collection once in one of the films by clicking on the film number at the top of the page to change to another film. I can’t do that anymore either. The collection I’m interested in is Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950. Thank you.

Julia Szent-Györgyi

You only get the "browse" button (to the right of the "how to" button) on the collection's page if the images are available to browse in a waypointed collection. For example:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1951739

The collection "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950" appears to be index-only: none of the search results have a camera icon, and the "how to" page doesn't mention anything about images. I don't know whether this is a change, and I also don't know if this is account-dependent: it's possible that someone with an LDS account on FamilySearch would get different access messages, and possibly even a "browse" button.

Note that the relationship between collections and image browsing is not one-to-one: there are collections for which the index entries are all linked to the image they came from, but there's no "browse" button, because the material has not been assembled and organized into waypoints. (For example, "Hungary Reformed Church Christenings" and "Hungary Catholic Church Records" do not have "Browse" buttons; you have to go through the Catalog to browse the images.)

Paul W

@Ajpet

There seems to be no direct way of accessing images relating to the "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950" collection, as it is of indexed-only content. The collections found on the page at https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/united-states-of-america/pennsylvania show a camera icon for collections where images are available (albeit some might be available to view with restrictions - e.g. only at a Family History Centre). You can also search for Catalog material relating to Pennsylvania at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=345&query=%2Bplace%3A%22United%20States%2C%20Pennsylvania%22&subjectsOpen=608051-50.

Perhaps images you were able to view in the past are no longer available through FamilySearch. Checking the "Images" section of "Search" might possibly produce some images which relate to your requirements, as the Catalog has not been updated for quite some time. However, I have found use of the Images section to be very time-consuming, as it can be quite difficult to locate what you are looking for by this means.

Ajpet

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/411533#Comment_411533

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/411532#Comment_411532

Thanks for your responses. There are images available since I’ve been able to browse film once I find something I’m interested in through searching the index. I did realize after posting that I can browse other collections just not this one. I have had luck in the past finding something by browsing certain images that fall within locations/times that I’m interested in. I suppose you are correct that there’s no organized waypoints for the images. Thanks again for your help.

Ajpet

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/411593#Comment_411593

Thank you. I’ve seen that. I find it interesting that the coverage table for that collection says there are 0 birth and christening records for Luzerne County yet I found some by searching.