Accessing things from the catalogs
Hi!
I've been trying to get help over chat but the people on the other end don't seem to understand my issue.
I search, (for example) for records in Northumberland, England.
I attach screenshot 1 and 2.
Number 1 is the result for England, Northumberland Berwick and an example I chose for taking a screenshot.
Number 2 is one of the examples that I'm having issues with.
Mostly with the UK images/films:
1) "This film is viewable with additional restrictions", who has more restrictions than regular users? how do we get this level of access? If not, how do we see the collections?
2) Some of the other results show as a Microfilm and advise to go to a family history library, the issue is that the one in London shows as "This location is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Access to certain collections may be limited. Consider contacting the library before your visit."
3) Another Family History Center in Reading England reads the following:
Notes
- Most of the films we used to hold have been returned as they are online.
So how does someone see these? I'm not about to travel to Utah, I don't know how to get additional permissions with my user to be able to see them online... how do I research these collections?
The person over the chat was telling me that I needed to give her the name of the person I'm researching, to also give her the date.. the catalogue, the collection... all these things and she wasn't understanding that I only wanted to see if a "x" person was in there?
I gave her the name and last name, but I didn't have anything else. I was actually trying to see if I could find the DOB, place of birth, parents, etc. I wasn't even sure if the person even existed in the vast amount of lists of things... it was basically, the beginning of the research, if that makes sense....
Anyway, is there a way to solve this?
I gave up with the chat, I tried it in spanish since I'm a spanish speaker, and they didn't understand anything.
Thank you for your advise.
Answers
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Copies of those records can be obtained from the custodian, for a fee. The restriction is not about who you are, but where you are.
My recommendation would be to do your initial searching in FamilySearch indexed historical records. Link those search results to the appropriate persons on Family Tree; this will help you find more records. Then, if you still need to see the page images, order them.
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I wonder (from one of your screenshots) if you are specifically interested in Catholic records. Otherwise, the FreeREG website is quite good for indexed Northumberland records - including Berwick (Anglican), it appears.
Here is a link to a search results page I reached when making a test search on the surname WILSON at Berwick: all events (CMB) and years.
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/622e897b33045b07e5708ef5?locale=en
As suggested, you can probably get copies (probably Anglican only) from the record custodian - see https://www.northumberlandarchives.com/
Contractual obligations are probably preventing FamilySearch from letting us view such records from home. You might be able to get specific copies via FamilySearch's look-up service, which perhaps another member of this forum will be able to provide - as I don't have the link (with details of the service) to hand.
Otherwise, Find My Past might be a useful source for Northumberland records - possibly Non-conformist / Catholic included.
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Here are a couple of Help Center articles that might give some background about restricted access to records at FamilySearch:
interestingly this second article does not contain the access restriction icons - it needs some updating. I definitely agree though - it would certainly be 'nice' if links to current Record Custodians were provided - otherwise the hunt for them can be their own search...
In addition, the message about contacting the FHC (Family History Center) or AL (Affiliate Library) - just means you can call them during hours of operation and ask them specifically if the record link you want to access results in access - or is still restricted even at those locations (you referenced London and Reading).
For this collection you reference:
It indicates it is a 'legacy collection' (i think mainly meaning it is older and not updated any longer).
Option #1: When I select the magnifying glass icon (left of the camera with key - referenced in your 2.png) I get to the search parameters form to search that collection. What happens when you click that icon or the following link? Do you get the Search parameters entry available?
Option #2: Further, though it may not contain the Catholic records you indicate you wanted - Search> Images contains the latest images for each location - here is the link for Berwick-upon-Tweed (which I note has 3 specific FamilySearch placename record divisions):
You might be able to locate a person in these other/available images. I could not find a method of narrowing by 'Creator', 'Custodian' or Image Group Number (DGS).
Option #3: Finally if you find further identifying film information - such as page, etc. - for the person you wish to inquire concerning you have the option of requesting a film lookup from the FamilySearch Family History Library in Salt Lake City (This is not a research service so you need to fill out the request form as thoroughly as possible):
The actual request form can be accessed at (I keep telling them the blog link is out of date - you will need to click the green 'Request Lookup' button in the bookshelf graphic):
The Lookup Service may be able to fill your specific 'person x' request.
Option #4: Otherwise, @dontiknowyou is correct - if you can locate the record custodian - which I believe is TNA (The National Archives) for that specific film (? forgive me I am not specifically familiar with whether they would have the Catholic records) - you can request access from them. You are apparently looking for RG-4 series no. 2680 (or something close to that). I am not having much luck accessing that from USA today. It looks like (here is the link for TNA Catholic guide - https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/catholics/) for non-parochial (which I read as non-Catholic) records you can also eliminate/search for 'person x' at: https://bmdregisters.co.uk/
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You should click on the camera/key icon in the Catalog and see what it says. Be sure to be logged into FamilySearch first.
When I clicked on the camera/key icon, I saw a message saying I can view the records at an Affiliate Library or a FHC. You should do this yourself, as sometimes there are different restrictions in different countries. If you see a message about the website of the record custodians and that fees may apply, it actually means you have to be a Latter Day Saint (aka Mormon or LDS) to view the records.
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To view the microfilms, if the FHL Lookup service doesn't work for you, there's likely to be no choice but to visit the FHL in Salt Lake City. Do not confuse the Family History Library (FHL) with a Family History Center (FHC). Until 2017, FHCs could order microfilms from the FHL, but that has been discontinued and most physical microfilms at FHCs have been returned to Utah. However some of the larger FHCs may have popular or local microfilms- you should definitely ring ahead before visiting, as the chance they do have the microfilm(s) you want is small.
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One last thing, the FHC/AL map is out-of-date and a lot of the information on it is unreliable. You should ring ahead before visiting a FHC to check they still exist and are open at the time you want to go. For Affiliate Libraries, you should confirm their opening hours on their website.
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The Catalogue entry for microfilm 825351, items 4-5 is https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/82223
- As has been stated above, provided you are signed in to FamilySearch, and click on the restricted camera icon, the message I see is "To view these images do one of the following: Access the site at a family history center.
- Access the site at a FamilySearch affiliate library".
If you go to either a Family History Center or an Affiliate Library, you should be able to access these records online, as a digitised microfilm (not as an old style microfilm). (The only exception should be if you go to a Family History Center which is not properly set up to give you access. Confirm before you go that it is fully functional. You need to take your FamilySearch sign in details with you to the Center or Library)
You will note that the catalogue entry says the records are RG-4 series nos. 2482, 1402 from the the London Public Record Office, London which is now known as The National Archives (UK)
If you want alternative access to these records other than through a FamilySearch Centre or FamilySearch Affiliate Library, the RG 4 series is available on some pay websites, including Findmypast in the series, available online
England & Wales Non-Conformist Births and Baptisms
England & Wales Non-Conformist Marriages
England & Wales Non-Conformist Burials
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/england-and-wales-non-conformist-marriages
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/england-and-wales-non-conformist-burials
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