Help Center: Document Clarification
Does a search using the “ Historical Records” search the various Genealogies such as Pedigree Resource File, IGI, Ancestral Files, Etc.? I could not find a specific answer using the Help center. I wasn’t sure if the word “All” used in the document titled “How do I search all of the record collections in Historical Records at once?”, Included these Genealogies. Not sure if they are considered to be Historical Records? Also didn't find any clear answer searching for info using Pedigree Resource File
Thank you.
Best Answers
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No, generally using a "historical records" search (i.e. clicking "Search" and selecting "Records") does not return results that are found in Genealogies. The best way to search of Genealogies (and the specific items that you mention) is to click "Search" and then select, in the drop down menu that appears, "Genealogies." Having done so, you will find, by clicking the circled "?" icon, the Suggested Topic, " How do I search the Pedigree Resource File and other genealogies?". For your convenience, you can read this topic by clicking here.
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What are Genealogies?
Guild of One-Name Studies
A collection of lineage-linked sourced genealogies from the Guild of One-Name Studies.
Community Trees
A collection of lineage-linked, sourced genealogies for specific communities and time periods. These are merged from compiled and original source records to identify the community genealogy. Records include specific source data, and most are part of extended pedigrees and family groups.
Oral Genealogies
Oral Genealogies are spoken lineage-linked genealogies from localities throughout the world. Many localities have no written records and oral genealogies may be the only records available for genealogical research.
Partner Trees: MyTrees.com
This static collection of lineage-linked ancestor trees was submitted and curated prior to 2020 by users of MyTrees.com; a FamilySearch partner. Entries may include names, family relationships, and dates and places of events. Accuracy of the data in these genealogies varies from tree to tree; we encourage you to validate all data.
Partner Trees: RootsFinder
This growing collection of lineage-linked ancestor trees was submitted, curated, and expanded by users of RootsFinder, a FamilySearch partner. Entries may include names, family relationships, and dates and places of events. Accuracy of the data in these genealogies varies from tree to tree; we encourage you to validate all data.
Partner Trees: American Ancestors
This growing collection of lineage-linked ancestor trees was submitted, curated, and expanded by users of American Ancestors, a FamilySearch partner. Entries may include names, family relationships, and dates and places of events. Accuracy of the data in these genealogies varies from tree to tree; we encourage you to validate all data.
Pedigree Resource File
A growing collection of genealogies submitted by users including hundreds of millions of ancestors. Entries include names, family relationships, and dates and places of events. No corrections or merges are made.
Ancestral File
A static collection of genealogies submitted by users, prior to 2003, including 40 million ancestors. Entries include names, family relationships, and dates and places of events. Submissions were merged to eliminate duplication.
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
Information for over 430 million ancestors contributed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each record contains one event, including birth, baptism (christening), marriage, or death.
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Answers
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As implied above, there are two main broad categories of records that can be searched in FamilySearch.
1) Original Historical Documents - These are microfilmed items such as parish records, census records, passport applications and many more. Searchable indexes have been created for these. The older indexes are not linked to the actual document so it can take some work to go from the index to that document. The newer indexes are linked to the actual microfilm images if the owner of those images allows that to be done. These primary source documents are the basic raw material for research.
2) Compiled Research - These are items created by researchers - amateur or professional, competent or incompetent, perfectionist or sloppy, accurate vs woefully inaccurate - submitted to Family Search with or without any sources. These products of research can be useful in tracking down original sources but should never be taken at face value.
It is apparent from the design of the site that FamilySearch endeavors to keep a wall between these two categories to try to make sure as far as possible that users of the site realize the difference. That is why searching all historical records searches only in real historical records, not anything under Genealogies and why searching all the files under Genealogies, which you do simply by choosing Search then Genealogies, searches only the files located there and none of the historical records.
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Thank you for reminding me about the Contributed IGI records in the Genealogies section.
I must get in the habit of checking these out if I cannot find an event in a search from the main page. In the past I have found many records there that are difficult to find elsewhere. Never mind they might not be completely reliable - most indexed collections contain a fairly large amount of errors.
If it hadn't been for those microfiche IGI records I don't think I would have even got started, around 35 years ago, in a successful search of my ancestry. My 3x great grandfather was indexed in one of those "dodgy" records with a batch number starting with a "7..." instead of a "C.....", but his baptism was indexed perfectly correctly.
I can understand (see Gordon's comments) why FamilySearch wants to keep these records separate from its "historical records" collections, but they should definitely not be ignored. I guess that applies to the other records that make up the Genealogies section, too.
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