Searching records on FamilySearch.org has never been easier! The latest updates to FamilySearch’s search experience improve the ability to refine searches, find record collections, and standardize record dates attached to persons on the Family Tree.
Many FamilySearch users looking for records start on Search Records page, which is found by clicking Records in the Search drop-down menu on the home page. To use the Search Records page, fill out one or multiple boxes with information such as an ancestor’s name, birthplace, or birth year, and click the Search button for a list of results.
A few improvements have been made to the search experience. Below are a summary of the changes.
1. Search for Multiple Relationships within Historical Records
In the past, when searching for records about a person, users could search with only one relationship (such as a spouse) at a time. However, now you can include multiple relationships in your searches; you can search with the names of any children, spouses, parents, or other relationships.
This update may be helpful, for example, if an individual is adopted and has multiple sets of parents that may be listed in the records. It is now possible to search for a person with the names of his or her biological parents and the names of adoptive parents.
2. Refine Your Search without Returning to the Original Search Page
If you want to update and refine your search—by searching with a different life event, for example—you can now do it from the results page instead of returning to the original Search Records page. To quickly refine a search, fill out additional information boxes in the left column or select a filter, and then click Update.
3. More Flexible “Find a Collection” Search Experience
A new update to the Find a Collection feature makes it easier to search specific collections without knowing the exact collection name. Before the update, users were required to search for collections using the collection’s exact title. Now, instead of entering in “Alabama State Census, 1855” when you want to search these records, you can enter more general, less-detailed keywords, such as “US Census Records” or “census records,” and you will see a list of possible collections to choose from.
4. Automatic Standardizing When Attaching Records
An update to the attaching records experience saves you time in standardizing event dates and locations. Now, when you attach a record to a person, the attached record’s event dates and locations standardize automatically. The update also allows you to edit the information that is attached as you are attaching the information.
Try out the updated search experience, and see what new information you can find about your family!
Source: Family Search
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