HELP - Pedigree Resource File

The Pedigree Resource File screen allows you to search a lineage-linked database of records that have been submitted by registered users of the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service. I've provided more detailed help below.

Help Topics

Click one of the following for information about the Pedigree Resource File screen:

• What Is the Pedigree Resource File?
• When Should I Use the Pedigree Resource File?
• How Do I Use the Pedigree Resource File?
• Tips for Searching
• I Can't Find the Record I'm Looking For. Now What?
• Details on Each Part of the Screen

What Is the Pedigree Resource File?

The Pedigree Resource File is a lineage-linked database of records submitted by individuals through FamilySearch Internet. To respect privacy, information about living people is not displayed online. There are two versions:

Internet Version

• Helps you search for records based on names, relationships, events, time periods, and places.
• Displays individual records of people listed in the database. Individual records can be printed.
• Does not provide detailed information about sources, notes, or LDS temple ordinances.
• Gives reference numbers you can use to find the complete record on a compact disc.
• May link you to a submitter's personal web site, where the record may be posted.
• Standardizes names so that spelling variations are displayed together.
• Standardizes high level places to allow searching by country.

Compact Disc Version

• Gives more detailed views of the records, including family groups and pedigrees.
• Provides any notes and sources that were submitted with the records.
• Lets you print charts and reports.
• Lets you copy information to your personal database.
• Is available at most family history centers. Close Help and Go to Family History Centers.
• Can be purchased. Close Help and Go to the FamilySearch Online Distribution Center.

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When Should I Use the Pedigree Resource File?

Use the Pedigree Resource File when you want to:

• Find lineage-linked records based on names, relationships, events, time periods, and places.
• Locate submitter information for individual records.
• Get the reference numbers you will need to find the complete record on a compact disc.

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How Do I Use the Pedigree Resource File?

There are two ways to search for records:

General Searches

• First, try searching for a record by using the person's name and the name of a relative. Be sure to click the Search button at the bottom of the search screen. Name combination examples:

  -- Person's name and mother's maiden name.

  -- Person's name and father's given name.

• If you find too many names, restrict your search. Add one or two pieces of additional information, such as a birth place and date. Each piece of information will act as a filter and should reduce the number of records found. This can be helpful when searching records of people with common last names such as Smith, Gomez, and so on.
• If you find too few names, broaden your search. Use only minimal information in your search. For example, you might use only a surname or a surname plus a country name. This can be helpful when searching for records of people with unique last names such as Elkington or Jeshelski.

Submission Search

• Each time a record or group of records is sent to the Pedigree Resource File, the records as a group are called a submission, and they are given a submission number.
• If known, type a submission number in the Submission Number box. You can make your search more specific by typing other information such as a surname.
• You will see a list of all the records contained in the submission, and you can view any Individual Record in the submission.
• You can find a submission number by first searching for a record using the person's name, birth date, and so on. The number will be listed on the person's Individual Record.

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Tips for Searching

To see expert tips on searching for records, click on the Tips on How to Search the Pedigree Resource File link on the search screen beneath the tabs.

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I Can't Find the Record I'm Looking For. Now What?

If your search was unsuccessful or you want more information, try these suggestions.

1. Use the search tips. Click on the Tips on How to Search the Pedigree Resource File link on the search screen beneath the tabs.

2. Try using a different search method. You may want to try searching a different database. Follow the steps below to choose another database:

1. From the Search tab, click Search for Ancestors.
2. Choose a database from the left menu.

You can also search web sites for general topics, such as military history or cemeteries. From the Search tab, click Web Sites; then choose one of the following options:

1. Click Browse Categories to browse through web sites and do keyword searches.
2. Click Advanced Search for additional options that will help narrow your search.

3. Search the Family History Library Catalog. The catalog lists additional records that are not available on the Internet but are available at local family history centers. The catalog lists:

• Family histories.
• Birth, marriage, and death records.
• Census records.
• Church registers.
• Books.
• Microfilm and microfiche.
• Other records containing genealogical information.

Close Help and Go to the Family History Library Catalog.

4. Look in Research Guidance. This tool helps you decide what records to use to find information about your ancestor. It lists the best records to use, recommends the order in which to search them, provides step-by-step instructions for finding information in the records, and tells you where the copies of the records may be located.

Close Help and Go to Research Guidance.

5. Browse other genealogical sites. You may find it helpful to use other Internet resources. Major Internet genealogical sites are listed in the Key Genealogical Sites category.

Close Help and Go to Key Genealogical Sites.

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Details on Each Part of the Screen

First Name field:

• Type the first name of the person you are looking for. 
• You may type middle names and initials. However, middle names are not considered in a search unless the Use exact spelling box has been checked. 
• Do not type identifiers or titles, such as Jr., Dr., Miss, Captain, Sir, and so forth.
• Try using different variations of the first name.

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Last Name field:

• Type the last name of the person you are looking for. Example: Smith, McDonald.
• For women, try typing their maiden name first. Then try a second search using their married name.
• Try different variations of the last name. 

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Father and Mother fields:

• Type the first or last names of the father or mother of the person you are looking for. 
• To search for a person, it is not necessary to have the father's and the mother's name. You may have only one or any combination of the names. For example, you may have the father's first name and the mother's first name. 
• If you want to find information about a father or mother, type their names into the First Name and Last Name fields.

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Spouse fields:

• Type the first and last name of the person's husband or wife. 
• For a wife, first try searching using her maiden name, then her married name.

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Event field:

• Click on the Event field and select an event (birth, marriage, all events, and so on) in the person's life for which you think a record was made. 
• Try to focus your search by entering additional information about the event in the Year Range, Year, and Country boxes.

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Year Range and Year fields:

• Use the Year Range and Year fields to indicate when the event you selected in the Event field occurred.
• Example: If you select a date range of  "+ or -10 Years," and type 1880 in the Year box, FamilySearch Internet will find only records created between 1870 and 1890.

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Country fields:

• Click on the Country field and select a country to search. Click on the country where you think the person was living at the time of the event you selected.
• Depending on the country you choose, other boxes may appear such as State or Province. Select the appropriate places from the lists.

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Submission Number:

• Records are usually submitted as a group to the Pedigree Resource File. Each submission is given a submission number. Example: 999999-111399120105 
• Type a submission number in the Submission Number box to see a list of all the records in a submission. You can then view any of the records in the submission.
• You can make your search more specific by typing other information such as name, birth date, and so on.
• If you don't know the submission number, first search for a record you know was in the submission. Search using the name, event, or date. The submission numbers will be listed at the bottom of the Individual Record.

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Use exact spelling box:

• Click this box if you want to search for records with names that are spelled exactly as you entered them on the search screen. 
• Middle names and initials are considered in the search. 
• This feature can be helpful when searching for people who have common surnames but unique middle names or initials. Examples: Mary Adriene Brown or Richard S. Smith.
• When you don't click the Use exact spelling box, FamilySearch Internet searches for the name you typed and any close matches. For example, the search results for the surname "Nelson" would include Nelson, Nelsen, Nielson, Nielsen, and so forth.

Search button: Enter information into the search fields; then click Search to begin a search.

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Clear button: To remove all the information you have entered into the fields, click Clear. This will also reset the default settings, such as Event and Country.

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