Can I access Historical Records with JAWS?

Article Id: 1097
November 22, 2023

If you use JAWS, you can search historical records on FamilySearch. You cannot view the associated images, but a lot of information has been indexed and is available as ASCII text. You can also search the Genealogies section of the FamilySearch website.

(JAWS is a tool that allows people with vision loss to use a computer without having to use a mouse.)
 
Perform the following steps to search records and view results:

  1. Go to FamilySearch.
  2. Sign in. See Signing in to Family Tree using JAWS. If you do not have an account, see How do I create a free account using JAWS?
  3. When the site comes up, a search screen displays. If JAWS does not take you to the first search field, type f, and then press Enter to move to the first field and go into Forms mode. This is the first and middle name for the deceased individual.
  4. Press Tab to move through the fields, and enter needed information. All the fields have labels, so it is easy to determine what information to enter.
  5. After entering known information, press Tab to move to the Search button, and press Enter to select it.
  6. Type h twice to go to the header labeled “Historical Records.”
  7. Use the arrow keys to read the results. Types of records include census records, birth and death records, trees from the Ancestral File and Pedigree Resource File, and so on.

You can also do advanced searches. Perform the following steps to search for records, and view results using the Advanced Search:

  1. From the FamilySearch main page, press Insert + F7 to bring up a list of links.
  2. Type s until you hear “Search Advanced,” and press Enter to select it.
  3. A screen for the Advanced Search displays. If JAWS does not take you to the first search field, type f, and then press Enter to move to the first field and go into Forms mode.
  4. Press Tab to move through the fields, and enter the information that is known. The fields are labeled, so it is easy to determine what information is requested.
  5. An associated check box labeled “Match All Terms Exactly” is present for many of the fields on the Advanced Search screen. Checking this box will cause only results that match exactly to be returned. Press the space bar to change the status of the check box.
  6. After entering known information, press Tab to move to the Search button, and press Enter to select it.
  7. Type h twice to go to the header labeled “Historical Records.”
  8. Use the arrow keys to review the results returned.

Please Contact Support for additional help using JAWS with FamilySearch.

Getting the Most from Your Search: Understanding the Search Records Page

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