Fix errors in historical record transcriptions or indexes

Article:

Before you start

Determine whether you can fully edit the record of interest.

From a record details page

• If you searched the indexed record collections, start from the record details page (the page that shows the indexed information). From a list of search results, click the icon that looks like a sheet of lined paper. At the top of the record details page, click Edit.
• Some indexes are not editable. The Edit button is grayed out.
• A new screen shows with the record image on the left and a transcription panel on the right. On the small screen of a mobile device, the transcription panel shows below the record image. Continue with the steps.

From Explore Historical Images

• If you clicked Search and then Images, click to view the images on an Image Group Number. Then click to enlarge the image that has a mistake.
• You see the record image to the left. To the right, you see a panel that has information about the image and the image group. On a mobile device such as a cell phone, the panel shows below the record image.
• Above the record image, look for and click Names. It has an icon of a person silhouette with a sheet of paper. Clicking on Names opens the Names Panel to the right of the image.
• If you see the indexed data, you can fully edit the record. If there is more than one name indexed on the record, click the name with information that needs correction.
• If you see a message "This image has not been indexed", you cannot edit the data.

From Full Text Search:

• If you clicked Search and then Full Text, click a title in the search results to view the record image.
• To the right of the panel is the transcription.
• To the right of Transcription, click the pencil icon.
• Click a word that needs to be edited.
• Make the correction in the word field and click Submit.

Decide what to edit

Errors can appear on the original document. We strongly recommend that you leave the data field as is. You can create a field to record the correct name. FamilySearch saves both versions of the name. With two searchable options, others can find the name.

Steps (website or mobile)

1. Find the information you want to edit on the panel to the right. If the relationship can be edited, a pencil icon will appear. Click the corresponding pencil icon and make corrections.
2. If the highlight over the image is correct, click Save.
3. If the highlight is over the wrong word, click Edit Highlight. Fix the highlight and click Save.
4. You can add unindexed information:
   
   1. Click a pencil icon in the area where you want to add information.
   2. Click Add More Information.
   3. Click the field that you want to add and click Update.
   4. In the new field, enter the appropriate information and click Add Highlight.
   5. Click in the image, and add a highlight over the information. Then click Attach.
   6. On the side panel, click Update.
   7. Click Save
      

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