"How to" Guides for International Research

Are you searching for your ancestors from a country outside the United States? On this page you will find a variety of “How to” guides created by the international research specialists at the Family History Library. Using these guides and their accompanying activities will enhance your research skills and knowledge and increase the likelihood of success in locating records of your ancestors.

How to use the guides
Select a guide from the list below based on your interests. Please note that some guides need to be completed in sequence to ensure a successful experience. Build your research knowledge and confidence with each activity you complete.

Each guide comes with three parts - Instruction, which includes a guided activity, Assignment, to test what you've learned, and an Answer key, to check how you did on the assignment. The guides are also rated as either Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced. The majority are designed for beginners.

The guides are available in PDF form designed to be downloaded and printed. To view a guide, click on its title. Once the guide has opened, use the PDF tools found in your browser to print and save the document.

PLEASE NOTE: Some guides are designed to be completed using resources found in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. These are indicated by an * following the title of the guide. If you cannot visit the Family History Library, check your local library or your local FamilySearch Family History Center for availability of the resources described in the guide.

Work in progress
This is a work in progress. Please check back often for new and/or updated guides.

General Help

 * Inserting Special Characters - [[Media:1-Diacritics-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]]

Brazil

 * Brazil Civil Registration - [[Media:1-Civil_Registration-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Civil_Registration-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Civil_Registration-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Austria

 * GenTeam Gazetteer Online - [[Media:1-Genteam_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Genteam_Gazetteer-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Genteam_Gazetteer-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Czech Republic

 * GenTeam Gazetteer Online - [[Media:1-Genteam_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Genteam_Gazetteer-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Genteam_Gazetteer-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Brno Archive Online - [[Media:1-Brno_Archive_Online-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Brno_Archive_Online-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Brno_Archive_Online-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Třeboň Archive Online - [[Media:1-Trebon_Archive_Online-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Trebon_Archive_Online-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Trebon_Archive_Online-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Denmark

 * Arkivalieronline: Church Records - [[Media:1-Arkivalieronline_Church_Records-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Arkivalieronline_Church_Records-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Arkivalieronline_Church_Records-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Census Records Online - [[Media:1-Dansk_Demografisk_Database-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Dansk_Demografisk_Database-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Dansk_Demografisk_Database-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Germany

 * 1905 Prussia Gemeindelexikon - [[Media:1-1905_Prussia_Gemeindelexikon-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-1905_Prussia_Gemeindelexikon-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-1905_Prussia_Gemeindelexikon-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Archives Online: Archion - [[Media:1-Archion-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Archion-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Archion-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Feast Days - [[Media:1-Feast_Days-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Feast_Days-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Feast_Days-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Fraktur Script - [[Media:1-Fraktur-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Fraktur-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Fraktur-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * German Script Tutorial Online - [[Media:1-German_Script-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]]
 * Germany Map Guide* - [[Media:1-Map_Guide,_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Map_Guide,_Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Map_Guide,_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Hamburg Passenger Lists - [[Media:1-Hamburg_Passenger_Lists-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Hamburg_Passenger_Lists-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Hamburg_Passenger_Lists-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Meyer's Gazetteer* - [[Media:1-Meyers-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Meyers-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Meyers-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Meyer's Abbreviations - [[Media:1-Meyers_Abbreviations-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Meyers_Abbreviations-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Meyers_Abbreviations-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Meyer's Online: Ancestry.com - [[Media:1-Meyers_Online-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Meyers_Online-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Meyers_Online-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]] 
 * Meyer's Online: Meyersgaz.org
 * Online Genealogies - [[Media:1-Online_Ortsfamilienb%C3%BCcher-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Online_Ortsfamilienb%C3%BCcher-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Online_Ortsfamilienb%C3%BCcher-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Posen Marriage Project - [[Media:1-Poznan_Marriage_Project,_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poznan_Marriage_Project,_Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poznan_Marriage_Project,_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Lithuania

 * Online Catholic Church Records - [[Media:1-Lithuania_Online_Records-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Lithuania-Online_Records-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Lithuania-Online_Records-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

The Netherlands

 * WieWasWie: Indexed Records Online - [[Media:1-The_Netherlands_WieWasWie_Indexed_Records_Online-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-The_Netherlands_WieWasWie_Indexed_Records_Online-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-The_Netherlands_-_WieWasWie_Indexed_Records_Online-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Norway

 * 1972 Postal Guide - [[Media:1-1972_Postal_Guide-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-1972_Postal_Guide-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-1972_Postal_Guide-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Digitalarkivet: Church Records - [[Media:1-Digitalarkivet_Church_Records-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Digitalarkivet_Church_Records-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Digitalarkivet_Church_Records-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key ]]
 * Digitalarkivet: Death Notices - [[Media:1-Digitalarkivet_Death_Notices-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Digitalarkivet_Death_Notices-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Digitalarkivet_Death_Notices-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key ]]
 * Digitalarkivet: Emigration Records - [[Media:1-Digitalarkivet_Emigration-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Digitalarkivet_Emigration-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Digitalarkivet_Emigration-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key ]]
 * Digitalarkivet: Moving Records - [[Media:1-Digitalarkivet_Moving_Records-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Digitalarkivet_Moving_Records-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Digitalarkivet_Moving_Records-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Digitalarkivet: National Censuses - [[Media:1-Digitalarkivet_National_Censuses-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Digitalarkivet_National_Censuses-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Digitalarkivet_National_Censuses-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Rygh's Farm Names - [[Media:1-Rygh%27s_Farm_Names-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Rygh%27s_Farm_Names-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Rygh%27s_Farm_Names-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Poland

 * Polish State Archives Online - [[Media:1-Polish_State_Archives-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Polish_State_Archives-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Polish_State_Archives-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Poznan Marriage Project - [[Media:1-Poznan_Marriage_Project,_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poznan_Marriage_Project,_Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poznan_Marriage_Project,_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Reading Polish Birth Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Reading Polish Marriage Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Reading Polish Death Records - [[Media:1-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Skorowidz Gazetteer Online - [[Media:1-Skorowidz_Online-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Skorowidz_Online-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Skorowidz_Online-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Portugal

 * Azores Parish Records Online - [[Media:1-Azores_Parish_Records_Online-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Azores_Parish_Records_Online-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Azores_Parish_Records_Online-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Russia

 * Cyrillic Alphabet - [[Media:1-Russian_Alphabet_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russian_Alphabet_Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russian_Alphabet_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Cyrillic Script - [[Media:1-Russian_Script-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russian_Script-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russian_Script-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Finding German Colonies - [[Media:1-Finding_German_Colonies-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Finding_German_Colonies-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Finding_German_Colonies-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Reading Russian Birth Records - [[Media:1-Russia_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Reading Russian Marriage Records - [[Media:1-Russia_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russia_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russia_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Reading Russian Death Records - [[Media:1-Russia_Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russia_Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russia_Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * RGN Gazetteer - [[Media:1-RGN_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-RGN_Gazetteer-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-RGN_Gazetteer-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Spiski Gazetteer - [[Media:1-Spiski_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Spiski_Gazetteer-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Spiski_Gazetteer-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Slovenia

 * GenTeam Gazetteer Online - [[Media:1-Genteam_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Genteam_Gazetteer-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Genteam_Gazetteer-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Spain

 * Catholic Archive Guide - [[Media:1-Spain_Catholic_Archive_Guide-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Spain_Catholic_Archive_Guide-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Spain_Catholic_Archive_Guide-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Spain Gazetteer* - [[Media:1-Spain_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Spain_Gazetteer-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Spain_Gazetteer-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Madoz Dictionary* - [[Media:1-Madoz_Dictionary-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Madoz_Dictionary-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Madoz_Dictionary-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

Switzerland

 * Appenzell Archives - [[Media:1-Appenzell_Archives-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Appenzell_Archives-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Appenzell_Archives-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer_Key]]
 * Feast Days - [[Media:1-Feast_Days-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Feast_Days-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Feast_Days-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Swiss Surnames - [[Media:1-Register_of_Swiss_Surnames-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Register_of_Swiss_Surnames-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Register_of_Swiss_Surnames-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
 * Zürich Marriage Index - [[Media:1-Z%C3%BCrich_Marriage_Index-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Z%C3%BCrich_Marriage_Index-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Z%C3%BCrich_Marriage_Index-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

South Africa

 * National Archives - [[Media:1-National_Archives,_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-National_Archives,_Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-National_Archives,_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]

*This guide teaches the use of resources found in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. If you cannot visit the Family History Library, check your local library or your local FamilySearch Family History Center for availability of the resources described in the guide.

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