How do I edit or delete a correction that I made to an indexed historical record?

Article Id: 1283
September 24, 2023

If you corrected an indexing error in a historical record on FamilySearch, you can edit your correction or delete it. You cannot edit or delete corrections other users make.

Steps (website or mobile)

  1. Find the record you edited. You can search for the historical record or find the person in Family Tree who shows the record as a source. 
  2. Look at the indexed details.
  3. In the dark bar at the top, click Edit. If you see Make a New Edit, continue with step 4. Otherwise, jump to Steps—new image viewer.
  4. Click Make a New Edit.
  5. Click Edit to the left of the field that you want to edit or delete.
  6. Click the pencil icon to the right of your original edit.
    1. Make your correction, and click Save Changes.
    2. To delete the correction, click the trash can icon.

Steps—new image viewer

The ability to fully edit indexed records from the new image viewer in Explore Historical Records is expanding. If you access an image, but cannot yet edit, check back from time to time to see if the option has been added.

  1. On the page that shows the indexed information, click Edit. Or open an image in Explore Historical Images.
  2. On the right panel, at the top, click Image Index.
    1. If editing is not yet available, you see a message "This image has not been indexed". You cannot edit it in the new image viewer.
  3. Click the name of the person whose record that you want to edit.
  4. Click the pencil icon for the pertinent section.
  5. Revise the text.
  6. Edit the Highlight as needed.
  7. Click Save Changes.

Results

Corrections show on the page showing the indexed information right away. In most cases, you can search corrections within a few minutes. During peak usage times, it can take longer. 

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