Explore Historical Images allows you to search all of the historical images available on FamilySearch. Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Why do I keep getting zero results?
Maybe you entered too much information. The system performs an exact search. You only see results that match your criteria exactly.
Try starting with just a place and see how many results you get. Enter the name of a county, state, or province, for example, or maybe even a country. As you enter the place, click the standardized version that appears under the search field.
Use the search filters to narrow your results.
Why do some results have incorrect labels?
Reason 1: The camera operator made a mistake. In many cases, camera operators are volunteers and do not speak the language used in the records.
Reason 2: Before digital cameras, different groups of records were often put onto a single microfilm. Consequently, the label describes only a portion of the film's content.
When you see incorrect labels, click Feedback on the left side of the page to alert the developers to the error.
Why do some results have broad and generic labels?
Broad and generic labels are more common on microfilms created before the invention of digital cameras. Microfilm was expensive, so unrelated content was sometimes combined on the same film.
The camera operator could have used the name of the state, for example, to describe a microfilm with records from different cities within the state. In some cases, a phrase like "Vital Records" was used to describe a microfilm with a combination of birth, marriage, and death records.
Why do some results have multiple items or entries?
Before digital cameras, camera operators could put multiple record types onto the same film to conserve film. FamilySearch is working to separate the items and make them easier to browse.
Can I sort the search results?
The system does not include a sort function. Results display in a table, which makes them easier to scan.
To narrow your results, at the top of your search results, click Refine Search. Use the filters on the right. We recommend that you add filters gradually. Too many filters can cause you to lose results that could be useful.
- If you are searching for a place that has sub places, use the Places Within filter. Click Show all [number] and click a place.
- To restrict the results by date, use the Date field. As you enter a date or range, click the standardized version.
- Click the down arrow in the Life Event field and click an available event. After you click a broad event, you see additional filters. You can click in the boxes and choose one or more additional filters.
For more filters, click Show Advanced Search.
- Click in the Record Type field. Click an item in the list.
- Enter a Keyword.
- The Creator field allows you to limit results to a specific record creator.
- The Custodian field allows you to limit results to a specific record custodian.
- In the Image Group Number (DGS) field, you can enter a DGS number.