Ancestry Tips and Tricks

Introduction

• Daily use of Ancestry can reveal useful tricks.
• Aim: To build client trees effectively and save time.
• Seven tricks covered to enhance family tree research.

Tip 1: Search Beyond Hints

• Hints are not exhaustive: Many people rely too much on hints.
• Independent Searches: Perform additional searches by clicking the search icon.
  • Example: George E. Paston has more records than just the hints.
• Use the Catalog: Access the card catalog to search for locations or record types.
  • Find additional records not available through hints or direct searches.

Tip 2: Modify Search Features

• Inactive Records: Ancestry avoids searching categories with saved records.
  • Example: No further searches for George Paston in 1910, 1920, 1930 censuses.
• Modify Searches:
  • Add or change parameters like location.
  • For women, switch between maiden and married names.
• Use Filters: Narrow down results by record type, useful for census, military, newspapers, etc.

Tip 3: Open Hints and Attachments

• Open Full Records: Click on hints and view full records and images.
• Verify Details: Cross-check addresses and other details on images.
• Save Efficiently: Save records directly from the full screen to capture all details.

Tip 4: Handling Parent and Child Records

• Unknown Parents: Quick method to add unknown parents and merge records.
  • Example: Adding Elmer Quam as a father and merging duplicates.

Tip 5: Attach Photos to Facts

• Visual Organization: Attach photos or documents to specific facts.
  • Useful for birth, death, and marriage certificates.
• Efficient Uploads: Upload media directly to facts for better organization.

Tip 6: Tree Settings

• Export and Privacy:
  • Export trees as GEDCOM files for backup.
  • Adjust privacy settings for public or private access.
• Manage Invitations: Invite people to share trees and set roles.

Tip 7: Census Searches

• Census Evaluations: Search census records by surname and location.
  • Use adjacent county searches for comprehensive results.
• Narrow by Year: Focus on specific census years to streamline research.

Conclusion

• Tips aim to enhance efficiency and results in Ancestry research.
• Encouragement to explore additional resources and tutorials.