Ancestry Library Edition Tutorial
January, 2007

To best help you find the information you're looking for, Ancestry allows you to search specifically for Historical Records, Family Trees, Stories & Publications, or Photos & Maps by selecting the appropriate tab at the top of the search box. For example, if you'd like to search for Family Trees, simply click on the Family Trees tab and enter the names, places, and dates associated with the ancestor you'd like to find. You can also see search results for a specific type of content by switching between tabs on the search results page. For example, after you have looked through the Family Trees search results, you can click on the Historical Records tab at the top of the search results to see what historical records best match your search. Although you can switch between tabs on the search results page, you will get the best results by filling out the search box specific to the type of content you're looking for.

1. General Search

Perform a basic search by typing the name and state of your ancestor into the query box on the home page under the “Search for Your Ancestors” heading. Ancestry will search for this person in all of their databases. The search results will tell you how many matches they found for your ancestor’s name in each of their databases. Then you click on a database to see the records.

2. Advanced Search Option

After you have performed a general search, and either brought up too many hits or none at all, you may need to modify your search.

Click on the “Advance Search” button. This will take you to a form that allows you to define your search. Type your ancestor’s name in the appropriate boxes. In the box to the right of your ancestor’s name is a drop down menu. Click on this to choose to either to search for the exact spelling of the name or to search for the Soundex spellings. By choosing Soundex you will be searching for all of the various spellings of your ancestor’s last name. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE TOOL because the census takers may have misspelled your ancestor’s name, or the census taker’s handwriting may have been hard to read by the people who transcribed the census records.

Other advanced search options include specifying the years that your ancestor was alive or what country they previously lived in. You could also limit your search to specific records, such as census records or military records.

3. Census Records: U. S. Federal Census Images

On the home page, in the bottom left hand corner you will see “Census Records and Images.” You can search individual years or all of the census records from 1790 to 1930. To search all of the census records, click on the heading “all years” and type your ancestor’s name in the query box at the top of the screen. Specify whether you want to search for exact or Soundex spellings. You can also specify the state, county or township in which your ancestor lived. Then click on the search button to see the results. To search a specific year, begin at Ancestry’s home page and click on the year you want to search listed under “U. S. Census Records & Images.” this will take you to a query box, you can then enter your ancestor’s name and search that specific census. After you click on the search button, a list of names will come back matching your search. to look at the census for your ancestor click on “view image” to the right of your ancestor’s name. The census image will appear. You may need to enlarge the image to read it.

4. Printing Census Images

After finding a census image, click on the printer icon that appears above and to the right of the census image. This will bring up the census image without any frames. Then click on “file” in the upper left corner and select “Print Preview” from the dropdown menu (do not select “Print” at this point, you will only get an enlarged section of the top left census page). Be patient. It sometimes takes 15-20 seconds for the image to load onto the print preview page. At this point, click on “Print” in the upper left corner and the page should print. For later census years (1900-1930), you might want to select “Landscape” (in the print box click on “preferences” then click on the “basics” tab and click on “landscape”; click “ok” and you are ready to print), to get more of the census page on the printed page.

5. Social Security Index

This Social Security Death Index (SSDI) only includes those people for whom a death benefit was paid, so some of your ancestors may not be listed. However, it is a good index to search when beginning your genealogical research. To begin searching, click on the “Birth, Marriage, & Death Records (SSDI)” heading on the home page. Scroll down until you see the heading for “Social Security Death Index” and click on it. Next, enter your ancestor’s name into the boxes and specify exact or soundex spelling. You can limit your search by also specifying birth and death dates, the last place your ancestor lived, and your ancestor’s social security number. Then click on the "search" button. You will be presented with a list of results. Scroll down the list until you find your ancestor’s name and then click on the name. The next page will provide more information about your ancestor and allow you the option to print the page for your records.

6. Printing the page for Your Records

On the right side of the screen you will see a link to “View printer-friendly version.” Click on this link and then print the page. Be sure to make note of the source information at the bottom of the screen for your records. Documenting the sources in which your genealogy records were found is important in case you want to look up the records again or in case you write your family history.

7. US & Other Countries

The U. S., U.K. and Ireland databases include census, birth, death, marriage, immigration, land, military records and more. The format for searching both the U.S. and the U.K. and Ireland databases is the same. From the home page, click on the “Advance Search” tab and scroll down until you see the maps. Click on the map for UK & Ireland, Europe, Canada or Australia and you will be taken to a larger map where you can click on the country or region you want. Up will come a page that lists all of the databases that are available. You have two options, you can search all of these databases by entering your ancestor’s name into the query box on the left side of the screen and then clicking on the “search” button, or you can choose an individual database to search. You will be presented with a list of results. If you did not find the correct result, you can modify your search at the bottom of the screen.

8. List of All Databases

On the home page, look for the box marked “More Collections” at the bottom of the list and click on the heading “all databases.” This alphabetical list allows you to access the key word index to the titles of all of the databases. For example, if you click on “CO” you can see all of the databases that have keywords that begin with CO in their title and find all of the databases that have the word Columbus in their title. Once you find a title that you are interested in, click on it to begin searching that database.