2. Adding Searches
• Once a researcher has formulated an
objective, the next step is to plan the
searches that will address the goal.
• Which sources will contain relevant
information, and what will be the scope
of each search?
3. To add a search, click on “Add Information” and
select “Add Search.”
4. You will first be asked if you want to add the search to
an objective. It is highly recommended that
researchers use objectives to organize their research.
However, if past research is being recorded and
objectives were not used originally, they don’t need to
be created today. Click “Add.”
5. The next screen will provide the list of objectives to choose
from. Click on “Add Search” for the desired objective.
When the list is too long to efficiently locate the desired
objective from this list, begin with the “Find/Select” function
on the blue toolbar. This process will be described in the
“Finding Objectives” tutorial.
6. The search template will open with the objective statement
at the top of the screen. Be sure this is the correct objective.
7. By selecting from the dropdowns and adding needed entries
with the green add buttons, record each planned search.
9. Source Title and Author
• The title and author fields are dropdowns
from the source template. If the desired
source is not showing in the dropdown,
begin typing to narrow the options.
10. Source Title and Author
• If the desired source has not yet been
added to the list of sources, click the
green add circle, and add the source. (You
must fill in the title and author fields for
them to show in the dropdown boxes.)
11. Source Title and Author
• A source can be selected by either the
title or author dropdown. When one is
selected, both fields will autofill for
efficient data entry.
12. Jurisdiction
• Select the jurisdiction that is being
researched. This may or may not be the
same as the jurisdiction of the record
itself. For example, if a national record is
being searched for a smaller area, record
the jurisdiction that was searched.
13. Jurisdiction
• The “Jurisdiction” dropdown will need to
include entries for each jurisdictional level.
For example, if I’m searching a town, the
selection would be Anna, Union, Illinois. If I’m
searching the county, it would be Union
County, Illinois. If I’m searching the state, I
would record Illinois.
14. Jurisdiction
• Some records are not created by an entity
with a jurisdiction. For example, family
letters, Bibles, family charts, etc. would be
considered a “General Source.” In that
case, click the checkbox.
15. Scope of the Search
• Who is being researched? A person, all
members of a family, or every entry for a
surname?
• Select the person, family, or surname, or
add a new entry with the green add
button.
16. Scope of the Search
• If limits are placed on the search beyond
the people and jurisdiction, include those
limits in the “Additional scope details.” For
example, when searching a collection for a
specific time period.
17. Scope of the Search
• Always record the scope of the search.
What exactly will you be searching for? If
the scope is not recorded, a nil finding will
be meaningless. Nil for what?
• Being specific in your scope will also
streamline research while at the facility.
18. Record Type
• Select the record type that is being
researched. Add new record types, as
desired, with the green add button.
Selecting a record type allows the search
engine to find any entry relevant to that
type.
19. Comments
• The comments field is provided for
researchers to include any additional
information that is relevant to the search.
21. During a planning session, the researcher will want to
continue adding relevant searches until the plan for that
objective is complete.
If you are conducting searches as you go, the results
screen can be accessed as well.
When finished, return home or select any other function
from the blue toolbar.
22. Adding Searches
• Experienced researchers will know which
records they need to search and where to
locate those records.
• Newer family historians may benefit from
the FamilySearch.org “Learn” pages or a
program like GenSmarts.
25. Adding Searches
• The more experience you gain in doing
research, the more instinctive it will be to
plan your searches.
• Participate in your local genealogical
society meetings, attend conferences,
read, and learn! Family history research is
a great adventure.
26. • After planning your searches, you
are ready to begin research and to
record the relevant results.
