Ancestry Academy  > Education  >  Search Like a Pro

 

In the virtual event "Ancestry Search Like a Pro," Corporate Genealogist Crista Cowan, shared valuable insights into optimizing search activities on Ancestry.com to help attendees maximize their family history research. Her presentation focused on demonstrating advanced search techniques, understanding leaf hints, conducting searches from family trees, and performing database-specific searches to ensure successful familial discoveries. One of her primary messages was that building a family tree on Ancestry significantly enhances the effectiveness of using the search features.

Crista emphasized the importance of starting with a solid family tree as the foundation of effective searching, suggesting users begin with details they already know before advancing to unknown generations. She underscored the necessity of engaging with records to connect generations and narrate ancestor stories, stressing how leaf hints, powered by computer algorithms, suggest potential matches from the vast Ancestry database of over 65 billion records globally. Reviewing these hints thoroughly is crucial to ensure the records align correctly with one’s ancestral profiles. Once the hints are explored, researchers can search extensively to locate missing records, utilizing strategies such as reverse chronological order searches of census records for a sound framework.

A significant portion of the presentation was dedicated to tackling the common issue of misplaced records or no results from a query, explaining how issues may arise from misspellings or transcription errors during indexing. Crista shared techniques like iterative searching—an approach involving varying search criteria to navigate potential inaccuracies in record names and data. She advised using wildcards, such as question marks and asterisks, to accommodate for variations in spellings and possible indexing errors, making search attempts broader and more inclusive of potential discrepancies. She also demonstrated how to refine searches using database-specific filters to target pertinent collections directly, empowering researchers to work more deliberately towards desired results.

Beyond census records, Crista encouraged attendees to explore birth, marriage, and death records, using the Ancestry card catalog as an essential tool for determining the availability of such records by region and era. This resource is invaluable for ensuring researchers aren’t investing time searching for records that don’t exist due to privacy laws or unavailability. By reviewing the catalog’s database types, users gain insight into various databases and their scope, optimizing their search strategies to be more effective. She highlighted the importance of reading each database's descriptions, which provide crucial details about the nature and origin of records, guiding users on how to leverage them for successful family tree expansion.

Crista concluded the event by addressing specific attendee questions, providing clarity on issues like searching immigration records, variations in name spellings, and locating indigenous American documents. Her session underscored the dynamic nature of genealogical research, reminding participants of the value in creatively exploring search parameters and using the extensive resources Ancestry offers to their full advantage. She encouraged participants to leave comments about new insights gained during the session as an affirmation of understanding and a commitment to apply the learned techniques, notably enhancing their genealogical research endeavors.