FamilySearch full text search is currently in a beta testing phase that is open to the public. FamilySearch has offered this service for free on a select but large set of records. Learn how to activate this feature, utilize it, and reap the benefits of new tech!
In the Webinar Short “FamilySearch Full-Text Search: Why Aren’t You Using It?”, genealogy librarian Brent Trout introduces viewers to a powerful, underutilized feature on the FamilySearch platform—its full-text search capability. Released in beta form, this feature uses advanced AI and machine learning technologies to make historical records fully searchable, significantly expanding research possibilities for genealogists. Trout emphasizes that this tool is not a replacement for traditional research methods, but an enhancement that can unlock new paths of discovery by making unindexed records searchable by keywords, names, places, and more.
Key Takeaways from the Webinar:
This Webinar Short is a must-watch for genealogists ready to level up their research strategies with cutting-edge tools. By viewing the full session, researchers will gain step-by-step guidance on how to navigate FamilySearch’s full-text search feature, unlocking a deeper and broader spectrum of historical records.
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I differ from you about the 1950 census. I am a trained paleographer. I know how to read old handwriting and how to puzzle out letters that can be in doubt a whale of a lot better than any machine can. I and a whole bunch of other people had to sign up to do a human indexing of the 1950 census to correct all the errors, because the AI or whatever you call it skipped lines; it conflated two different households together; it skipped entire households, and it mangled a great number of names on every page. My father’s name was Arden Packard. I could not find him in the index created by the AI because the AI mangled his name, unable to pick up on the fact that the enumerator had a habit of leaving the tops of his capital and lower-case a’s open and a few other quirks of their handwriting, and my father’s name came out as Urden Pucbard. Please don’t tell me how great AI is.
Good information! Looks very useful. Can’t wait to try it out! I’ve been doing genealogy over 50 years, but made great strides starting perhaps 30 years ago with the advent of internet genealogy. Just made a little unexpected find last night when an AI thingy popped up while using Google Book and based on that enabling me then to find the person on family search I had a neat little solution. Thanks again. Dr. Ed Rockstein
Thank you, this was very helpful!
My grandma (who has an unusual name) seems to have gone to court every day! She is overwhelming me!
I have LOVED using the Full Text Search feature! Solved a case of why I couldn’t find information to my 4xggrandmother previous to being married. I downloaded 12 documents of her and her brother (found another sister) of being orphaned at 12 years old, records included in her brother’s expense account were to buy mourning clothes for his sister Elizabeth’s death. 🙁 The brother I found because they were both together in most documents. Father’s full name was listed, he died in 1803. I’m assuming mom died earlier as there was no mention of her name but I did see a whole bunch of the same surname of the “Lynch” families on the same page in the ledgers, which is “supposedly” her mother’s surname. Also found the first document with my husband’s 3xggrandfather’s wife and him together in a land transaction (we have none of them together) selling her “dower” and that she was questioned to make sure she wanted to do this and was not being pressured. We do not even have their marriage record.
Very helpful, Brent! Great tips.