It's All In There – Navigating the FamilySearch Catalog

Locating an ancestral homeland often depends on where an immigrant settled in America, and what the motivation was for making an arduous journey across the ocean.

No matter what time period your ancestors lived in, they surely had a few secrets. Explore various court records that reveal family relationships and issues. Find answers to long-standing family mysteries!

A small area of land possessed by several countries, West Florida encompassed parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Early records are plentiful.

Following the money isn't just for crimes — it solves genealogical research questions, too! The U.S. Social Security Claims and Applications Collection contains names of applicants, birth dates and places, and names of parents that include the mother's maiden name. Need information? Find it here!

This Index is all about immigrants – over 544,000 of them – and spans 137 years! They came to California for various reasons and took a chance for a new life as a US citizen. Finding an immigrant is easier due to multiple search options. Minimal info is not a problem!

Abundant records for Census, Church, Court, Land & Property, and Directories make researching in Idaho a productive experience. Online databases for Pre-Territorial Tax Rolls, Old Penitentiary Prison Records, 1882-1961, Wills and Probate Records, 1857-1989, Obituaries, and Historical Newspapers are treasures. True gems are found in the Pioneer Histories, Index of over 75,000 Biographical Sketches, Overland Diaries & Letters, and records for Idaho Indian Tribes described on research facility and American Indian websites.

Anything handled by a court of law is lengthy, and that is good for genealogical research. Documents containing information about a death date, relationships, personal and/or real property, and place of residence are common in intestate files. Learn about the court process from first petition to final discharge, and picture…

Genealogical researchers love old records, family bibles, baptismal certificates, and census pages. Transcribing a will or a deed can be a daunting task, especially when the writing instruments are pre-1800. Cursive handwriting from the 1600's up to the 1900's is often a challenge. Knowing a few tips to decipher...