📚 Research Tool Guide

How to Use the FamilySearch Catalog

One of the most powerful — and most overlooked — tools on FamilySearch. This guide walks you through everything you need to find records and collections that never appear in standard name searches.

What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?

The FamilySearch Catalog uniquely combines a traditional library catalog with a searchable genealogical database. It lets you go beyond the "low-hanging fruit" to find records and materials that do not appear in standard name searches. Many valuable collections are only accessible through the Catalog — making it an essential tool for researchers who want to dig deeper.

Sign-in required: As of 2026, you must be signed in with a FamilySearch account to view search results from the Catalog. This is a security update to protect user access and system integrity.

The Catalog is especially valuable for finding individuals with yellow temple icons — people whose vital information is missing or incomplete. These "golden opportunities" often have discoverable records waiting in collections that only the Catalog reveals.

How to Access the Catalog

  1. From the FamilySearch homepage, click Search in the top navigation menu.
  2. From the dropdown menu, click Catalog.
  3. The Catalog search page opens. Sign in with your FamilySearch account if prompted.

Or go directly: familysearch.org/search/catalog

8 Search Options

The Catalog offers eight search options. Each can be used individually or combined to refine results. Understanding when to use each one significantly improves research outcomes.

🌎 Places Most Used

  • Searches by geographic jurisdiction — town, county, state, or country.
  • Especially effective because records are created at the local level.
  • Often produces the most targeted results.

🔍 Keywords

  • A flexible, non-exact search — words don't need to be in a specific order.
  • Useful when the exact title of a collection is unknown.
  • Works well combined with place or subject fields.

📚 Titles

  • Applies to all Catalog materials, not just books.
  • Not an exact search — similar wording will match. Example: "England" may return results containing "English."

✍️ Authors

  • Searches for creators of records — individuals, organizations, archives, churches, and government agencies.
  • Useful when the creator is known but available collections are not.
  • Asterisk (*) wildcard is no longer allowed at the start of a word; question mark (?) wildcard is still supported.

🏷 Subjects

  • Searches by topic — cemeteries, churches, military service — even if the subject word isn't in the title.
  • Follows the same wildcard rules as Author search.

👤 Surnames

  • Locates published family histories and compiled genealogies.
  • Works best for uncommon surnames.
  • This is an exact search — spelling variations must be searched separately.

📞 Call Numbers

  • Locates physical books at the FamilySearch Library or select centers.
  • Partial numbers can return results, but more complete numbers improve accuracy.

🎞 Film, Fiche, or Image Group Numbers

  • Used to locate specific microfilm or image groups.
  • This is an exact search — partial numbers will not return results.

Using the Place Search

Standardized Locations

After entering a place, you must select a standardized location from the dropdown list. The selected place will appear with a location icon confirming it is standardized in FamilySearch.

Search Multiple Jurisdictions

Records may exist at different administrative levels — county and state, for example. Search multiple jurisdictions for the same locality to find more records.

Time Period Considerations

Locations may be divided by date ranges due to boundary changes. The same place may appear multiple times with different time periods. Records can sometimes be filed under unexpected date ranges — avoid limiting searches too narrowly.

Viewing Results

  • A list of record categories appears after running a search (e.g., Probate Records).
  • Selecting a category expands it to show available record collections.
  • Choosing a collection opens a detailed record page with record sets listed at the bottom.
  • Catalog icons beside each record set indicate how to access the records.

Understanding Catalog Icons

Important: Record access and viewing restrictions are set by the original record custodians — not FamilySearch. FamilySearch honors contractual agreements with archives, libraries, churches, and repositories worldwide.

Icon Meaning Access Level
📷 Camera Records are digitized and fully accessible online. View from any location. Open Online
📄 Document Records are available digitally and searchable via Full-Text Search (AI-transcribed). Not all digitized collections are in Full-Text Search yet. Open Online
🔍 Magnifying Glass Searchable indexed collection. Only key details are extracted — viewing full records can reveal additional clues. Open Online
📷⚠ Camera + Warning Records are digitized but restricted by the original custodian. Typically viewable only at a FamilySearch center or affiliate library. Center Only
🎞 Microfilm Access requires visiting the FamilySearch Library or a center with the physical film, or hiring a researcher. Physical Access
📷🚫 Grayed Camera (Granite Mountain) Records are not currently accessible due to contractual limitations. May change in the future — worth checking back. No Access
📷🚫 Grayed Camera (Library) Records are available for viewing at the FamilySearch Library only. Note: a known technical issue sometimes shows this icon instead of the microfilm icon. Library Only

Multiple icons: Some collections display more than one icon — indicating multiple search methods are available. For difficult-to-trace individuals, having multiple access options significantly improves your chances of finding records.

Digital Books in the Catalog

  • Some books are digitized and available online — a "View a Digital Version" link will open the FamilySearch Book Viewer.
  • Not all materials have been digitized.
  • Books not available digitally on FamilySearch may link to WorldCat, where you can find a copy at a nearby library or request it through interlibrary loan.

You're Ready to Research

The FamilySearch Catalog unlocks a wider world of genealogical records — especially for ancestors whose information is incomplete. Start with a Place search for the location where your ancestor lived, and remember: yellow temple icons are golden opportunities waiting to be discovered.

🔗 Go to familysearch.org/search/catalog

Sources & Citations

Content adapted from official FamilySearch documentation. For the most current information, refer directly to the linked sources above.