GenealogyBank: Researching Historical Newspapers for Family History

GenealogyBank: Researching Historical Newspapers for Family History

This guide helps you link directly from FamilySearch.org to GenealogyBank to research historical newspapers for information about your ancestors.

Step 1: Locate Your Ancestor on FamilySearch.org

First, you need to find the person you are researching within FamilySearch's Family Tree. Here's how:

1. Navigate to Family Tree: On the FamilySearch.org homepage, click on the "Family Tree" tab at the top of the page. Select "Tree" from the dropdown menu.
2. Find Your Ancestor: Use the navigation tools (up/down/left/right arrows, search) to locate the ancestor you want to research. You can also use the search function by clicking the "Find" button in the upper right corner of the screen. Enter the ancestor's name and any other identifying information.
3. Open the Person Page: Once you find your ancestor in the tree, click on their name to open their "Person" page. This page contains all the information FamilySearch has gathered about this individual.

Step 2: Check for Existing GenealogyBank Links

FamilySearch might already have links to GenealogyBank records for your ancestor. Look for these potential connections:

1. Examine the "Sources" Tab: On the Person page, click the "Sources" tab. This tab lists all the sources that have been attached to this individual.
2. Filter Sources: In the "Sources" tab, look for a filter option. Filter the sources to show those specifically from "GenealogyBank" or those with "Newspaper" in the title. If you see any GenealogyBank entries, click on them to view the records.
3. Review Attached Records: Click on each attached record to see if the information pertains to your ancestor. If it does, great! If not, continue to the next step.

Step 3: Manually Search GenealogyBank from FamilySearch (if no link exists)

If FamilySearch doesn't automatically have GenealogyBank records attached to your ancestor, you can perform a manual search using the information you have on FamilySearch.

1. Copy Information from FamilySearch: Carefully copy the ancestor's full name, birth date, death date (if known), and places of residence or significant events (birthplace, marriage place, etc.). Accurate information improves search results.
2. Access GenealogyBank: Open a new browser window or tab and go to the GenealogyBank website. (Note: a subscription may be required to view full records).
3. Enter Search Terms: On the GenealogyBank search page, carefully enter the information you copied from FamilySearch. Use as many details as you can, including name variations or nicknames. Use the advanced search options to specify a date range or location.
4. Filter and Refine Results: Review the search results carefully. Look for newspaper articles that mention your ancestor's name, even if the details are slightly different. Consider possible misspellings of names or variations in reporting.
5. Attach to FamilySearch (Manually): If you find relevant records on GenealogyBank, you'll need to attach them manually to your ancestor's page on FamilySearch. To do this, on the GenealogyBank record, look for options to copy the source information. On FamilySearch, go to the "Sources" tab of your ancestor's page. Click "Add Source," then "Add New Source." Manually enter the information (title of the newspaper, date of publication, URL to the GenealogyBank page, etc.). Add notes about the specific information in the article that relates to your ancestor. Attach the source to the relevant events in your ancestor's life.

Important Note: Remember that access to GenealogyBank requires a paid subscription. However, many libraries offer free access to GenealogyBank through their websites. Check with your local library to see if they provide this service.