Family Search

New Free Historical Records from 7 Countries | October 2025 Update

Recently, FamilySearch expanded its free online resources with over 21 million new records from 7 countries. Some exciting additions include 13 million civil and church records from Italy and 3 million census records from the Philippines. Other countries with significant record additions include the following: To ensure the accuracy of updates, FamilySearch takes time to… Read More New Free Historical Records from 7 Countries | October 2025 Update

Research

New Free Historical Records from 12 Countries | September 2025 Update

By FamilySearch September 2025 Recently, FamilySearch expanded its free online archives with nearly 5 million new records from 12 countries. Exciting additions include 3.6 million civil registrations from Italy, 300,000 cemetery records from Chile, and almost 300,000 Catholic Church records from Portugal. Other countries with significant record additions include the following: To ensure the accuracy of updates,… Read More New Free Historical Records from 12 Countries | September 2025 Update

Records, Research

Is It Really So?

This article was published on the Family History Guide Blog, “Handling Record Problems.” “It says so in that record!” … but is it really so? Sometimes the information we find in a record might not be a sure thing. Goal 7 of Project 4: Discover in the Family History Guide sheds some welcome light on potential… Read More Is It Really So?

Genealogy Research

Slave Names: Finding the Formerly Enslaved

This article was published on the FamilySearch Blog by Amie Tennant Exploring your African American heritage has historically presented challenges, especially before 1870, when records rarely mentioned the names of enslaved people. However, it is becoming increasingly easier to uncover these histories. A growing number of databases, indexes, and digital collections are now making it… Read More Slave Names: Finding the Formerly Enslaved

Memories, Research

Using Photos for Research

Note: This article was previously published by Bob Taylor on The Family History Guide Blog. When we focus on our family history research, we often think only about finding documents and records. Photographs can be a valuable research tool, providing clues that match people with locations, events, and other people. The Family History Guide has… Read More Using Photos for Research

Research

New Historical Records from 8 Countries | July 2025

By FamilySearch July 2025 Recently, FamilySearch expanded its free online archives with over 30 million new records from 8 countries. Some exciting additions include 16 million civil registrations from Italy, 5 million cemetery records from Brazil, and nearly 1 million deceased physician records from the American Medical Association (AMA). Other countries with significant record additions… Read More New Historical Records from 8 Countries | July 2025