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Now you’ve started your research.
No matter which website or program that you’ve chosen as a platform to document your genealogy research,
it can be overwhelming when trying to navigate the program and understand the
various features that are available.
This is also true with Ancestry.com. While I feel that the
website is user-friendly for the most part – it is
easy to overlook some of the features, which may be helpful as you research.
Here is a list of five features of Ancestry.com that are
often overlooked.
1. My To-Do List
This feature is available through the ‘Home’ tab of Ancestry.com. After
you click on the ‘Home’
tab, scroll to the bottom of the webpage. On the right-hand side, you will see
a small area called ‘My To-Do List’. As pictured, there is a button, which allows you to ‘Add an item’. Here, you are able to create
a customizable description for certain research tasks that you would like to
accomplish. As an example, I wrote ‘Find
Pauline McCloy’s Marriage Record’. When the task is accomplished, you are able to check the
box next to the item. If you’d like to look back at tasks
you’ve completed, there is a link below to
view ‘Recently completed items’. This is a great tool to use to keep track of your research
goals and accomplishments!
2. Message Boards
The Message Board section of Ancestry is
also often overlooked. You can find this useful feature by clicking on the ‘Help’ tab at the top of the
website and then clicking on ‘Message Boards’ as the drop-down menu appears. This is a great place to go when
you are stuck on researching a certain ancestor or family line, or if you are
just seeking additional information. There are several ways to find what you
are looking for on this webpage. The first is by performing a keyword search.
This is located towards the top of the page and here you are able to search
terms such as a name or surname, or a specific topic such as ‘Civil War’ or ‘Colonial
families’.
However, these keyword searches will give you
many, many results, which can be good, but they can also be difficult to look
through. At the bottom of the webpage, you are able to search by category,
either by localities or topics (pictured right). This is the quickest and most effective way to
find what you are looking for. If you are not able to find posts on the topic
that you have in mind, you are also able to create your own post. It usually
does not take long to receive replies. This is a great way to interact with
other genealogists and step outside the box when researching your ancestors.
3. Ancestry’s YouTube Channel
A link to the YouTube channel is available
at the bottom of the Ancestry website or by visiting www.youtube.com/ancestrycom. The channel
contains videos with Crista Cowan, a genealogist for Ancestry.com. She will
create videos on topics such as ‘What’s
New at Ancestry, a video that is produced every couple of months, where Cowan
shares new features available on the website and explains how to use them. She
also creates videos such as, ‘Tidying up you Genealogy’, ‘What Records Exist and How Do
I Find Them?’, and ’Scanning
and Uploading Family Photos’. Ancestry also uploads videos 3-4 minutes in
length where customers share short snippets discussing some of their genealogy
findings that were made through Ancestry. The videos on the YouTube channel are
informative and inspirational. Links to some of Crista Cowan’s recent videos are below.
Tidying Up Your Genealogy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPLZHjclcUc
What Records Exist and Where Do I Find
Them? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrPPsKonFiA
4. Member Directory
This feature can be located by clicking on
the ‘Search’ tab
at the top of the Ancestry website and then clicking on the ‘Member directory’ tab.
This feature allows you to search for a specific member by name, or you are
able to search for members who are researching a specific surname. You are also
able to enter a location and year to locate more precise results. This can be
helpful if you are able to find members who are researching the same ancestors
as you are because you may be able to view their family tree (if their tree is
set to the public setting, otherwise you will have to message them ask to view
the tree) and compare research.
5. Ancestry Academy
Similar
to the YouTube channel…but better! Accessible through the ‘Extras’ tab on the Ancestry website.
Select ‘Ancestry Academy’
on the drop-down menu. This feature of the website contains a plethora of
informational videos. Titles include, ‘Getting
Started on Ancestry: Starting Your Family Tree’, ‘What is a Census Record?’, ‘Finding the Females in Your Family Tree’ and many more. Videos can range in length from 20 seconds
to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the topic. The video quality is very
good and most all courses are taught by instructors who are certified
genealogists. With an Ancestry account, you are also able to create
personalized playlists and save your favorite videos to watch again later. While, I believe that all Ancestry features
that I have listed here are helpful, I think that Ancestry Academy is the most valuable and I would highly recommend taking a look at some
of the videos offered. Several courses from the Ancestry Academy are linked
below.
Seek and Ye Shall Find: Become an
Ancestry Search Expert https://www.ancestry.com/academy/course/ancestry-search
What is a Census Record?
Finding the Females in Your Family
Tree https://www.ancestry.com/academy/course/finding-females-family-history
Whiskey, Farming, and the Choices
to Move: Understanding Family Migration
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