Is FamilySearch one of your research “go-to” sources?
FamilySearch, given the many records and features on the site (which are all free) is a must-have for my own personal genealogy research and I actively encourage you to take full advantage of it as well. Recently, FamilySearch has made updates to their New Person Page Profiles that enhance it a platform for sharing family history.
Let me share my favorites! In addition to what you read below, if you would appreciate seeing a video as I walk-through these updates, you can find one in my Academy Video Zone portal.
1) Feature Update #1: Sources in the Sidebar
It has traditionally been the case that on each person’s FamilySearch Family Tree profile, sources were on a separate page from the person’s details. There is a tab across the top of the profile, called “Sources” that takes you to a list of all the source for that person. Now, there is an option that shows the sources in the right sidebar of the page instead of opening it up in a new page.
I LOVE this! Opening the sources in the right sidebar of the profile aids you when reviewing what is documented about the person and allows you to see the sources in context. No more needing to jump back and forth between pages (unless you want to).
How do you use this new feature? Look for the “Sources” link in the right side of the profile, within the “Tools” section!
2) Feature Update #2: Other Relationships
When we create relationships for our family members, connecting to blood family is not fully representative of that person’s lived experiences. Many family tree programs have choices such as Spouse, Child, Parent in order to tie people to one-another. But, what about our FAN Club? You know, the friends, associates, and neighbors that are important to capture and represent also? How do we associate them with our family?
Good news – the recent updates to FamilySearch Family Tree profiles now has the ability to connect people in more representative relationships. This is made possible through an “Other Relationships” widget on the person’s profile page. You can connect two people using options of Apprenticeship, Employment, Enslavement, Godparent, Household, Neighbor, Relative. Ooh boy – I am excited about these options!
Here is the page of my ancestor, Della Battle where you can see I’ve connected her to her slaveholder, Kemp Plummer Battle. These types of connections will help expand our abilities to connect our ancestors and family members.
Feature Update #3: Organize the Page Like You Want
When I help others with their personal organization of family history photos & files in my Organize Your Digital Memories Club, I like to emphasize that organization is best when you figure out what works best for you. You customize what you do based on your own preferences. How nice that we now have the option to make personal choices on how we like to have the Details page organized on a person’s FamilySearch Family Tree profile!
Each Person Details’ page has 5 major sections – Brief Life History, Other Relationships, Vitals, Other Information, and Family Members. Using the “My Layout Settings” in the “Tools” sidebar, you can arrange this order to your liking. Once you set your order, it will remain the same layout each time you open a new profile. For example, I personally like having the History at the top of the page, having the Other Relationships near the top so that I can easily see them, and keep the Family Members on the bottom of the profile. That’s what works best for me.
Learn More
These updates are not all! Check the FamilySearch blog post for more features that are now available. In fact, using more than 4,000 comments, more than 150 items on the new person page were fixed or adjusted. wow! Read more at https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/feedback-new-person-page.
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Want to watch a video about these new features? Head over to my Academy Video Zone and look for the video titled “3 Updates for FamilySearch New Person Page.”