Try Indexing — Help Make Historical Records Searchable

Every name you help make searchable could become someone's family discovery.

Have you ever wondered how millions of old handwritten records become searchable on FamilySearch?

Behind many of those discoveries are volunteers who help turn historical documents into information that families can find. This work is called indexing, and it's one of the simplest ways to participate in family history.

You don't need to be an experienced genealogist. You don't need to know the people in the records. And you don't need to spend hours working on a project.

This month's invitation is simple: Try one indexing or record-review activity. Even a few minutes can make a difference.

Three Easy Steps:

Did you know? Historical records contain information about millions of people who lived long before computers existed. Birth certificates, marriage registers, census records, church records, and other documents often contain the clues families need to discover their ancestors.

But a scanned image isn't always easy to search by name.

Indexing and record-review volunteers help transform information in those documents into searchable data. That makes it easier for people around the world to discover their family connections.

Remember: You don't have to know everything about genealogy to help gather Israel through family history.Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do is help someone else find the family member they've been searching for.

Every carefully reviewed record contributes to a larger effort of remembering people who might otherwise remain difficult to find.

Try one indexing or record-review activity.
Even a few minutes can make a difference.

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