FindMyPast: A Source for British & Irish Research

Jen Baldwin, research specialist and North American content manager, joined us to explore all of the features of FindMyPast, which contains extensive historical records for England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. You can access FindMyPast in the library or at home with a library card.

Some of the topics covered in Jen's presentation included:

• Tips for pre-research like creating a timeline of what you already know about your ancestor before you begin 
• Accounting for differences between British and American English (For example, zip code vs. post code) in your search
• How to refine your search with FindMyPast's subcategories — the category “Education and Work” breaks down into apprentices, guilds, and trade associations
• How to view historical documents like birth, marriage, and death certificates to understand key moments in your ancestor's life

FindMyPast is just one of many resources the library has to assist in your family history research! Visit our genealogy page for more information. Sign up for the library's Genealogy & Local History newsletter to stay in-the-know about future genealogy programs and news.