Steps for Correcting and Adding Entries to the FamilySearch Family Tree

One of the basic steps in learning to use the FamilySearch.org Family Tree is understanding the nature of the information presented. The information contained in the entries in the present Family Tree is a composite of the contributions of tens of thousands, perhaps millions, of people for over 150 years. Some of that information is inconsistent, inaccurate and duplicated. Most of us would like to ignore the existing information and move on to try and find new names to add to what is already there. But it is inevitable when we ignore the existing problems that we will be either duplicating work that has already been done or adding people to our family lines who are not our relatives.

During a recent successful research session, I decided to write down and explain each of the steps I went through to add an entirely new family to the Family Tree. Because new information may be added to the Family Tree at any time by some other family member, it is a good idea to go through these steps every time you begin your new research whether you are trying to extend a family line or looking for additional descendants of people already in the Family Tree. Here I go.  If you need any help with the steps outlined below, I suggest that you refer to The Family History Guide. I will be suggesting links to the various sections that might be helpful.

1. Review the existing entries on the FamilySearch.org Family Tree leading up to the place where you would like to begin your research. 

The step is similar to doing a safety check of an automobile or airplane before traveling. What I am trying to accomplish is verifying that I am actually working on my own family lines and not on someone who is unrelated. Fundamental to this issue is the need to "watch" each of the individuals in your portion of the Family Tree. If you are just beginning, then you need to start with yourself and proceed backward through your parents and grandparents. After this initial survey, you can pick up where you left off previously unless there have been some changes that need to be resolved. See The Family History Guide, Project 1: Family Tree

2. Standardize all dates and places

Standardization may seem to be a bother but it is a necessary housekeeping operation. In fact, the Family Trade now marks nonstandard dates and places with a red caution icon.  See Goals 6: Change information for ancestors in your tree.  Here is an example of this particular reference:

3. Review all Sources and add all of the information from the sources to the Vital Information

This might seem to be a simple step but it is essential. With the automatic Record Hints available on the Family Tree that is relatively easy to add a source without making sure that the information in the source agrees with what is shown for the individual's Vital Information. Simply open up each source and check the information to make sure that all of the additions and corrections have been made if appropriate.

4. Delete all Duplicate Birth Names or convert appropriate ones to Alternative Names

Many of the entries, particularly those from previous submissions, have variations in the way that the name of the individual was submitted. These variations show up as a list of different "Birth Names." The actual birth name should be the one shown in the main Vital Information section. Any names listed which are merely orthographic alternatives to the main Vital Information entry should be deleted. If there are actually alternative names, such as nicknames or alternative spellings that are reflected in original records, these can be preserved by changing the entry from a birth name to an alternative name. See Goals 6: Change information for ancestors in your tree. 

5. Resolve any disparities between the information in the sources and the Vital Information

 This would seem to be a redundant step, but it is essential to increasing the accuracy of all of the entries. Sometimes the disparity between the information contained in a source and that recorded for the individual or family raises questions that need to be resolved immediately by research and not ignored. See Goals 8: Learn about sourcing and why it's important.

6. Add all Record Hints

 This question comes up frequently when there are seemingly duplicate record hints. Yes, all of the record hints should be added. If you care to do so after they have been added any duplicates can be detached. However, in order to let the computer program know that the information is correct, you absolutely need to add in all of the Record Hints.

7.  Begin any necessary research to verify existing information and to supply missing information.

This is one of the things that is easy to say but hard to do. Every entry in the Family Tree should have a corresponding source reference. Any information in the Family Tree without a source reference is automatically suspect. There should be no presumption that the information contained in the Family Tree is accurate without supporting sources for further information detailing where the information was obtained. See Project 4: Discover


8. Review added records or sources to make sure they are attached to the correct people and determine if there is any additional information that needs to be added or changed in the Vital Information section.

As you continue to find records, you should go back and make sure that the records are attached to the correct people. This may seem like a repetition of earlier steps and it is. I have to do this several times during the process.

8. Search for additional records on FamilySearch.org

Now, I have reached the real research step. This begins the process of looking for additional people beyond those that are already in the Family Tree. Remember that there may still be duplicates and those duplicates will have to be resolved.

9. Be sure and check for duplicate records both by searching for duplicates and by looking at the Record Hints and source found by searching.

This may seem like more busy work, but I keep going back through the same processes over and over again. Each time I spend the time to do this I find new names to add to the Family Tree.

There are probably more steps that I am not aware of at a level that I can include them. I seem to do a lot of the work automatically, almost without thinking about what I am doing.