Use the links listed below to explore Ancestry Library Edition and how it could be used as a research tool to do your family history. You are recommended to look at the image of the original document whenever it is available by visiting any one the major libraries in the county. To find further information visit our local and family history webpage.
Quick Guide
What is Ancestry Library Edition?
Ancestry Library Edition is a research tool offering the most comprehensive genealogical information available online, with more than 4 billion names in over 4,000 collections.
Ancestry Library Edition is a research tool offering the most comprehensive genealogical information available online, with more than 4 billion names in over 4,000 collections.
How can I access Ancestry Library Edition?
Your library has taken a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition from ProQuest Information and Learning. The resource is available within the library. Please ask your librarian for details on how to access the service.
Your library has taken a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition from ProQuest Information and Learning. The resource is available within the library. Please ask your librarian for details on how to access the service.
Getting Started
When using Ancestry Library Edition in your research there are a number of search options available to you within the database:
When using Ancestry Library Edition in your research there are a number of search options available to you within the database:
Ranked Search
Performs a broad search, it is necessary to type in as much information as possible in order for the search engine to pull up the most appropriate records. The results list the best possible matches first in your list of search results and allocate each hit with a star ranking from 1 to 5 indicating the likelihood of a match (5 is the highest).
Performs a broad search, it is necessary to type in as much information as possible in order for the search engine to pull up the most appropriate records. The results list the best possible matches first in your list of search results and allocate each hit with a star ranking from 1 to 5 indicating the likelihood of a match (5 is the highest).
- Type the first name and last name into the appropriate search boxes and click on the orange search button.
- Where they lived: you may also specify a country and state/county. This limiter is not used in all databases. Some results may appear that do not conform to the location you entered.
- Year range: enter four-digit years. This limiter is not used in all databases. Some results may appear that do not conform to the dates you entered.
- The results can also be narrowed down by category/database using the box on the left hand side of the page e.g. Census, Immigration.
Exact Search
Carries out a very precise search looking for all the criteria you provided in your search. If a record does not contain all of the information you have indicated, it is not returned in your search results.
Carries out a very precise search looking for all the criteria you provided in your search. If a record does not contain all of the information you have indicated, it is not returned in your search results.
Follow the same instructions as above for a Ranked Search, the Exact Search also offers the Advanced search functions of Soundex and Proximity options.
- The results of your search will be displayed by type of source material, and sorted within the collections by descending number of matches with your searched name
- The Soundex filter will search for records with near-spelling matches of the last name you have entered
- The Proximity setting determines how closely together the first and last name must be listed in a record to be found in your search. You can set the proximity as adjacent (next to each other), within one, two, five, ten or twenty words, or no proximity
Browsing databases by country/state
This feature allows you to narrow down your search to a particular country or state. Click on the blue Search tab and scroll down to the Browse the Entire Collection function.
This feature allows you to narrow down your search to a particular country or state. Click on the blue Search tab and scroll down to the Browse the Entire Collection function.
- From the map select UK & Ireland, and select the country e.g. England
- Option to search across all English specific databases or select a specific collection to search within
Collection Search
Ideal to use if you know the database that you want to search within, it will give you a search box to use that is tailored to that exact collection.
Ideal to use if you know the database that you want to search within, it will give you a search box to use that is tailored to that exact collection.
- Click on the blue search tab
- Select the Collection to search by clicking on the selection listed under Browse Records on the right side of the screen e.g. UK Census Collection
- The next screen will be the search box unique to that collection.
Database Search
Follow the steps above for a Collection Search
Follow the steps above for a Collection Search
- On the Collection screen scroll down to see a list of the individual databases that make up that collection
- Select the database to search by clicking on its name and clicking the GO button at the bottom of the list. This will take you to a search box specifically for that database.
Search Tips
- Start with a broad search. Begin by searching for an ancestor name without including any places or dates. If you get too many results you can refine your terms and search again.
- Try various name spellings. Most names can be spelt in a variety of ways. If you can’t find the person you’re looking for try some variant spellings.
- Wildcard searching. If you are not sure how to spell a name you can try using wildcard characters - an asterisk at the end of a word will replace one or more characters, a question mark will replace a single character.
- e.g. Jon* will find Jones, Jonston, Jonson etc.
- e.g. Johnst?n will find Johnsten or Johnston
Help
You can access Help from any part of the site. This takes you to an area called “Ask Ancestry”. Answers to questions can be printed or e-mailed.
You can access Help from any part of the site. This takes you to an area called “Ask Ancestry”. Answers to questions can be printed or e-mailed.
Charts and Forms
- This is a useful resource area to help you carry out and record your research, and includes areas such as:
Ancestral Chart: shows you your research progress in a downloadable format. - Research Calendar: tracks which record sources you have searched and when.
- Research Extract: offers summaries of information which can’t be photocopied or may take a while to digest, for example deeds.
- Census Forms: allows you to download the template of the Census forms to see the format, as some are very hard to read.
- Correspondence Record: who you have corresponded with, when, why and whether you have had a response.
- Family Group Sheet: allows you to compile information concerning your ancestors as you go through your research.
- Source Summary: quick reference guide to useful sources to help with your research.
Ancestry Message Board
Accessed under Trees and Community, the Message Board is a community of millions of family historians from all over the world who are willing to help and share their expertise and research experience. Thousands of messages are posted every day, you can view the messages, however, you will not be able to post messages here.
Accessed under Trees and Community, the Message Board is a community of millions of family historians from all over the world who are willing to help and share their expertise and research experience. Thousands of messages are posted every day, you can view the messages, however, you will not be able to post messages here.
Ancestry World Tree
Allows you access to Ancestry's World Tree, a service where millions of users share their family trees, you can search and download family trees but will not be able to upload your own.
Allows you access to Ancestry's World Tree, a service where millions of users share their family trees, you can search and download family trees but will not be able to upload your own.
Census Records
- U.S. Federal Census collection covers 1790-1930 and includes every-name indexes and original images
- England & Wales Census collection includes name indexes and original images for the 1851 – 1901 Census
Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- England and Wales Civil Registration Index (1837-1983) two versions available;
- Free BMD version and Image Search index version
- England & Wales Marriage Index 1984 – 2000
- England & Wales Death Index 1984 – 2002
- England & Wales Birth Index 1984 - 2000
- England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales Parish and Probate Records (1500s-1837); and many more government and church vital records
- U.S. Social Security Death Index – information provided by the Social Security Administration through to end of December 2005
Military Records
- World War I Draft Registration Cards with original images, 1917 - 1918
- Civil War Service Records
- Word War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938 - 1946
- World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas
Immigration & Naturalization Records
- Original images of Passenger and Immigration Lists from New York (1851-1891), New Orleans (1820-1850), San Francisco (1893-1953) and many other ports of arrival
- New York Petitions for Naturalization Index (1792-1906)
- Wuerttemberg Emigration Index (60,000 persons who made application to leave Germany from the late eighteenth century to 1900)
Newspapers & Periodicals
- Railway Gazette Worldwide Historical Data, 1860 – 1930
- Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vols 1 – 35,1963 - 1997
Directories & Membership Lists
- UK and US Directories, 1680 – 1830 (collection of 2.5m U.K. and U.S. biographical records, directories, and lists)
- US Phone and Addresses Directories, 1993 - 2002
Family & Local Histories
- American Genealogical-Biographical Index, AGBI (contains millions of records of people whose names have appeared in printed genealogical records and family histories)
- Dawes Commission Index, 1898 – 1914 (in return for abolishing their tribal governments and recognizing state and federal laws, the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole - were given a share of common property. This database indexes the original applications for tribal enrolments)
- Dictionary of National Biography, DNB Vols 1 -20, 22 (first edition of the biographical dictionary of prominent figures from Britain and Ireland from the earliest of times up to 1900)
Court, Land Probate Records
- Australian Convict Index, 1788 – 1868
- British Chancery Records, 1386 – 1558
- Wide range of US state court, land and probate records
Reference & Finding Aids
- Genealogical Library Master Catalogue
- Map Center
- England Topographical Dictionary, Vols 1 - 4
- Start with a broad search. Begin by searching for an ancestor name without including any places or dates. If you get too many results you can refine your terms and search again.
- Try various name spellings. Most names can be spelt in a variety of ways. If you can’t find the person you’re looking for try some variant spellings. Using the Exact Search screen, you are offered the option to search by exact spelling or by Soundex. If you select Soundex you automatically search for variants of the name you have entered.
- Wildcard searching. If you are not sure how to spell a name you can try using wildcard characters - an asterisk at the end of a word will replace one or more characters, a question mark will replace a single character.
- Eg. Jon* will find Jones, Jonston, Jonson etc.
- Eg. Johnst?n will find Johnsten or Johnston
Online Help
- Search Tutorial – Click the blue Search button on the top tool bar on the Homepage. On the right hand side, above Browse Records, there is a Search Tutorial.
Please note! This is aimed at users of ancestry.com (the commercial site) and there are some differences. However, with this awareness, the first tab/section on Searching > Lesson navigation is very useful.
- You can access Help from any part of the site. This takes you to an area called “Ask Ancestry”. There are lots of topics already available in this section, with answers, for example “Why can’t I find myself in your database?”.
- From the Advanced Search screen, you can access Sources, giving you information about the sources in Ancestry Library Edition and including useful web links and suggested further reading. There is also a How To section – a getting started guide for Ancestry Library Edition.
Search suggestions examples..…
Grandparent, Grandaunt or Uncle, Florence Nightingale, Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplin, Maps – Battle of Waterloo, Louisa M Alcott
Search examples to illustrate how you can use Ancestry Library Edition
Search Example 1: You are researching a relative, Raffaele Carpone, who you know was born in Italy but emigrated to America sometime in the early 1900s. Can you find out the name of the ship he arrived on?
Answer
- Go to Online Reference Library page at: www.leics.gov.uk/reference
- Scroll down to Local & Family History section
- Click on "Library Access Only" link to access Ancestry Library Edition
- Wait for the homepage to open
- Click on 'Search tab' next to Home tab to do a Historical Record search
- Enter First Name: Raffaele
- Enter Last Name: Carpone
- Leave all the other search boxes empty
- Now click on the orange Search button
- Wait for the search results to disaply
- Click on Boston passenger lists 1820 – 1943 link to display the record
See the answer as: Cretic
Search Example 2: You know you have an ancestor, surname Longhurst, who you believe was the root of your relations now living in Australia - he was born in Sussex.
Hint! Try restricting your search by using a specific dataset such as Court, Land and Probate records. Can you find his first name and what was his occupation?
Hint! Try restricting your search by using a specific dataset such as Court, Land and Probate records. Can you find his first name and what was his occupation?
Follow these steps to find the answer:
- Follow the instructions as given in example 1 to access the Ancestry Library Edition from libraries computers
- Wait for the Ancestry Library Edition homepage to open
- Click on the 'Search tab' next to Home tab to browse datasets available for England
- Go to Browse records section on the right
- Scroll down and select Court, Land and Probate records
- Wait for the search page to open
- Enter last name: Longhurst
- Enter lived in: England, and leave County box empty
- Click on Search button and wait for search results to display
- Click on Australian Convict Index, 1788 – 1868 link to view the transcribed record of Henry Longhurst
- See the answer as: Henry Longhurst, bricklayer’s labourer
Search Example 3. You are interested in finding a map of Florida coastline and the year it was created. Choose the region you are interested in, find the dataset you need and search on Florida reefs.
Follow these steps to find the answer:
- Follow the instructions as given in example 1 to access the Ancestry Library Edition form libraries computers
- Wait for the Ancestry Library Edition homepage to open
- Click on the 'Search tab' next to Home tab to browse records
- Scroll down to Browse by location at the bottom of the screen till you see the map
- Click on FL to indicate Florida on the US States map
- Wait for the page to load
- Scroll down to available datasets and find Florida and Reference Finding Aids
- Click View all 28 Florida and Reference Finding Aids
- Select US Map Collection 1513 – 1990
- Wait for the search box to open
- Enter in the Map Title box: Florida reefs
- Wait for the 'Exact results page to open'
- Click on View Image
- Answer: 1861
Page Last Updated: 13 October 2010
