Advanced Strategies Using FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search
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Advanced Strategies Using FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 6:30 pm
Windsor Park Branch of APL, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin 78723
Hybrid.
FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search is transforming how we uncover hidden genealogical gems by allowing us to search the actual text of historical records rather than just indexed details. You may have already stumbled across a few exciting finds using this groundbreaking tool, but there is so much more beneath the surface waiting to be discovered.
In this session, we will dive into advanced strategies to get more out of your searches. You will learn how to distinguish between simple and advanced searches, effectively utilize operators and wildcards to narrow your focus, and properly interpret the various icons and symbols you encounter along the way. We will also address current coverage limitations, so you know which records are fully searchable right now—and what to expect as more collections come online. Whether you are looking to build on early successes or break down stubborn brick walls, this talk will give you the confidence to search smarter.
Our speaker will be presenting in-person.
To register:
https://forms.gle/L9VQ9Hf1BzBvSReb7
About our Speaker:
Mary Stephens Scrudder grew up in Tennessee but made her way to Austin, Texas, as quickly as she could. Her family-history research has focused primarily on Virginia and the Carolinas. She has spent countless hours working in courthouses, state archives, the Family History Library, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, local libraries, and interviewing relatives. She has found FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search to be one of the best tools of all time.
To register:
https://forms.gle/L9VQ9Hf1BzBvSReb7
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 6:30 pm
Windsor Park Branch of APL, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin 78723
Hybrid.
FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search is transforming how we uncover hidden genealogical gems by allowing us to search the actual text of historical records rather than just indexed details. You may have already stumbled across a few exciting finds using this groundbreaking tool, but there is so much more beneath the surface waiting to be discovered.
In this session, we will dive into advanced strategies to get more out of your searches. You will learn how to distinguish between simple and advanced searches, effectively utilize operators and wildcards to narrow your focus, and properly interpret the various icons and symbols you encounter along the way. We will also address current coverage limitations, so you know which records are fully searchable right now—and what to expect as more collections come online. Whether you are looking to build on early successes or break down stubborn brick walls, this talk will give you the confidence to search smarter.
Our speaker will be presenting in-person.
To register:
https://forms.gle/L9VQ9Hf1BzBvSReb7
About our Speaker:
Mary Stephens Scrudder grew up in Tennessee but made her way to Austin, Texas, as quickly as she could. Her family-history research has focused primarily on Virginia and the Carolinas. She has spent countless hours working in courthouses, state archives, the Family History Library, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, local libraries, and interviewing relatives. She has found FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search to be one of the best tools of all time.
To register:
https://forms.gle/L9VQ9Hf1BzBvSReb7
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Where is it happening?
Windsor Park Library, Austin,TX,United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherAustin Genealogical Society
