FamilySearch is a free website for family history and genealogy collections. These collections are always free to search.
Some collections are hosted by FamilySearch but owned by another institution and FamilySearch is restricted in how it can provide these resources to users.
Due to contractual obligations, you’ll need to be logged in with a free FamilySearch account to view some of these records. If you follow the link and find the record is locked, login to FamilySearch on your computer and this may unlock the collection.
OnGenealogy shares many FamilySearch collections for different locations in the world. Here are some of the different ways those links may take you to the collections.
How to View the Collections
1. Some links take you straight to the collection
2. Other links take you to a catalog description page where you will have to find the link.
Look for a camera icon in the Film/Digital Notes section of the catalog descriptionand select the cameraicon
OR look for a link to the collection in the Notes section of the catalog descriptionand select “here”
3. If there is a key above the camera icon, select the camera and this will take you to the login page where you will need to LOG IN to your free, FamilySearch account to view this item.After you login, you should be taken to the collection.
4. In a few cases, the collection may be in queue to be digitized and you’ll need to check back at a later date or a collection may be removed due to contractual issues.Or, you may get a message that, although online, the collection needs to be viewed at your local family history center or affiliate library. Find the nearest viewing center near you.
2 responses to “How to Unlock FamilySearch Collections”
Is there a place that I can get a digitalized copy of document? I use to be able to go the church, and the person running it would log in and i can research and print and pay for copy of document.
If it’s a locked collection that is only viewable at a Family History Center, then you cannot get a digitized copy of the document. You can only view the digitized copy at a Family History Center. You can contact your local family history center to see if there are other options for a specific collection you’re researching because the contracts governing each resource vary by collection. I hope this answers your question.
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Is there a place that I can get a digitalized copy of document? I use to be able to go the church, and the person running it would log in and i can research and print and pay for copy of document.
If it’s a locked collection that is only viewable at a Family History Center, then you cannot get a digitized copy of the document. You can only view the digitized copy at a Family History Center. You can contact your local family history center to see if there are other options for a specific collection you’re researching because the contracts governing each resource vary by collection. I hope this answers your question.