You were introduced to the Guide to the Family History Center in Chapter 12 of your textbook. Now it is time to take advantage of this guide to determine what is available on your ancestors.

Be sure to date the guide and indicate the smaller localities where your ancestor lived if you elect to do a surname search. The Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) on the Internet, on computer at local Family History Centers, and on microfiche also act as locating guides. Remember, by looking at the first fiche for a state or country on the fiche version of the FHLC, a small gazetteer-type index is available to locate the county in which a town will be located in the Family History Library collection. Regular gazetteers, maps, and atlases may also be used.

The guide encourages you to check off items you have accomplished. You have already organized your family into Pedigree Charts and Family Group Records, and most likely have brought copies of them with you to the center. Start with the Ancestral File (AF) even if you already experimented with it on the Internet. It has other features in the computer format, such as downloading families, which are very helpful. Plus the AF is extremely valuable for pre-1800 families, for those having royal lines, and as a general reference for all families in the United States. It is one of the first sources to search in a preliminary survey.