Family History Library Catalog (DOS version)

(Updated 01 March 2003)

The Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) is a listing of the 3-million-plus books, microfilms, microfiche, maps, etc., that are held in the Family History Library in Salt Lake.  A Family History Center is a branch library of Salt Lake's Family History Library, and as such, it allows patrons to borrow films and fiche from the Family History Library for a small fee.

Locality Search

The most widely-used feature of the Family History Library Catalog is its locality search.   This search shows what records are available from the Family History Library for each locality.  Towns, counties, states, nations, and other jurisdictions can be checked to see if the Family History Library has collected records on them.

1. At the FHLC opening menu, select option A for a Locality Search.

2. Select the type of jurisiction you'd like to search, whether town, county, state, or nation.  Note:  Each jurisdiction kept its own records, so it is important to search all three levels for records that will bear on your ancestor.

3. Type in the place name you are searching.

4. A list will appear, describing the place you entered, and any possible matches.  Using the arrow keys, highlight the correct place and press F6 for Topics.

5. At the Topics screen, use the arrow keys to highlight each type of record that interests you.  Note that to the right of each record type is a number which tells how many records of that type are listed.  If there are many records of the type you seek, press F7 for an author/title list of those records.  If there are few records to weed through, press F8 for a full description of each record, complete with the call number.

6. To print a record, press F2.  Before printing a record, be careful to check how many pages it contains.  Some print jobs can yield scores of pages!

7. The F8 screen shows whether the record is in book form, film, or fiche.   If the record is on film or fiche, you can ask an attendant to order it for you for a small fee.  If your record is not on film, you can request that it be filmed and sent to your Family History Center.

Locality Browse

If you are not sure if a certain locality is listed in the Family History Library Catalog, you can check for it using the Locality Browse. 

1. From the FHLC main menu, choose option B.

2. Search for a locality just as you did with the Locality Search feature.

3. A list of possible matches will appear.  To see Topics for a locality, highlight it and press Enter.  To list all the towns in a county, or all the counties in a state, press F10.

Surname Search

Surnames (last names) can be searched to see if any family histories have been written on them.

1. From the Family History Library Catalog main menu, choose option C for Surname Search.

2. Type in the surname you are searching for.

3. If there are several records available, filter the results by pressing F6 to add a keyword.  Type in a pertinent state, county, town, or the surname of an allied family (ie., that of a spouse).

4. Search through the records using the F7 or F8 views. 

5. To print from any view, press F2 and select Print Full Record.