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Are you a passionate family history enthusiast like me? Then you will adore this simple yet powerful feature in FamilySearch Family Tree: tagging sources to specific information.
Even though I spend a lot of time on FamilySearch, I recently discovered a new feature while helping someone at the local FamilySearch Center. This experience reminded me that it's impossible to catch everything released.
What is Tagging Sources?
If you’ve watched this channel for a while, you may know that I use genealogy software to attach sources to specific events that those records document.
For instance, if a marriage record provides:
A name
A set of parents
A residence on a specific date
A marriage date
Date of divorce from the previous spouse
Then I will link that one marriage record to each of those facts.
Previously, we could ‘tag records' within FamilySearch when we linked a source to the family tree. But we could only save the record to the parents’ profiles and tag the birth fact, death fact, sex, or name of an individual.
If you went to the Source Tab on an Ancestor’s Profile, you could tag a source to Christening and Burial.
If you had a source documenting a residence, military service date, divorce date, or land transaction, you couldn’t connect the fact and the source on the FamilySearch platform.
Now, that has changed, and I couldn’t be happier.
To watch a demonstration of tagging, step by step, watch this video.
Accessing Source Tagging on FamilySearch
When it comes to tagging sources in Family Tree, you have two convenient options:
the Sources section
and the Details section.
Let's explore both methods step by step.
Tagging Sources from the Sources Section
Sign in to your FamilySearch.org account and navigate to a relative’s Person Page.
Click on the "Sources" tab to review any previously linked references.
Click on the Title or the drop-down arrow on the right of a source.
The source widget will expand so you can review all the details about a specific source.
Notice the boldface word “Tags” and whether the source is tagged with any details about your ancestor.
See the "+ Add Tag" button?
Give it a friendly click to reveal a list of available tags.
Go through the list and choose the ones that apply to your source.
Don't see the tag you need?
No problem!
Click "+ Add Tag" under "Other Information Tags" to create a custom tag.
So far, I’ve noticed three tag choices:
Alternate names
Residences
Custom Event
I wonder if we’ll be able to tag facts in the future. (Such as clan, royalty, etc.).
Select one of the above options, for example, Residence.
FamilySearch will display a list of residences you’ve added to your ancestor profile in the Details tab.
If you don’t see the residence event you want to tag, close out of this and navigate to the Details tab. Add a custom event, and tag the source from that view. (More on that in a moment).
If you see the residence you want, click on that, and FamilySearch will tag that residence with the selected source.
Click Save and move on to the next source to tag.
Removing Tags with Ease
What happens if you tag the wrong detail?
No worries, you can remove the tag.
If you’re still in the “Add Tag” Screen for a source, click on the highlighted tag to remove it.
If you’re in the Source view and have expanded the details for a source,
Click on the incorrect tag.
In the Tag Pop-up screen, click “Delete Tag.”
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Tagging Sources from the Details Section
What if the event doesn’t exist for tagging, or you are just working on an Ancestor’s Profile? What can you do then?
Well, you can tag sources from the Details Section of a Profile.
Click the "Details" on a relative’s profile.
Scroll to the Other Information Section:
Click the pencil icon beside an event.
The event details window pops up.
On the right panel of the pop-up menu, you'll find a list of sources if they were already tagged to this event.
If you want to add more sources, or none are currently attached,
Click "Tag Sources.”
A list appears, showcasing all the sources linked to the person.
Check the box next to each source you want to tag
If needed, uncheck it to remove a tag.
Click ‘’Save.”
Close the event window and celebrate!
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Why is FamilySearch Tagging Important?
Tagging sources on the FamilySearch Family Tree website offers many benefits for anyone engaged in family history research. Here are a few reasons why this feature is incredibly beneficial:
Enhanced Accuracy and Documentation: By tagging sources to specific information, you provide solid evidence and documentation for each detail in your family tree. It adds credibility to your research and helps others understand the basis for the information you've included.
Improved Collaboration: Tagging sources allows you to share and collaborate with other researchers. When sources are linked to specific details, it becomes easier for others to assess the validity of the information and contribute their own insights, leading to a more collaborative and accurate representation of family history.
Efficient Organization and Navigation: Tagging sources enables efficient organization of your research. You can easily locate and access the sources associated with a particular individual or specific detail, making reviewing and verifying your information simple. It streamlines the research process and helps you stay organized as your family tree grows.
Traceable Research Path: By tagging sources, you create a traceable path for your research journey. Others can follow the sources you've used, evaluate their relevance, and potentially discover additional sources that complement your findings. This promotes a transparent and reproducible research process.
Happy Tagging!
With these simple steps, you'll have the power to tag sources in FamilySearch Family Tree effortlessly. Whether you tag them individually from the Sources section or in bulk from the Details section, your family history research will shine brighter with accurate and well-documented sources, creating a robust and trustworthy family tree.