Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Struggling to find an ancestor on Ancestry — even though you know they should be there? In this video, I’ll show you one of the most overlooked (and most powerful) search strategies on Ancestry: using the “Browse This Collection” side panel.
Most researchers rely entirely on the regular search box. But when records are mis-indexed, spelled phonetically, or simply not showing up in search results, this method allows you to manually browse the original microfilm roll — page by page — just like researchers did before online indexes existed.
You’ll learn how to:
• Access the “Browse This Collection” panel
• Navigate census collections efficiently
• Search entire counties and districts image-by-image
• Identify multiple people with the same name
• Locate hard-to-find ancestors
• Work around indexing errors
This strategy is especially effective for U.S. Census records but can also be used with probate, land, tax, and other location-based collections.
If you’ve ever said, “They should be there — I just can’t find them,” this video is for you.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly evidence-based genealogy strategies
🌐 GenealogyTV.org
🎓 Join the Genealogy TV Academy for in-depth training
NOT a member? Purchase the handout here: genealogytv.org/product/handout-for-side-panel-trick-on-ancestry
SIMILAR VIDEOS
🔴 Does Ancestry Have Full Text Search Like FamilySearch Does?
youtu.be/Br_NSHmEH6E&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 Ancestry’s New AI Stories: IT TALKS TO YOU (2026)
youtu.be/BcAEkWvkrjs&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 NEW Ancestry's ThruLines Updated Dec 2025 - Breaking News
youtu.be/S3aymf3lkyk&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
❤️ JOIN the GENEALOGY TV ACADEMY
genealogytv.org/academy
📝📝📝📝 HANDOUT OPTIONS
📝 1) Genealogy TV Academy members have access to all lessons and handouts back to 2022. genealogytv.org/academy
📝 2) Become a CHANNEL MEMBER at the INFO ACCESS level $9.99 per month. This gets you all the handouts. youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join.
As a Channel Member, find the handouts by scrolling through the blog posts on the Community tab at youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/community
📝 3) All handouts can be PURCHASED INDIVIDUALLY ($5 and up) at genealogytv.org/handouts/. Here you will get a redirect and an email to download the handouts.
📝 4) Become a monthly PATRON at the HAPPY DANCE level ($15/Month) or more. You will get early release of the videos and the handouts are emailed to you, when they become available. patreon.com/GenealogyTV
❤️ BECOME A GENEALOGY TV CHANNEL MEMBER and help support Genealogy TV - see perks!
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join
❤️ Patreon Membership – Handouts Emailed as they are produced. patreon.com/GenealogyTV.
✅ Genealogy TV WEBSITE
genealogytv.org
✅ GTV on FACEBOOK
facebook.com/Genealogytv
✅ SIGN UP For GTV’s NEWSLETTER
https://mailchi.mp/a0862c6473aa/genealogytvnewsletter
👉 Subscribe to Genealogy TV (Free)
youtube.com/channel/UCcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw/Subscribe
*** GTV Affiliate Partners ***
🛍️ Genealogy TV’s AMAZON STORE full of Connie’s favorites.
amazon.com/shop/genealogytv
I’m a professional genealogist who loves to teach with video. It's all about genealogy, family history, and DNA to research. Goal: Create the best free genealogy videos on YouTube, teach genealogy research skills to build your family tree and research records. The best genealogy tutorial videos on “Genealogy TV” are about how to keep research notes, stay organized, genetic genealogy, find missing ancestors, find family history records, organizing DNA matches, and more. Learn genealogy for free on GTV. Learn Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, MyHeritage.com, FindMyPast.com, FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, WikiTree, National and State Archives, genealogical & historical societies, Chronicling America, Newspapers.com, Newspaper Archives.com, Fold3, Archive.org, Facebook genealogy groups, and the very best genealogy websites and resources.
Genealogy TV is the #1 largest independent YouTube channel for education.
#Genealogy #GenealogyTV #FamilyHistory
Circus Waltz - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
00:00 About this Video
01:55 Marker 2
02:22 Understanding Borders & Research Plan
04:40 Side Panel Trick
04:58 Start at Card Catalog
05:09 FamilySearch Wiki
05:58 Side Panel - Browse This Collection
08:18 Handouts
09:05 What is the expected age?
11:18 GTV Info
11:31 Recap
13:27 Bonus Tips
#Genealogy #AncestryDNA #AncestryTips #FamilyHistory
Struggling to find an ancestor on Ancestry — even though you know they should be there? In this video, I’ll show you one of the most overlooked (and most powerful) search strategies on Ancestry: using the “Browse This Collection” side panel.
Most researchers rely entirely on the regular search box. But when records are mis-indexed, spelled phonetically, or simply not showing up in search results, this method allows you to manually browse the original microfilm roll — page by page — just like researchers did before online indexes existed.
You’ll learn how to:
• Access the “Browse This Collection” panel
• Navigate census collections efficiently
• Search entire counties and districts image-by-image
• Identify multiple people with the same name
• Locate hard-to-find ancestors
• Work around indexing errors
This strategy is especially effective for U.S. Census records but can also be used with probate, land, tax, and other location-based collections.
If you’ve ever said, “They should be there — I just can’t find them,” this video is for you.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly evidence-based genealogy strategies
🌐 GenealogyTV.org
🎓 Join the Genealogy TV Academy for in-depth training
NOT a member? Purchase the handout here: genealogytv.org/product/handout-for-side-panel-trick-on-ancestry
SIMILAR VIDEOS
🔴 Does Ancestry Have Full Text Search Like FamilySearch Does?
youtu.be/Br_NSHmEH6E&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 Ancestry’s New AI Stories: IT TALKS TO YOU (2026)
youtu.be/BcAEkWvkrjs&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 NEW Ancestry's ThruLines Updated Dec 2025 - Breaking News
youtu.be/S3aymf3lkyk&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
❤️ JOIN the GENEALOGY TV ACADEMY
genealogytv.org/academy
📝📝📝📝 HANDOUT OPTIONS
📝 1) Genealogy TV Academy members have access to all lessons and handouts back to 2022. genealogytv.org/academy
📝 2) Become a CHANNEL MEMBER at the INFO ACCESS level $9.99 per month. This gets you all the handouts. youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join.
As a Channel Member, find the handouts by scrolling through the blog posts on the Community tab at youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/community
📝 3) All handouts can be PURCHASED INDIVIDUALLY ($5 and up) at genealogytv.org/handouts/. Here you will get a redirect and an email to download the handouts.
📝 4) Become a monthly PATRON at the HAPPY DANCE level ($15/Month) or more. You will get early release of the videos and the handouts are emailed to you, when they become available. patreon.com/GenealogyTV
❤️ BECOME A GENEALOGY TV CHANNEL MEMBER and help support Genealogy TV - see perks!
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join
❤️ Patreon Membership – Handouts Emailed as they are produced. patreon.com/GenealogyTV.
✅ Genealogy TV WEBSITE
genealogytv.org
✅ GTV on FACEBOOK
facebook.com/Genealogytv
✅ SIGN UP For GTV’s NEWSLETTER
https://mailchi.mp/a0862c6473aa/genealogytvnewsletter
👉 Subscribe to Genealogy TV (Free)
youtube.com/channel/UCcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw/Subscribe
*** GTV Affiliate Partners ***
🛍️ Genealogy TV’s AMAZON STORE full of Connie’s favorites.
amazon.com/shop/genealogytv
I’m a professional genealogist who loves to teach with video. It's all about genealogy, family history, and DNA to research. Goal: Create the best free genealogy videos on YouTube, teach genealogy research skills to build your family tree and research records. The best genealogy tutorial videos on “Genealogy TV” are about how to keep research notes, stay organized, genetic genealogy, find missing ancestors, find family history records, organizing DNA matches, and more. Learn genealogy for free on GTV. Learn Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, MyHeritage.com, FindMyPast.com, FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, WikiTree, National and State Archives, genealogical & historical societies, Chronicling America, Newspapers.com, Newspaper Archives.com, Fold3, Archive.org, Facebook genealogy groups, and the very best genealogy websites and resources.
Genealogy TV is the #1 largest independent YouTube channel for education.
#Genealogy #GenealogyTV #FamilyHistory
Circus Waltz - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
00:00 About this Video
01:55 Marker 2
02:22 Understanding Borders & Research Plan
04:40 Side Panel Trick
04:58 Start at Card Catalog
05:09 FamilySearch Wiki
05:58 Side Panel - Browse This Collection
08:18 Handouts
09:05 What is the expected age?
11:18 GTV Info
11:31 Recap
13:27 Bonus Tips
#Genealogy #AncestryDNA #AncestryTips #FamilyHistory
