--- title: "First Time in the Big (Salt Lake) City: Part 1" description: When NEHGS asked me to attend the RootsTech–FGS conference, I was equally overjoyed and anxious. image: https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lindsay-FHL-for-9-Feb-300x136-1.jpg --- # [Vita Brevis A resource for family history from AmericanAncestors.org](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # First Time in the Big (Salt Lake) City: Part 1 [February 09, 2015](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/02/first-time-big-salt-lake-city-part-1) [RootsTech 2015](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/rootstech-2015), [Spotlight](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/spotlight), [Research Methods](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/research-methods), [Research tips](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/tag/research-tips) [Lindsay Fulton](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/author/lfulton) [![The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lindsay-FHL-for-9-Feb-300x136-1.jpg?width=300&height=136&name=Lindsay-FHL-for-9-Feb-300x136-1.jpg)](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lindsay-FHL-for-9-Feb-1.jpg) The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah When NEHGS asked me to attend the RootsTech–FGS conference, I was equally overjoyed and anxious. I’ve never before been to the Family History Library, and I want to be sure to take best advantage of being at one of the world’s top genealogical research facilities. I turned to my NEHGS colleagues for advice, and they gave me four great suggestions for my first visit: 1. **Nail down what you want to work on.** Researchers can be overwhelmed with the sheer size of the FHL, making them feel like kids in a candy store. Therefore, if you wish to avoid the negative effects of a sugar rush, you should identify *specific* questions that you want to answer and *specific* lines or generations that need work. Identify any holes in your research or brick walls that you want to resolve. 2. **Make a priority list.** You will most likely have grand plans, but not enough time to accomplish all your goals (and that is okay). Pick questions that are more achievable to start, and move later to your brick walls. Availability of specific resources should influence your priority list. For example, you should make time to research in books first, as FHL does not have interlibrary loan. 3. **Identify FHL resources that can help with your specific research questions.** Search the [FamilySearch Catalog](https://familysearch.org/catalog-search) by place, surname, keyword, title, author, or subject. Once you locate possible microfilms and books of interest, create a spreadsheet or list that identifies the film or call number, the name of the individual (with identifying dates), and the intended record (e.g., the 1752 baptism for Dale Wharton Brown). If you locate a [microfilm that is cataloged as “Vault,”](https://familysearch.org/films/fhl) order it beforehand, as it may take three days to retrieve. 4. **Create an organized research plan. ** How do you plan to knock down each brick wall? Are you planning to use vital records, church records, land grants, etc.? What records have you already found that pertain to your specific question? Be sure to include previously identified names, dates, and locations with your research plan, to keep you from going back and forth between your compiled research and the FHL resources. If you have a specific FHL resource in mind, jot it down also. In addition to these research tips, my colleagues suggested a few housekeeping items: - Check the [FHL hours](https://familysearch.org/locations/library_hours). (The library may close early for holidays or stay open later during conferences.) - Bring a water bottle with a cover and lip balm. (Hydration is important at higher altitudes.) - Bring a thumb drive. (The FHL does not charge for scans made using digital readers.) - Bring small bills for photocopies. (The FHL charges 5¢ for b/w and 30¢ for color.) - Bring a laptop and perhaps a computer lock. (Computer use is first come, first served.) Well, my bags are packed and my research plans complete. Wish me luck on my newest genealogical journey! I’ll check back in a few days with a progress report. ### Share this: - [mailto:?body=https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/02/first-time-big-salt-lake-city-part-1](mailto:?body=https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/02/first-time-big-salt-lake-city-part-1) - - - More - - ![Lindsay Fulton](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/hubfs/Lindsay_Fulton_Jan25.jpg) ## About Lindsay Fulton Lindsay Fulton is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer who joined American Ancestors in 2012. She leads the Research and Library Services team as Chief Research Officer, as well as the research team working on 10 Million Names. In addition to helping constituents with their research, Lindsay has authored a Portable Genealogists on the topics of Applying to Lineage Societies and the United States Federal Census (1790-1950), and is a frequent contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis. She was featured in the Emmy-Winning Program: Finding your Roots: The Seedlings, a web series inspired by the PBS series “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.", as well as another popular PBS series, “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.” Before, American Ancestors, Lindsay worked at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she designed and implemented an original curriculum program exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era for elementary school students. She holds a B.A. from Merrimack College and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Area of Expertise: State and Federal Censuses, New England, Ireland, and New York research, with a focus on research methodology and organization. Lindsay also oversees the research team working on the 10 Million Names project.[View all posts by Lindsay Fulton →](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/author/lfulton) [← First time in the Big (Salt Lake) City: Part 2](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/02/first-time-big-salt-lake-city-part-2) [The most tedious records of them all . . . →](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2015/02/tedious-records) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Recent Posts [Sailor Bill and His Forgotten Wife](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/sailor-bill-and-his-forgotten-wife) [Professor X](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/professor-x) [Part I: Malaga Island, Maine](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/part-i-malaga-island-maine) [The Norwegian folge](https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/the-norwegian-folge) [Research…in a Miniskirt? 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