Emibas & Genline Research at the Family History Libray

If you get the chance to visit and conduct genealogy research at the the Family History Library, DO IT!   The FHL is an amazing resource for genealogy research and the place is filled with people who are enthusiastic and incredibly helpful.  I would encourage anyone planning a trip to the FHL to spend some serious time on the FHL's website and take advantage of the online catalog and seminars which will help you understand the layout of the library, the resources available, and how best to plan your time to make the most of your trip.  One of the things I was unaware of until I arrived at the FHL is that it provides patrons with research consultants who specialize by region or country.  As a result, I was able to schedule time during my visit with three consultants (in Irish records, Norwegian records and Swedish records). 

During my research trip in January 2009 and again in January 2010, I had the opportunity to meet with a consultant who was originally from Sweden and is quite knowledge about Swedish records research, Wilma Larsson.

She explained the process of working with Swedish records and working from the known to the unknown.  The first records we found were the emigration registers from Emibas.  Once you find the record in Emibas, the register will provide the individual's name, marital status, birthdate and place, date the individual left the parish (and if it was noted in the parish book, the individual's destination) and the source for the Emibas information (the Household Examination Roll place and page - this key is the jumping off point for researching the annual household examination rolls). 

Together over the course of a few days, we found the following documents:

• the emigration register for my great grandfather Louis Lidman (Lars Elofsson) who left the parish on 2 Apr 1880
• the emigration registers for Louis' father and mother (my great great grandparents) Elof Lidman and Marit Lidman (Elof Larsson and Marit Larsdotter) ~ they left the parish on 29 Apr 1882
• the emigration registers for Louis' sisters (and my great aunts) Karin Elofsdotter, Anna Elofsdotter, Marit Elofsdotter and Kristina Elofsdotter
• At the time of emigration, Karin was married to Per Mattson and they had their first child Lars Gustaf Persson Mattson. The Mattson family left their parish on 6 Mar 1883
• Anna traveled with the Mattson family and left the parish on 6 Mar 1883
• Marit and Kristina traveled with their parents and left the parish on 29 Apr 1882
• the birth register for Lars Elofsson dated 25 Jul 1860 in Fastnas, Norra Ny, Varmlands lan, Sweden
• the birth register for Karin Elofsdotter dated 24 Jun 1856 in Norra Loffstrand, Eksharad, Varmlands lan, Sweden
• the 5-year annual household examination rolls for the Elof Larsson/Marit Larsdotter family from 1861-1885 (residing on the Ormliden farm as tenant farmers) all located in Fastnas, Norra Ny, Varmlands lan, Sweden
• the marriage register for Elof Larsson and Marit Larsdotter dated 27 Apr 1856 in Eksharad, Varmlands lan, Sweden

The consultants make a point of showing you how to find a particular record and oftentimes are able to translate the record. Additionally they will explain the process for researching additional records and are always available to answer questions, translate records, and help point you in the right direction. Their assistance is in the form of "teaching you how to fish" rather than "making you a fish dinner." I would not suggest going to the FHL and asking one of the consultants to help you find your family with a name and little else (although I did overhear other patrons doing just that!) ~ As with so many things in life, it is necessary to do your homework and certainly what you get out of the research experience is dependent upon what you put into it.

Research Tip ~ To learn more about researching your Swedish roots, I would suggest two books, both available at libraries and through online stores (check Worldcat for your nearest library or store).

• Clemensson, Per & Kjell Andersson. Your Swedish Roots: A Step by Step Handbook. Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2004.
• Johansson, Carl E. Cradled in Sweden. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1995.

Next time ~ more about my Swedish research at FHL.

Emibas & Genline Research at the Family History Libray