The Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU), a nonprofit institution funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons), has the world's largest collection of genealogical information. Their main library, named Family History Library, is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Cybersia Capital Corp., the owners of www.chineseroots.com, was granted permission by the GSU to make freely available online the GSU's Chinese Language Catalog. The catalog lists all the Chinese genealogies available at the Family History Library.

Step 1

Since all the records listed in the catalog are in Chinese, you must be able to read Chinese or at least have access to someone who can read Chinese.

And if you're feeling extremely industrious, I guess you can start learning Chinese.

Step 2

Go to chineseroots.com and enter the traditional Chinese section of Chineseroots. On the main page there are two search engines. The first one has three fields: surname, first name, and location. This is the one you want if you to find genealogical records about your surname. You can search for a specific name or place.

The second search engine has one field, and it gives some info about the historical origins of the surname.

Note - The first search engine only accepts traditional Chinese characters. If you try to enter English into the search fields, you will automatically be redirected to the Chinese section of the site.

If you don't have the software necessary to enter Chinese characters on you computer, go to another website that contain Chinese characters such as online Chinese dictionaries to find the character you need, and copy and paste the character into the search field. You can also visit Chinese surnames for a list of Chinese surnames.

Step 3

The search results are divided into 7 categories. Click the section to see a list of all the records in the GSU catalog that match your search.

Click onto the individual records for more detailed info. The last field contains the call number for that record. The call number refers to a specific book or roll of microfiche at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

complaint 1 - I viewed the search results using three different browsers, and only Internet Explorer was able to display the correct information when I clicked on to the search results. If the site is acting kinda funky, try a different browser. Bad web design.

complaint 2 - The first section, lists alot of records but you have to register with the site to look at them. I looked all over the site, and even emailed them, but I could not find any information on how to register with the site. Really bad web design.

Step 4

Now that you have the call number, you have to visit a second website, and eventually leave the house and spend some money.

To see the record, take this call number to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, or to one hundreds of smaller branch facilities , called Family History Centers, located throughout the world. You don't have to be a Mormon to visit these facilities; they are opened to everyone. Visit familysearch.org for more information and to find the Family History Center nearest you.

If you go to the main library in Salt Lake, you can view all these books and microfilms for free.

If you go to one of the branch facilities, you will have to spend some money to see these records. The local branches only have a limited amount of records, therefore they probably won't have these obscure Chinese records. If you bring the call number to the local branch, they can order the microfilm from the main library and have them sent to the local facility. The local facilities can borrow microfilm, but not books from the main library. In the U.S. they charge $3.50 per microfilm per month to cover shipping and handling costs.

Step 5

The only thing left is for you to copy all this info a notebook. And if feeling extra fancy, you can bring your laptop to the facility and type all the info.

You can't take these materials out of the facilities. Since these materials are copyrighted, you can only make a limited number of photocopies in accordance with their "fair-use" policy.

I hope this helps. Good-bye and good luck.