There are multiple ways to search for maps within the HistoryGeo Viewer.
First, launch the HistoryGeo Viewer and go to the Search tab:
Notice the list of Search Type Options to the left:
Let's take a look at how each of these works:
- Surname - find land-owners in our maps by searching for their surname
- Map Name - check for maps with particular names
- Cemetery - find cemeteries in our maps or in Google (based of GNIS coordinate data)
- Populated Place - find populated places (towns, cities, etc.) in our maps or in Google (based on GNIS coordinate data)
Start by entering a surname you hope to find in one of our land-ownership maps:
Click the "Go" button, or press the [Enter] key on your keyboard to begin the search.
This will bring up results that show the states with map projects that contain the surname that you searched for:
Double-click with your left mouse-button on the state that you're interested in investigating further, and a list of projects from that state containing the surname you've searched for will appear in the results box:
Many projects available in the HistoryGeo Map Library start with an "FM" in in their name. This signifies that the project comes from Arphax Publishing's Family Maps series. Following this Family Maps prefix, you'll see the abbreviated version of the state name from which the project comes from. After that, is the county name.
Double-click on the project that you're interested in to bring up that project's maps that contain occurrences for the surname you searched for:
There are two different ways that a map entry might be shown in this list.
If the text showing the map's name is solid black, and there is an "Open" button to the right then you're a subscriber who has access to that map.
If the map name is grayed out, and there is no "Open" button, then you are probably a free, registered user without a subscription. You will be unable to open any maps that look like this.
For either type of entry in the results list, you can press the "Details" link to open the Map Details Window. From there, you can see more information about the map and its contents.
RETURN TO SEARCH TYPES LIST
To find maps from the HistoryGeo Map Library by name, use the "Map Name" search.
Let's say that you're looking for maps pertaining to a place called "Otter Creek." Start by simply typing "creek" into the search box.
Click the "Go" button, or press the [Enter] key on your keyboard to begin the search.
This will find all the maps with "creek" in their names:
RETURN TO SEARCH TYPES LIST
Let's start by taking a look at the options you have when searching for cemeteries.
Start by deciding whether you wish to find maps showing the cemetery you're about to search for within the HistoryGeo Map Library or in other web-based map tools (Google, Bing, etc.). If you want to find maps from HistoryGeo's Library, leave the "HistoryGeo Library" option selected. If you want to find a cemetery and then see it displayed in Google Maps, select the "Other Web Maps" option.
Fill in the search box with part of a cemetery's name, then select a state to search within. If you're interested in finding a cemetery called Mt. Zion in Alabama, select Alabama from the "State" drop-down menu and type "zion" into the search box.
Click the "Go" button, or press the [Enter] key on your keyboard to begin the search.
If you were searching for cemeteries within the HistoryGeo Library, here's what your results will look like:
Each map entry in the results list will show the name of a cemetery followed by the name of the map that it appears in.
If, instead of searching within the HistoryGeo Library, you selected to search within "Other Web Maps," your results will look like this:
If you double-click on an item in the list, or press the "See Google Maps" button, a new browser window will open Google Maps and zoom in on the longitude and latitude of the selected cemetery.
RETURN TO SEARCH TYPES LIST
Here are the initial options you are presented with when searching for populated places:
Begin by deciding whether you want to find maps showing the populated place you're about to search for within the HistoryGeo Map Library or in other web-based map tools (Google, Bing, etc.). If you want to find maps from HistoryGeo's Library, leave the "HistoryGeo Library" option selected. If you want to find a populated place and then see it displayed in Google Maps, select the "Other Web Maps" option.
Fill in the search box with part of a populated place name, then select a state to search within. If you're interested in finding a town called Union Hill in Texas, select Texas from the "State" drop-down menu and type "hill" into the search box.
Click the "Go" button, or press the [Enter] key on your keyboard to begin the search.
If you were searching for populated places within the HistoryGeo Library, here's what your results will look like:
Each map entry in the results list will show the name of a populated place followed by the name of the map that it appears in.
If, instead of searching within the HistoryGeo Library, you selected to search within "Other Web Maps," your results will look like this:
If you double-click on an item in the list, or press the "See Google Maps" button, a new browser window will open Google Maps and zoom in on the longitude and latitude of the selected populated place.
RETURN TO SEARCH TYPES LIST
