How do I use Workspaces?

Findmypast’s Workspaces are the easiest place to store and organise your ongoing research. They allow you to gather and reflect on records and newspaper clippings without attaching them to your family tree. This is ideal for when you still have unanswered questions about an ancestor or a record, or if you’re researching a topic outside of a family tree, such as local history or a one-name study. To get a clearer idea of what you may be able to do with your Workspaces, explore our examples here.

How to create a Workspace

You can access your Workspaces via the ‘My research’ tab at the top of the page. With the ‘Create new’ button, you can create folders to organise your work however you’d like (this may be by project, by theme or by a specific research question you’re trying to answer). 

Once created, your folders will appear within the ‘Workspaces’ tab. To further organise your research, you can create sub-folders within each Workspace.

Adding records and clippings

Into each folder, you can add relevant record transcripts and newspaper clippings, alongside your own accompanying notes. In the notes box, add extra information about a record, jot down doubts or potential issues and highlight areas for further research. 

Each record or clipping can be saved in multiple folders at once – ideal for if there’s a record that’s important across your different projects.

You can also add standalone notes into each folder – these could be your key takeaways, checklists, or follow-up tasks for your future self. With plenty of room for your own musings, each Workspace acts as an organised and efficient canvas for your research. 

How to view your saved records, saved searches and corrections 

For ease of access, your saved records, saved searches and saved tree searches also sit under the ‘My research tab’. You’ll find any corrections you’ve made on Findmypast here, too.