I received this tip from Sydni (Thurmond) Hamill on our Thurman DNA project list and thought it was worth passing on. I was unaware of these original document scans that you could "find". If you already knew this, just delete this message: Recently I discovered a new way to find online scans of original documents. So far, I've used it to locate some Confederate pension applications, a San Francisco coroner's report, and...I've browsed through the historic Draper Manuscripts which recount details of early 19th century America (and an unmined treasure trove of family history...not a lot of Thurmans though) Familysearch.org has a large collection of images which are not yet indexed but can be "hand searched" page by page. Tedious work but well worth the effort. These images do not appear in their Collections list. I've found them by chance using google and keywords. Items may also be found by looking through the familysearch wiki if you know exactly what you're looking for: https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Main_Page Here's what you can try: 1. Enter the keyword "familysearch" in the google search box 2. Add a topic (like "Draper Manuscripts") or some keywords which describe a collection (like tennesse confederate pension) or the title of a book. 3. Click on any item in your google search hits which starts with "https//:familysearch" 4. This will direct you to a page with items in the familysearch catalog (online items as well as films you can order at a Family History Center) and links to other websites where information may be found (like the TSLA) 5. As you look through the list you may see items identfied as "images only". 6. Don't be daunted by the hyperlink "Browse 525,599 images" (that's actually a small collection!) Most are divided into groups - the TN pension applications are grouped by number - so if you know the pension application from an index, you can find the original with a little searching. I located the coroner's report I was seeking by using the date of death. 7. You may also find online records for a particular location by using the familysearch catog on their home search page https://www.familysearch.org/ or by using the same type of google search where you use "familysearch" and your location (like "Lincoln County Kentucky"). Google hits will take you to the familysearch "learn" page for that place. -- Sandy (Whalen) Bauer