Where is My Shoebox on Ancestry?

Hey fellow genealogy explorers! If you’re diving deep into your family history on Ancestry, you might have stumbled upon records you want to keep but aren’t quite ready to attach to your family tree. That’s where a handy, and sometimes overlooked, feature called the Shoebox comes into play. Think of it as your personal, temporary holding spot for interesting finds.

This guide will walk you through exactly what the Shoebox is, how to find it, and how to make the most of it to piece together those captivating stories of your ancestors. Let’s get you comfortable with this valuable tool!

What Exactly Is the Ancestry Shoebox?

Simply put, the Shoebox on Ancestry is a temporary storage place. When you’re searching through records – like census documents, birth certificates, or old passenger lists – and find something that piques your interest but you’re not immediately sure where it fits, or if you want to investigate it further before connecting it to an individual in your tree, you can save it to your Shoebox.

It’s perfect for those moments when you think:

• “This might be my great-aunt, but I need to double-check a few things.”
• “This record is interesting, but I don’t have time to analyze it right now.”
• “I want to gather a few related records before adding them to my tree.”

How Do I Find My Shoebox on Ancestry?

Accessing your Shoebox is straightforward once you know where to look. You’ll need to be on the Ancestry website (not the app for this one – more on that later!).

1. Navigate to Your Ancestry Homepage: If you’re anywhere else on the site, simply click the ‘Ancestry’ logo in the top-left corner of the page. This will always take you back to your main dashboard.
2. Locate ‘Tools and Resources’: On your homepage, scroll down. You’ll typically find a section titled ‘Tools and Resources’ on the right-hand side of the page.
3. Click on ‘Shoebox’: Within this ‘Tools and Resources’ section, you’ll see an option for ‘Shoebox’. Click it, and you’ll be taken to all the records you’ve saved there.

How to Save Records to Your Shoebox

Found a record you want to save for later? Here’s how:

1. Open the Record: When you’re viewing a specific record or even a record index page that you find interesting, look for the save options.
2. Click the “Save” Button: You’ll usually see a “Save” button or link, often located towards the top right of the record details page or sometimes as a quick action icon.
3. Select “Save to your Shoebox”: Clicking “Save” will typically open a small drop-down menu. From this menu, choose the option that says “Save to your Shoebox”.

That’s it! The record is now safely tucked away in your Shoebox.

Using Records from Your Shoebox

The main purpose of the Shoebox is to hold records until you’re ready to formally attach them to individuals in your family tree.

• Reviewing Saved Records: Go to your Shoebox (using the steps above) to see everything you’ve saved.
• Attaching a Record to Your Tree:
  1. Open the specific record from within your Shoebox.
  2. Look for an option like ‘Save’ or ‘Save record’.
  3. From the dropdown or subsequent options, choose ‘Save to someone in your tree’.
  4. Ancestry will then guide you to select the correct person in your tree and how the record relates to them.

Keeping Your Shoebox Tidy: Removing Records

If you decide a saved record isn’t relevant, or you’ve already attached it and no longer need it in the Shoebox, you can easily remove it.

• Next to each record listed in your Shoebox, you should see a trash can icon (or a similar ‘delete’ option).
• Simply click this icon to remove the record from your Shoebox.

Important Note: Accessing Your Shoebox on the Ancestry App

The Shoebox feature is currently NOT available on the Ancestry mobile app (for iPhone, iPad, or Android). To use your Shoebox, you’ll need to log in to your Ancestry account through a web browser on your computer, tablet, or even your phone’s web browser (though the desktop/laptop experience is generally easier for in-depth research).

Conclusion:

The Shoebox is a simple yet effective way to manage your genealogical research on Ancestry. By using it to temporarily hold records, you can conduct more organized and thoughtful investigations into your family’s past. So next time you’re on Ancestry, give that Shoebox feature a try – it might just help you uncover some hidden gems and deepen your connection to your heritage!