How do I use memories as sources in Family Tree?

Article Id: 13515
February 12, 2025
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You can use memories as sources in Family Tree as long as the contend is not copyrighted. You can either upload a new memory or select from the photos, stories, audio files, and documents in your gallery.

In your source box and in Family Tree, you can identify sources from Memories by this icon:

Icon of a spiral-bound photo album

Before you start

Many materials used in family history research are protected by copyright laws. Unless you created an item, it is best to assume that it is protected by copyright law. Before uploading any document, please verify that you have permission to do so.

If the source is online, we recommend adding the information as an outside source and providing a link instead of uploading an image. The citation form has a field specifically for the URL.

If you have a photo, downloaded image, screenshot, or paper copy of the item, please contact the copyright holder, and get permission to upload it to a website where the image is publicly available and can be searched and downloaded for free. We may need you to provide a release indicating that the copyright holder grants permission for this document to be posted on our public website.

Steps (website)

  1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org, and navigate to the person page of the individual you want to attach the source to.  
  2. If needed, use the tree selector in the upper left corner to switch to the tree you want to edit.
  3. Click the Sources tab. 
  4. Click Add Source.
  5. Click Add New Memory Source.
  6. Enter the event date, source title, and other relevant details.
  7. If you uploaded the source to FamilySearch.org, click Select from Gallery (the Gallery includes memories that you added to an album). To add a memory, click Upload Memory, and find the file on your computer.
  8. Click the tag for each event the source gives information about.
  9. If you do not want this source in your source box, click to deselect Add Source to My Source Box.
  10. Click Save.

Steps (mobile app)

In the Family Tree mobile app on your Android or Apple iOS device, you can use a photo as a source. To use a story, document, or audio file, use the website.

  1. In the Family Tree app, navigate to the person page of an individual you want to attach a source to.
  2. If needed, use the tree selector at the bottom to switch to the tree that you want to edit. (This option is currently available only in the iOS version of the app.)
  3. Tap the Sources tab.
  4. In the lower right, click the + in a circle.
  5. Tap Add Source with Photo.
  6. On the Add Source screen, tap in the box with a camera icon.
  7. Tap an option:
    • Camera or Take Photo
    • On Apple iOS, Camera Roll
    • File or My Files
    • FamilySearch Gallery or My FamilySearch Gallery
  8. Take a photo, or tap the photo or file you want.
  9. Enter the source title and other relevant details.
  10. Tap Save.

Steps (Family Tree Lite)

Family Tree Lite does not have the Sources feature. Visit the full website.

How do I know if something is copyrighted?
How do I add an outside source to Family Tree?
How do I attach record hints to a person in Family Tree?
How do I upload memories to FamilySearch?

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