Unknown film at FamilySearch

Well this is a new one for me. I previously found a page (through full-text search) and saved the URL. I do need to use the record so I'm putting together the citation. That's when the fun starts. 

The page is here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3SL-J9FB-5 

My normal sequence is to run to the front of the film and see what the filming info was. On this film there is no header section of when and where filmed. Not normal but it does happen. So, just run the film number in the catalog and go from there. Film number is 105717890, there is no information section and the film number isn't in the catalogue.

Now from the record I know it's a GLO record and it's at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=AL3900__.317&docClass=STA&sid=fu3svnyk.v2d 

I can create a citation from there, but what if I couldn't find the record in another spot. I've only got the URL, which at least is an ARK, but still it's pretty sparse.

Alabama, General Land Office, [unknown collection], loose certificates, certificate 2481[4?], William C Parker, 1 December 1859, Lawrence County, Alabama; imaged, [unknown collection],  FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3SL-J9FB-5 ), film 105717890 [not in catalogue] > image 316 of 501; citing [unknown repository].

I didn't want to lead with FamilySearch as there's no real information other than the URL. 

Submitted byEEon Thu, 08/28/2025 - 10:14

cryptoref, you've done what should ordinarily provide that information at FamilySearch. As you note, you're hitting a blank wall--literally blank--with each approach. The first three possibilities that come to mind are (a) FamilySearch has just uploaded that and has not yet added the cataloging data; (b) whoever uploaded that record set got sidetracked and dropped the ball; or (c) someone "went live" with a record set prematurely.

I also searched the catalog for U.S. land patents and see that FS has had parts of this collection since 2019 (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/catalog/results?q.place=United%20States&q.title=Land%20Patents&subjectsOpen=168261784-20).

So what might we do in our citation (other than citing the GLO record)?  We can go back to the advice at EE4's §2.27 (§2.22 om earlier editions):

UNTITLED, UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT, REGISTER, ETC.
When a narrative manuscript, original document, or record book has no title, you should create your own generic description. You do not place your words in italics, because the item is unpublished. You do not use quotation marks, because you are not quoting anything.

Whether you lead with your description in Layer 1 (with FamilySearch in Layer 2) or whether you lead with FamilySearch and then put the descriptor in the "specific record" field at the end of that layer is your choice.