FamilySearch Videos: Watch and Learn!

Over the last couple of years FamilySearch has posted a number of YouTube video's to help you learn more about genealogy and other related subjects. Just sit back and watch and you can learn without leaving the comfort of your own home.


Are you interested in where the 2.4 million microfilms are stored and how it all began? Watch these and learn more about the Granite Mountain Vault.

Granite Mountain Records Vault, Part 1 - FamilySearch Genealogy Records

Granite Mountain Records Vault, Part 2 - FamilySearch Genealogy Records

Inspirational: Do you need a little extra boost to get you started searching for your ancestors? The first video below, Woven Generations, is an introduction to segments originally shown at "A Celebration of Family History" as part of the 2010 NGS Conference held in Salt Lake City. The other segments are short family history vignettes.

FamilySearch - Woven Generations

FamilySearch - Letters from Estonia

FamilySearch - Clan McCloud

FamilySearch - Searching for Emma

Are you just getting started with your family history and not quite sure what to do? Check out the following video's.

Getting Started, Step 1 - Finding Easy Information (FamilySearch genealogy)

Family History Expo Coming to St. George Utah in February

It's time to get away from all the bad weather around the country and head to sunny St. George, Utah February 25-26, 2011 at the Dixie Center for the Family History Expo! The conference/expo is sponsored by Family History Expos, a private company. That would be Holly Hansen if you have ever attended one of the expos before.  (I hate the fact that I cannot attend this year so you go and fill me in on all the details, okay?)

Over 100 classes will be presented by more than 50 national and local speakers as well as staff from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and FamilySearch employees. With classes ranging from beginner to advanced topics, there is something for everyone. Many classes are dedicated to the latest techniques and technologies being used in genealogical research, as well as the most up-to-date information about different cultures being studied. You can review the class schedule at www.fhexpos.com/expos/

Exhibitors from throughout the U.S. will teach about the latest products and services available in the industry. FamilySearch affiliated software vendors will also be on site and happy to help you test their products “hands on” with new.familysearch.org (FamilySearch Family Tree). Some of the products and services showcased will include genealogy magazines, hardware, software, wall charts, and research services. Representatives from various genealogical societies will also be on site.

The Expo is a fantastic way to get more involved in Family History and socialize with hundreds of others who have the same interests as you!.

The following is from FamilySearch support and is directed to Family History Consultants, Center Directors, and Extraction/Indexing Directors and Assistants, and Priesthood Leaders:

You and members of your family history center as well as families in your ward may be interested in attending the upcoming St. George Family History Expo sponsored by Family History Expos (a private company).

There is no cost for attending the keynote address or visiting the exhibit hall. For those wishing to attend the classes, registration is $75 for both days ($65 if you preregister online) or $40 for a single day. For individuals wanting to attend a single class, the cost is $12 at the door. The following free classes will also be offered on Saturday for family history consultants, stake extraction directors and assistants, and priesthood leaders:

·         “Family History Work, a Vital Resource in the Work of Salvation.” This class will discuss the newly released Leader’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: To Turn the Hearts, as well as new approaches to involve the ward council.

·         “Family History Centers and In-Person Assistance.” This class will discuss the evolving role of family history centers and how to integrate them more in family history research.

·         “Research Resources and Branching Out.” This class goes over the latest developments in indexing, the research wiki, forums, and online training, and it discusses how these resources can best be utilized.

The St. George Family History Expo could be a great opportunity for the ward members you are working with to learn more about finding their ancestors. You may want to share information about the expo with them.

All general questions about the expo should be directed to:

Family History Expos.com
P.O. Box 187
Morgan, UT 84050
E-mail: Expo@FHExpos.com
Phone: 1-801-829-3295
Web: http://www.fhexpos.com/expos/

If you have specific questions regarding FamilySearch or consultant training classes offered at the expo, they should be directed to: 

E-mail: support@familysearch.org                                                                                                                                              

Phone—U.S. and Canada (toll free): 1-866-406-1830                                                                                                                   

Phone—International: Go to http://contact.familysearch.org for more toll-free phone numbers.

To change your contact information with FamilySearch, reregister at: http://priesthood.familysearch.org or https://consultant.familysearch.org
To remove your registration, send your request to: support@familysearch.org. Please include your name, ward name, and stake name.
Invite others to register at: http://priesthood.familysearch.org or https://consultant.familysearch.org

Elder Richard G. Scott to Speak at RootsTech

This message from FamilySearch Support is directed to Family History Consultants, Family History Center and Extraction/Indexing Directors, and Priesthood Leaders:

RootsTech is a new and unique conference where family history and technology come together. Yet, you do not have to be an expert in either one to greatly benefit from attending conference sessions. In addition to the full three-day schedule of excellent lectures, each day there will be time especially set aside for family history consultants. This free consultant training will be repeated each day, and the experience will be highlighted by a devotional presented by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Saturday, February 12, 2011.

There are two options for consultants who want to participate and learn at RootsTech, which will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt lake City, Utah, February 10–12, 2011:

Option 1: Click here to register

Full RootsTech attendance at a discount— $75

For $75, family history consultants can choose from over 100 classes to attend over the three days of the conference. (The cost of lunch each day is not included in this price.) Class schedules and registration information can be found at rootstech.org. Or, to register now, click here, register as a “Regular Attendee,” and use registration code CONSULTECH11. There are so many relevant topics for genealogists and technologists that it may be difficult to decide which classes to attend.

Option 2: Click here to register

Half-day consultant activities—free

Each day of the conference the same consultant training classes, taught by Family History employees, will be presented for free. To participate, consultants need to register and select the option “FH Consultant Training Classes,” enter the registration code consultfree11 and then choose which day they will attend and whether they are attending the Elder Scott devotional or not. With this option, access to the daily keynote address and the exhibit hall will be included. Additionally, on Saturday, February 12, 2011, is the special devotional presentation by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Attendance is limited to those who follow this registration process; you may attend the training classes on one day and still attend the devotional on Saturday. If you have a spouse who is not a consultant who may want to attend the devotional they must also register using the special registration code and select devotional attendance.

Consultants must register for the free events and pick up a badge when they arrive at the convention center. Registering to attend the free consultant activities does not allow you to attend any of the other conference course offerings.

Consultants who register for full conference attendance (option 1) must also register separately if they want to attend the Elder Scott devotional.

With these great offerings, we are confident you will want to attend at least one day of this wonderful annual conference.

There is a web page on the FamilySearch Research Wiki with details and Q&A, click here to go to the page, or go to the Wiki and search on “Consultant Training at RootsTech 2011.”

FamilySearch Kicks Off 2011 with the Addition of 90 Million New Online Records

Includes 18 Million Digital Images from 13 Countries

No doubt family history enthusiasts will have a heyday looking over the latest collection updates! The 18 million free, browsable digital images are just a sample of what should be a banner year as FamilySearch continues to plug away at digitizing its massive microfilm collection for online access. U.S. researchers will be excited to begin poring over the 3 million new digital images of U.S. naturalization records included in this update.

Patrons will also find 72 million new, searchable, indexed records to search for free thanks to FamilySearch’s cadre of online volunteer indexers and agreements with Ancestry.com and findmypast.com. Findmypast.com’s index to the 1881 and 1891 England and Wales censuses and Ancestry.com’s indexes for U.S. border crossings from Canada to U.S. and Mexico to U.S. can now be searched free of charge at FamilySearch.org.

See the table below for additional details of the latest collection updates.

Collection	Images	Records	Comment
Brazil, Catholic Church Records	588,020		Images added to the following collections: Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Rio de Janeiro
Canada, Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937, and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947		188,756	Index only.
Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927		363,464	Index only.
Canada, Quebec Notarial Records, 1800-1900	71,036		Notary records from Montreal and Terrebonne.
England, Bristol, Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1900		271,298	Index only.
England and Wales Census, 1881		30,262,586	Index only. Images available at findmypast.com.
England and Wales Census, 1891		31,782,845	Index only. Images available at findmypast.com.
Guatemala Civil Registration, 1877-1934	2,085,501		Images have waypoints.
Italy, Civil Registration	51,466		Localities published: Rovigo
Italy, Napoli Province Municipal Records, 1809-1936	84	37,416	Images and records added to this collection: Castellammare di Stabia
Jamaica, Civil Birth Registration		305,360	New records added to existing collection. Images were already published.
Mexico, Catholic Church Records	4,031,651		Images added for localities in the following states: Guerrero, Mexico (Estada), Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Zacatecas
Mexico Census, 1930 (San Luis Potosi)	526	501,486
Netherlands, Civil Registration, 1792-1952	4,180,580		Images and waypoints added for Drenthe, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Overijssel, and Utrecht.
New Zealand, Immigration Passenger Lists, 1839-1973	1,446	144,523
Nicaragua, Managua, Civil Registration, 1879-2007	1,263,191		New images.
Philippines, Manila Civil Registration, 1899-1994	1,972,249		New images.
Poland, Radom Roman Catholic Diocese Church Books, 1654-1946, Part 1	254,375		Digital images of baptism, birth, marriage, burial and death records for parishes in   the Radom, Poland, diocese.
U.S., Border Crossings From Canada to United States, 1895-1956		4,335,400	Data courtesy of Ancestry.com.
U.S., Border Crossings >From Mexico to United States, 1903-1957		3,610,754	Data courtesy of Ancestry.com.
U.S., California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989	581,198		Images and waypoints added.
U.S., California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976	567,808		Images and waypoints added.
U.S., Delaware Death Records, 1855-1955	180,832	14,584
U.S., Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950	1,493,775		Images and waypoints added.
U.S., Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915	200,672	18,134	New records and images added to the existing collection. 2,126,586 records were moved to this collection from the legacy collection.
U.S., Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915	72,760	15,110	New records and images added to the existing collection. 1,083,931 records were moved to this collection from the legacy collection.
U.S., Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950	207,650	338,109
U.S., New England Naturalization Index, 1791-1906	635,867		Images and browse entries are available.
U.S., New York State Census, 1892, Part 2	9,589		Images added for the following localities: Albany, Broome, Essex, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Long Island City, Madison, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Queens, Warren
U.S., Rhode Island, State Census, 1935	693,472	693,472	Contains information from index cards created for each person in the 1935 state census.
Wales, Probate Abstracts, 1773-1780	186		New images.
Total	18,936,289	72,883,291

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.