TheFHGuide.com Goes Live! Help is Here!

July 27, 2015

New Family History Website Released – The Family History Guide

www.thefhguide.com - Overview

SANDY, Utah - July 25, 2015 - Even with the renewed focus and attention placed on family history these days, the fact remains that fewer than 10% of the population - LDS or non-LDS - is actively involved in it. Reasons for not taking the family history plunge are plentiful (and often convincing), but the benefits of being involved are real and tangible, as avid genealogists can attest.

The Family History Guide - a unique, new website free to the public that officially launches today - aims to change the equation by drawing more of the 90% into family history. "We want to get people into the game and help them stay in the game," said Bob Taylor, founder and CEO of The Family History Guide, LLC. "We've developed a simple yet powerful learning system that provides a comfortable harbor in the ocean that can be family history."

People of all backgrounds and skill levels can quickly find the tools and resources they need in The Family History Guide. The innovative design contains a series of Goals, Choices and Steps that lead the learner through the family history experience, in Projects such as Family Tree, Memories, Descendants, Ordinances, Discover (Research), Indexing, Help, and Technology. There are links to over 1,000 videos and articles, all integrated into a smooth instructional sequence that gives learners flexibility and control over their learning paths. The Family History Guide also draws on the resources and strengths of FamilySearch, Ancestry, FindMyPast, MyHeritage, and other sites. "As family history evolves on the web, we'll be right there," continued Taylor. "We point people to the best tools and technologies for family history and research, all within a comfortable framework."

The Family History Guide is also proving to be a powerful tool for classroom instruction. "We've been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of our early test sites," said Taylor. "Many Family History Consultants have latched onto the site, excited for how it accelerates learning. Even those who were previously reluctant to help patrons are stepping up with more confidence."

The Family History Guide is available at www.thefhguide.com and in the FamilySearch App Gallery at https://familysearch.org/apps.  For more information, contact thefhguide@gmail.com

New FamilySearch Collections in July 2015

 

Family historians hungry for historic Irish records will enjoy FamilySearch’s new collection, Ireland Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912. These indexed court documents bring 22 million records to your fingertips. These records were originally filmed at the National Archives of Ireland and the index was created by findmypast.com. See the table below for additions to over 60 historical record collections, including 46 million US obituaries. Click on the collection’s link to start your discovery. COLLECTION INDEXED RECORDS DIGITAL RECORDS COMMENTS Australia New South Wales Census (fragment) 1891 0 21,315 Added images to an existing collection Belgium Antwerp Civil Registration 1588-1910 0 1,670 Added images to an existing collection BillionGraves Index 1,513,553 1,513,553 Added indexed records and images to an existing collection Brazil Pernambuco Civil Registration 1804-2014 0 164,642 Added images to an existing collection Brazil São Paulo Immigration Cards 1902-1980 1,642,660 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection California Death Index 1905-1939 2,086,638 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Delaware Vital Records 1680-1971 624,395 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection District of Columbia Marriages 1811-1950 83,822 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection France Finistère Quimper et Léon Diocese Catholic Parish Records 1772-1863 970 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Germany Saxony Dresden Citizens' Documents and Business Licenses 1820- 1962 0 855,956 Added images to an existing collection Illinois County Marriages 1810-1934 504,033 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Iowa State Census 1915 0 9,802 Added images to an existing collection India Bihar Koilukh Pandit Kirtinand Jha Maithil Brahmin Genealogical Records 1750-1990 0 175,363 Added images to an existing collection India Hindu Pilgrimage Records 1194-2015 2,782,487 2,843,557 New indexed records and images collection Iowa State Census 1925 5,573,816 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Ireland Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912 21,833,839 0 New indexed record collection Italy Caltanissetta Civil Registration (State Archive) 1820-1935 0 318 Added images to an existing collection Italy Cremona Civil Registration (State Archive) 1744-1942 0 1,325,362 New browsable-image collection. Italy Grosseto Civil Registration (State Archive) 1851-1907 0 393,814 New browsable-image collection. Italy L'Aquila Civil Registration (State Archive) 1809-1865 1911-1943 0 111,837 Added images to an existing collection Italy Pesaro e Urbino Pesaro Civil Registration (State Archive) 1808-1813 1861- 1865 0 75,456 New browsable-image collection. Italy Pesaro e Urbino Urbino Civil Registration (State Archive) 1866-1942 0 709,381 New browsable-image collection. Italy Ragusa Civil Registration (State Archive) 1900-1940 0 111,281 New browsable-image collection. Italy Toscana Civil Registration (State Archive) 1804-1874 0 80,833 Added images to an existing collection Kentucky Vital Record Indexes 1911-1999 9,865,944 0 New indexed record collection Louisiana First Registration Draft Cards compiled 1940-1945 39,967 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Massachusetts Boston Passenger Lists Index 1899-1940 1,577,127 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Massachusetts Town Clerk Vital and Town Records 1627-2001 0 182 Added images to an existing collection Mexico Baja California and Baja California Sur Catholic Church Records 1750- 1984 0 363 Added images to an existing collection Mexico Chihuahua Catholic Church Records 1632-1958 0 195 New browsable-image collection. Mexico Guanajuato Catholic Church Records 1519-1984 0 1,077 Added images to an existing collection Mexico Hidalgo Catholic Church Records 1546-1971 0 574 Added images to an existing collection Mexico Michoacán Catholic Church Records 1555-1996 0 2,758 Added images to an existing collection Mexico Tamaulipas Catholic Church Records 1703-1964 0 1,294 Added images to an existing collection Michigan Births 1867-1902 0 1,428 Added images to an existing collection Michigan Obituaries 1820-2006 1,389,458 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Newfoundland Vital Records 1840-1949 347,134 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection North Carolina Probate Records 1735-1970 0 1,952 Added images to an existing collection Nova Scotia Births 1864-1877 0 6,103 Added images to an existing collection Nova Scotia Deaths 1864-1877 0 20,661 Added images to an existing collection Nova Scotia Marriages 1864-1918 0 15,831 Added images to an existing collection Peru Callao Civil Registration 1874-1996 0 42,583 Added images to an existing collection Perú Lima Civil Registration 1874-1996 0 111,769 Added images to an existing collection Philippines Negros Occidental Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod Parish Registers 1755-1976 0 95,820 New browsable-image collection. South Dakota School Records 1879-1970 2,807,212 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Spain Province of Valencia Miscellaneous Records 1251-1950 0 850,597 Added images to an existing collection Sweden Halland Church Records 1615-1904; index 1615-1860 0 972 Added images to an existing collection Tennessee County Marriages 1790-1950 3,024,053 1,831,660 Added indexed records and images to an existing collection United States Census 1790 1,606 62 Added indexed records and images to an existing collection United States Census 1800 20 18,454 Added indexed records and images to an existing collection United States Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records 1865-1872 4,641 44,734 New Indexed records and images collection United States GenealogyBank Obituaries 1980-2014 46,769,836 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection United States Index to Service Records War with Spain 1898 123,334 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Utah Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database 1847-1868 58,333 0 New indexed record collection Utah Uintah County Discharge Records 1893-2009 0 2,362 New browsable-image collection. Utah Uintah County Land and Property Records 1888-2004 0 195,963 New browsable-image collection. Utah Uintah County Marriage Records 1888-2015 0 8,687 New browsable-image collection. Utah Uintah County Naturalization and Citizenship Records 1888-1929 0 409 New browsable-image collection. Vermont St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings 1895-1924 6,696,703 0 Added indexed records to an existing collection Vermont Town Clerk Vital and Town Records 1732-2005 0 458,533 Added images to an existing collection Help Publish More Free Records Online Searchable historical records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of online volunteers worldwide. These volunteers transcribe (or index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are always needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published weekly online on FamilySearch.org. Learn how you can volunteer to help provide free access to the world’s historical genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org/Indexing.

New Records Reveal Previously Unknown Mormon Pioneers

Salt Lake City, UT—In a collaboration between the Church History Library and FamilySearch, individuals can now discover and explore more of their pioneer heritage on the newly redesigned Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel website that also includes information about previously unknown pioneers. In addition to discovering your pioneer ancestors, new features enable people to read their ancestors’ personal journals, see available photos, and learn key details about major events in their ancestors’ lives. 

Since the site was first launched, an influx of pioneer documentation has allowed historians to reconcile and expand their understanding of the trek west. The site now includes information about more than 57,000 individuals in 370 pioneer companies, with thousands of original trail excerpts that are authoritatively documented. “This is an extremely significant database,” said Keith Erekson, Church History Library Director. “It reveals so much about individual pioneers and their experiences, but it also offers fresh new insights about their collective experience.” Site updates include the ability to submit family photographs of pioneers and to link to digital copies of sources on the Internet. There are also new articles of interest, including humorous stories from the trail.

Individuals have two options for accessing the site. Through FamilySearch.org/pioneers, your personal FamilySearch family tree will be polled for matches in the updated pioneer database.  Through history.lds.org/overlandtravels you can explore known pioneers and companies and lots of other interesting facts and documentation about this exciting period of Mormon and Western history.

Millions of people continue to be inspired by the courage, faith, and triumphs of the Mormon pioneers. Many of us are unknowingly modern pioneers, whose courage, personal achievements, and applied faith will be equally inspiring to future posterity and generations. This updated site will be featured in the international “I Am a Pioneer” social media campaign (#IAmAPioneer) that will encourage individuals today to see themselves as modern-day pioneers and recognize the need to readily capture their stories of triumph online for future generations. Learn more about this initiative at FamilySearch.org/iamapioneer.

Those without Utah pioneer ancestry may be interested in reading stories of pioneers worldwide by visiting the Church History Department’s website, history.lds.org/section/pioneers.

Bring your genealogical data to life by discovering the stories and photos of your ancestors or the ancestors of others. Visit the newly updated Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel website today.

“Fuel the Find!” 2nd Annual Indexing Challenge! August 7-14

One Week. 100,000 Online Volunteers. Time to “Fuel the Find!”

Millions of Family History Discoveries Likely from Worldwide Event

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, July 22, 2015—A record-setting 100,000 online volunteers are expected to participate in the second annual Worldwide Indexing Event, facilitating millions of discoveries for eager family history researchers. Scheduled for August 7–14, the event will show how anyone with a computer and Internet connection can help “Fuel the Find” by making information from historical documents easily searchable online.

What Does It Mean to “Fuel the Find”?  
Indexed (transcribed) historical records are like the fuel that powers genealogical search engines such as FamilySearch.org, enabling people to find missing or unknown branches in their family trees. Beyond simple name searches, indexed records also allow FamilySearch.org to provide patrons with highly relevant and accurate hints, essentially bringing the records of their ancestors to them automatically. Every name that a volunteer indexes from a historical record adds another drop of precious fuel that can ultimately help someone easily and quickly find a missing ancestor.

International Language Emphasis
Already one of the largest and most successful volunteer transcription programs in history with more than 1.3 billion records indexed since 2007, FamilySearch indexing is looking toward this year’s event to launch an expanded push for indexed records in languages other than English. Currently FamilySearch.org offers 20 times more searchable records in English than in all other languages combined. To balance this ratio, people with fluency in other languages, especially French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, are being sought as indexing volunteers.

“Family history research in English-speaking countries is a dream compared to research in other parts of the world,” said Mike Judson, manager of FamilySearch’s indexing workforce development. “Our goal is to make research for our friends in other lands as joyful and productive as it is in the United States, Great Britain, and other English-speaking countries. To do this we need tens of thousands of volunteers with well-developed language skills to step forward and use those talents to bless others’ lives. We have the records—now we just need the hands.”

To help volunteers with language skills to get started, FamilySearch indexing has launched carefully chosen indexing projects in its four focus languages of French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Special training guides are now available to help new and experienced English indexers with skills in these languages to quickly familiarize themselves with how to index these particular records.

New One-Week Record Anticipated 
Last year’s Worldwide Indexing Event established a one-week record of 91,721 participants. This year, more than 100,000 participants are expected. To be counted, each volunteer must submit at least one indexing or arbitration batch sometime during the week. Volunteers and potential volunteers can visit FamilySearch.org/indexingevent2015 to learn more, including strategies for avoiding high demand periods that may tend to slow down the indexing system.  
  
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About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. 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.