My Ghost Story

My husband, Bill, has been working as a Security Officer at the Salt Lake City and County Building for several months now. Not long after he started working there he drove me past the building. I took one look at this ancient building and said "Cool, it looks haunted." I was surprised when he answered back "It is!"

It wasn't until three weeks ago that I had a chance to actually go inside the building and get a tour of it. I was kind of nervous and excited to do so. I had heard so many neat stories from my husband of the ghosts that live there.

These photographs were taken by a security officer on the graveyard shift that relieves my husband at night. I think they are kind of cool with all the colors that came out in them.

This first one is the one they call the angel. I don't think angels have wings but if there is one there I sure hope he is watching over the two little children that are suppose to haunt the place. They go around unlocking doors and run up and down the halls.

My husband hasn't seen or heard them but he has seen and heard the ghost dog there. Supposedly a blind man beat his service dog to death in the building. The ghost dog can be heard to growl out from under the desks. Bill has seen him run past in the halls.

The first experience he had with the dog was when he opened a door to an office one evening and saw the dog laying in front of the fireplace. It just lifted his head and look at him. My husband just slowly backed out of the office and closed the door behind him. That must of been kind of neat.

Well, like I was telling you I finally got my tour of the notorious haunted place and I can tell you I didn't see or hear anything. I didn't even get a goose bump on the arm. Kind of disappointing. The only thing that happened was I felt dizzy and weird when I stood on the balcony or looked down the stair wells. But that could be because I am afraid of falling, weirdly so ever since my near death experience. Some ghost people say you get light headed when a ghost is around, me I just think it was a dizzy spell that comes and goes.

It wasn't until after I left the building that I had this feeling someone was standing behind me. Now I have been kind of used to knowing when spirits are near me and it sure had all the signs of it. The only thing was I couldn't see who it was because it was out of my line of vision. If I had eyes in the back of my head I could of seen who was there.

All that afternoon and into the evening I had this presence following me all over the house. When darkness came I was scared. Not frightened scared just creeped out scared. So I started to talk to it. Ok, we are going out to the car to go pick Bill up from trax. Make sure you come with me. As we drove I just couldn't bring myself to look in my rear view mirror. I was afraid I would see some creepy misty man in the mirror. I made sure to tell the spirit sitting in the back seat that when we got to trax they needed to get on it and it would take them back home to the building. I just didn't want them to follow me anymore.

Trax finally came my husband got into the car and we started talking and I forgot all about feeling creeped out about the visiting ghost. It wasn't until I was glancing in my review mirror that I realized whomever had been with me was now gone. Hopefully they made it back to the City and County Building or found another nice place to haunt along the way.

I'm not prejudice against ghosts. I just happen to prefer the spirits with a message and not the annoying kind with no purpose. It was with mixed emotions that I had to go back to the City and County Building with my husband today. I really didn't relish going in there and having someone follow me home. I did see creepy things but I think it had something to do with it being Halloween.

When I left I just had to talk to myself and "whomever" was following and tell them to stay put it just wasn't a night they should be out. Anyways, the only ghosts invited to my home are the ones that can unravel some brick walls. So far it doesn't appear that I had any takers.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Mark Your Calendars - UVPAFUG Meeting!

UTAH VALLEY PAF USERS GROUP

The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley PAF (Personal Ancestral File) Users Group will be on Saturday, 10 Nov 2007, from 9 am until noon in the LDS "Red" Chapel at 4000 North Timpview Drive (650 East),in Provo. The main presentation will be by G. David Dilts on FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY INTERNET FAVORITES.

David Dilts, AG, has worked and taught at the Family History Library since 1975. He is currently a Senior Reference Consultant in the US East and Canada Reference Unit. He is a past Commissioner of ICAPGen and past VP of the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA). Recent presentations include conferences at ICAPGen, BYU Computerized Genealogy, UGA, and Grand Junction. He is accredited in LDS Records and German research. His wiki at http://www.familysearchwiki.org/u-s-and-canada/worldwide
-content/family-history-library-internet-favorites has a brief abstract of this presentation which will feature selected browser links (bookmarks) which are available from the Family History Library to help you find good genealogical Internet sites. He will explain how they are organized, some simple strategies for using them, and how to load them on a home computer.

Following the main presentation there will be several classes taught concerning technology and family history. As usual, there will be something for everyone at all levels of expertise. The classes currently scheduled for this meeting are the following:

1. PAF 5 Basics, by Ralph Hansen
2. PAF 5: Advanced Search, Customs Lists, Global Search & Replace, by Duane Dudley
3. World War I Research on the Internet, by Laurie Castillo
4. Family Insight, by Diane Olsen
5. Individual Mentoring (mini-class on using the Nauvoo Databank), by Pat Andrus & Lila Sowards
6. Ancestral Quest, by Gaylon Findlay
7. Legacy by Joel Graham
8. RootsMagic, by Sue Maxwell.

All meetings of the Users Group are open to the public whether members of the Group or not. The Users Group has the goal of helping individuals use technology to further their family history and there are usually 100-125 attending the monthly meetings on the second Saturdays. Several of the officers, including Gerhard Ruf, President; Brian Cooper, 2nd VP; Lynne Shumway, PAFology Editor; Kay Baker, Membership Chairman; and Bruce Merrill, DVD & Video Librarian, will be there to help with membership, questions, distribute the current issue of the monthly newsletter PAFology, and to check out videos and DVD's of past presentations and classes to members of the group.

Information about the Users Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on the Group's website http://uvpafug.org . For further information see the website or contact President Gerhard Ruf at pres@uvpafug.org (801-225-6106), VP1 Elder Don Snow at snowd@math.byu.edu, or VP2 Brian Cooper at vp2@uvpafug.org.

Abraham's Children: Race, Identity, and the DNA of the Chosen People

NEW ANCESTRY.COM SURVEY REVEALS GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE USING DNA TESTING TO PURSUE THEIR ROOTS

New Book Examines the Promise and Perils Awaiting Those Who Seek Answers to Questions about Identity and Roots in their Strands of DNA

A recent survey published by Ancestry.com found that 25.4 percent of respondents have turned to genetic researchers for more information about their ancestors. Roughly 11 percent have taken or sponsored a single test, while another 14.4 percent are already on their second test and third, according to the survey. In addition a staggering – 57.3 percent – plan on taking steps to learn more about their own genealogy. “Just as with conventional genealogy, the more who participate, the easier it becomes for each of us to find others who share common ancestors,” notes the survey.

This comes as no surprise to international columnist and bestselling author Jon Entine whose new book, ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN: Race, Identity, and the DNA of the Chosen People (Grand Central Publishing; $27.99 hardcover/$34.99 Canada; October 24, 2007) examines the role of genetic genealogy in resolving ancient biblical mysteries and the shared genetic makeup of people of many faiths.

One of the most exciting large scale studies of genetic genealogy analyzed the DNA of 188 Jewish males from Israel, England and North America. The results, reported in Nature, were astonishing. Analysis of the subjects’ Y chromosome markers led researchers to identify a highly unique array of six chromosomal markers – a distinct genetic signature – in 97 of the 106 who identified themselves as descendants of Cohanim, descendants of the Jewish priestly family who claim to be direct descendants of the biblical Aaron.

Jon Entine, Emmy award winning 20 year veteran with ABC and NBC News, adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former adjunct professor at Miami University in Ohio and New York University. Entine, has been awarded numerous prizes and fellowships for his journalism. He is author of the bestseller Taboo, as well as Let Them Eat Precaution and Pension Fund Politics.

In his quest for the Lost Tribes – a central narrative for Christians and Jews alike – Entine examines how discoveries in the field of genetics are awakening Christians, Mormons, Muslims and others the world over to strands of a deeply persistent and far reaching shared Israelite ancestry in far flung corners of the globe. A scholar with the American Enterprise Institute, he, introduces readers to a black African tribe, the Lemba, almost certainly of Israelite ancestry and the probable builders of the only surviving architectural wonders of any note built in pre-industrial Africa. ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN recounts how some Hispanic Americans – unknowing descendants of Jews who fled the Spanish Inquisition – are suddenly able to make sense of the Jewish practices their own parents and grandparents inexplicably incorporated into daily routines upon learning of genetic evidence of their own buried Jewish ancestry.

Judaism DNA is both a time machine and microscope, observes Entine, offering a fascinating journey back in history and an opportunity to reconnect with biblical ancestors. Tracking the mythic and actual migrations of Jews around the world, including Europe, South Africa, India, China and the United States (among Native Americans or Mormons), Entine examines the role of DNA in shaping ethnic and religious identity.

These advances in genetic research hold special significance for Jews and those interested in the Israelite roots of Western culture, according to the author.

“Like adoptees in search of their birth parents, Jewish men and women are besieging genetic researchers hoping to piece together the evidence of their ancestry erased during the Diaspora or Holocaust,” notes Entine.

While some search for evidence confirming ties to the Jewish Cohanim, a priestly line that traces its genetic lineage back to the time of biblical Aaron, others are on a life and death quest to determine if they carry certain disease mutations, including for breast cancer and neurological disorders, that disproportionately target Jews .

Entine’s insightful examination sheds new light on the relevance of issues of “chosen-ness,” the controversy over whether Arabs or Jews have an ancestral claim to ancient Palestine, the threat of Jewish assimilation, and more incendiary notions of racial strengths and weakness in this thought provoking book.

Those interested in learning more about what genealogists call their “deep ancestry,” will find more information about using the increasingly sophisticated tools genetic genealogy offers to probe ancestral vaults once thought lost to history in Entine’s book.

Further details about Entine and the book Abraham's Children can be found at www.abrahamschildren.net

A Guide to Mormon Family History Sources

I wrote earlier about Kip Sperry's new book "A Guide to Mormon Family History Sources". Today I actually got a chance to read the book. Originally I thought it would be primarily for those with pioneer ancestry and I was way off. I have no pioneer ancestors but I can see already how I can benefit from this book. Here is my synopsis of what the book contains:

A Guide to Mormon Family History Sources

• Chapter 1: Historical Background - Contains a chronology of historical events that pertain to the LDS Church year by year. It will list the membership totals, new programs and services that came out, buildings and when they started in use. The time line tells you such things as when PAF was developed and mentions the new FamilySearch. I would seem like a wealth of knowledge if I could just remember all these facts - or cheat and just refer to them.
• Chapter 2: Beginning Your Research - this is kind of obvious it gives steps on how to begin doing you genealogy research. There are excellent tips and it goes into depth on doing a preliminary survey and the sites useful for that. I like the fact that it reminds people that getting things off Ancestral File is the beginning and not the end to research.
• Chapter 3: Indexes, Finding Aids, and Guides -28 different indexes to look at from early 19th century to present. Each indexes is in alphabetical order with Title, Format, Location, Description, Contents, and Internet address if available. I really like how you can see at a glance all the locations where you can find the indexes. The following locations are mentioned: Church History Library, Family History Library, Harold B. Lee Library, Family History Centers, Marriott Library and University of Utah.
• Chapter 4: Compiled and Printed Records -24 very large collections that have been compiled for family histories.
• Chapter 5: Original Records - 18 collections, i.e. Church Census Records, Minutes of Meetings to 1984. I really want to look at these Church records so I can get the history of the small branch in Upstate New York that I come from. These are just priceless records.
• Chapter 6: Migration, Emigration, and Immigration Records -15 collections accounting for some 80,000 Mormons that migrated west to Utah from 1846-1869. Such as the Perpetual emigrating fund, accounts and biographical sketches. This is a great section especially if you have pioneer ancestry.
• Chapter 7: Computer Resources and Databases -some of the major genealogical databases and websites are described in this chapter. There are 47 entries that name the various software packages that have LDS information, i.e. GospelLink 2001, The Pioneer Heritage CD-Rom published by Ancestry in 1998, Temple Ready to new FamilySearch.
  
• Chapter 8: Internet Sites -300 links to a wide variety of Mormon related internet sites. I was intrigued by this one "Ask a Librarian, Church History Library" I didn't know I could do that. I also found a link to all the "CES Institute Student Manuals" something that I had just bought on CD from the distribution center. (Wish I had known that before hand!) The internet sites cover a wide expanse of LDS links, it even had the great UVPAFUG mentioned. [grin]
  
• Chapter 9: Periodicals, Newsletters, and Newspapers -49 different ones mentioned. I didn't realize so many were created over the years. I already receive "Meridian Magazine" www.meridianmagazine.com - it's great for keeping current on church and world news. I have to check out the other current ones.
  
• Appendix A: Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Terms - very helpful and in depth.
• Appendix B: Addresses - 100 different addresses of libraries, archives, and historical societies that house LDS genealogical and historical sources.
  

After looking over this book I just have one thing bad to say about it. The cover on the title is deceiving. Yes, it is a fantastic "Mormon Family History Source" but they could of just dropped off the "Family" part and make it even more marketable. You don't have to be only into Family History to benefit from this book. In fact I have a brother that is not into genealogy at all, but is into church history and this would be an excellent resource book for him.

I really think this is a must have book for any Family History Center. It would be an excellent resource in a Ward Library too. I was pleased to see that if you belong to a society, library or FHC you can call Ancestry at 1-800-531-1790 or order online at www.ancestrywholesale.com and receive this at a drastically reduced price.

For us regular people you can order "A Guide to Mormon Family History Sources" at The Ancestry Store for $16.95.

Adventures in FamilySearch Indexing - Week 14

This is been one of those crazy weeks. My Uncle Lloyd Higgins died on Wednesday. Even though he lives in New York and I couldn't make the funeral I did spend time talking and emailing my Aunt and cousins. I made a nice descendant box chart for his children. It made me think that I should really do that for all my family this Christmas. Who knows it might bring a budding genealogist out of the woodworks for me.

Then my daughter and I went car shopping for her. That is never an easy undertaking. We finally bought the car Friday afternoon. She drove the car from American Fork to Provo to college and the check engine light came on. Never a good sign. Thankfully the dealership said they will fix it so we have to bring it in Tuesday to the shop. I sure hope it is something minor and that we weren't taken or something.

Saturday was my youngest son's 18th birthday. My kids are all adults - that seems really strange but good at the same time. Things just kind of spilled over into Sunday and I just had to take a longer than usual nap. I was almost afraid I wouldn't find the time to index.

Since I haven't been good this week about reading my emails I don't know if there is anything interesting to share about indexing. Please forgive me for a non-newsworthy article this week. I guess the only good thing I can say is it sure is great to have a set time, date and place to keep up the habit of indexing. I know many people do it in little captured moments of spare time. I just know that system wouldn't work for me. I really have to have structure if I plan on getting into the habit of doing anything.

When I finally sat down in the winding up time of the day it was actually a pleasure to just do my indexing. Gave me back the peace of the sabbath day. I did 3 batches of the 1850 Vermont U.S. Federal Census. I indexed 126 individuals and that gives me 1,384 individuals indexed to date. Since this is the last Sunday of the month I looked at my total for the month and saw I indexed 660 individuals these last 4 weeks.

I knew that over time my speed in indexing has increased but I didn't realize how much more drastic the improvement has been over these last few weeks. I almost indexed half of my total in that short time frame. One major consideration has been that I'm indexing near my genealogy research area. The names and handwriting styles are very common to me.

I remember several years ago seeing the prototype for what is now FamilySearch Indexing. I believe it was Stephen Valentine that demonstrated it to the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. One of the things he mentioned was that they wanted people to be able to log on and index in the areas they specialized or were researching in. I thought how cool to be able to index records for New York and do some research from them at the same time. It sure would make me motivated to do indexing. Now I can even see greater wisdom in indexing in your area of research - you are a better indexer when you work in familiar territory.

I know FamilySearch is trying to get people to help index the Spanish records and the need is really great. But personally I am so happy that they have records that I feel much more comfortable in indexing from. In my little road of personal discovery I realized it didn't necessarily mean they wanted all the people currently indexing to drop what they were doing and have them index Spanish records. It would be nice but over-all they need more people indexing not just moving the same numbers around. If you have a talent in a given area you are to use that. If you are blessed with the talent of learning new languages than give it a try.

My gift is writing so I realized what I needed to do was get the word out to more people around me. Our chapel has a Spanish Ward that meets there too. If I wrote up something for our bulletin board I'm sure they would also see it. There really are ways for me to help get more people to work on FamilySearch Indexing. So that's my new goal to help recruit people to do Spanish indexing locally, because I know I don't have the gift for it. If any of you have already made up a flier for your bulletin board, and you are willing to share it, send it my way and we will spread the word.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Georgia Death Certificates Now Viewable Online

Some 275,000 certificates from 1919 to 1927 linked with index and images

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH—FamilySearch and the Georgia Archives announced today that Georgia’s death index from 1919 to 1927 can be accessed for free online. The online index is linked to digital images of the original death certificates. This free database will open doors to additional information for family historians and genealogists with Georgia ties. The index and images can be searched and viewed at www.GeorgiaArchives.org (Virtual Vault link) or labs.familysearch.org

The names of Georgia’s deceased from 1919 to 1927 are now very much alive, searchable, and viewable online—and for free. The online index to some 275,000 Georgia deaths is the result of a cooperative effort between FamilySearch Record Services, the Georgia Archives, and the Georgia State Office of Vital Records and Statistics.

FamilySearch digitized the records, and volunteers from both FamilySearch and the Archives used FamilySearch indexing technology to create a searchable online index from the digital images of the original historic documents. “These death records are obviously a gold mine for genealogists and historians. Certificates include age, county of death, parents names, occupation, gender, race and cause of death; these documents open all kinds of possibilities to researchers,” said Georgia Archives director, David Carmicheal.

The deceased person’s name, birth and death dates, sex, spouse and parents’ names and location of death were extracted from each certificate for the searchable database. The linked image of the original death certificate can reveal additional interesting facts and clues for the family historian─like the names and birth places of the deceased person’s parents, place and date of the decedent’s birth, marital status, occupation, permanent residence, and place and date of burial and cause of death.

Before making the certificates viewable online, Carmicheal said patrons had to order copies through the mail for a fee or visit the state archive’s office in person. The new online database will make it quicker and easier for patrons to get the information they are seeking.

“It is always exciting for family historians when they can freely search a vital record index online like the Georgia death records. The link to the original death certificate is an added bonus—it saves you time, money, and provides rich genealogy data,” said Paul Nauta, manager of public affairs for FamilySearch. The users just type in an ancestor’s name that died in Georgia between 1919 and 1927. They will see a brief summary of information from the ancestor’s death certificate with a link to also view the original image. Additional state indexes are currently in production.

The Genealogical Society of Utah, doing business as FamilySearch, is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources accessed through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark licensed to the Genealogical Society of Utah and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

For Their a Jolly Good Fellow

The American Society of Genealogists elected four Fellows at its annual meeting in Salt Lake City on 13 October 2007, bringing the total of living Fellows to its maximum allowed number - fifty. An FASG is elected for life based on the quality and quantity of his or her published genealogical work. For more information about the ASG, visit www.FASG.org.

Fellow Number 154. Cherry Fletcher Bamberg is a graduate of Brown University and of Linacre College, Oxford University. She has been editor of Rhode Island Roots since 2002. In 1998 she began publishing books and articles dealing with early Rhode Island genealogy.

Fellow Number 155. William Wyman Fiske, M.D., is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, with residencies at UCLA School of Medicine and Yale School of Medicine. Since 2000 his articles on English origins of American colonists have appeared in leading genealogical journals. His election marks a first for the ASG- his mother, Jane Fletcher Fiske (elected 1983), is also a Fellow.

Fellow Number 156. Frederick C. Hart Jr., CG, is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Thayer School of Engineering, and since 1988 has published widely on Connecticut, New York, and German families.

Fellow Number 157. Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, is a graduate of the University of South Florida, George Peabody College for Teachers (now Vanderbilt University), and the University of Pittsburgh. He has taught education at Gallaudet University since 1981 and has been co-editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly since 2003. In 1990 Dr. Jones began publishing on many genealogical topics and is one of the only two double winners of the NGSQ Award of Excellence for its best article of the year.

Jacobus Award

The 2007 Donald Lines Jacobus Award has been presented to Alvy Ray Smith for his ELDER BETHUEL RIGGS OF MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, published by the Newbury Street Press. The first of several projected volumnes on the Riggs family, this book has a preface explaining Mr. Smith's use of DNA. For a review see the upcoming October 2007 issue of THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.

The Jacobus Award was established in 1972 to encourage sound scholarship in genealogical writing. It is presented to a model genealogical work published within the previous five years. A list of books receiving the award in previous years appears on the American Society of Genealogists websites, www.fasg.org. Anyone planning to publish their own research, especially as a compiled genealogy or family history, would do well to study the format and content of several of these works.

For ordering information, see www.pictonpress.com, which handles sales for NEHGS. Helen Schatvet Ullmann, FASG

FamilySearch & NARA Team Up

National Archives and FamilySearch Team Up to Digitize and Index Mountains of Historic Documents

SALT LAKE CITY—The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) of the United States and FamilySearch today announced an agreement that will lead to the digitization of millions of historical documents over time. The bulk of the digital images and related indices will be freely accessible through www.FamilySearch.org, 4,500 family history centers worldwide, or at the National Archives and its Regional Centers.

The agreement is the result of several years of discussions between the two organizations and NARA’s new long-term strategy for digitizing and making available major segments of its vast collection online to the public. Ultimately, the records digitized by FamilySearch will consist of court, military, land, and other government records that include information of genealogical significance for family historians. The records date as early as 1754 to as late as the 1990s.

Almost all of the records in the National Archives currently are not readily accessible to patrons who visit the National Archives or one of its regional facilities. The newly digitized and indexed records produced under the agreement will be available online—greatly increasing patron access.

“For a number of years, we have had a very productive relationship with FamilySearch,” said Professor Allen Weinstein, archivist of the United States. “This agreement expands our relationship to enable online access to some of the most popular and voluminous records in our holdings. It is an exciting step forward for our institutions and for the American people,” he added.

Under the new agreement, FamilySearch will be operating highly specialized digital cameras 5 days a week at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. FamilySearch intends to extend the digitization services to select regional facilities at a later date. That means there will be a continuous flow of new data for genealogy buffs to explore for years to come. It also means FamilySearch will be able to digitize the thousands of microfilms it has already created from NARA’s holdings—providing access to millions of images for genealogists to search from the convenience of their home computers with Internet access.

The first fruit of this effort is a portion of a very large collection of Civil War records, already underway. In this pilot project, FamilySearch will digitize the first 3,150 Civil War widow pension application files (approximately 500,000 pages). After digitization, these historical documents will be indexed and posted online by Footnote.com with the indices also available for free on www.FamilySearch.org. FamilySearch intends to do all 1,280,000 of these files over the coming years.

James Hastings, director of Access Programs at the National Archives, said, "For decades the National Archives has helped thousands of researchers gain access to this rich trove of records in Washington. Thanks to this agreement with FamilySearch, this valuable information will now be available to millions of users around the world in a far more accessible format."

Wayne Metcalfe, director of FamilySearch Record Services, said, “No single group can preserve, organize, and make available all the information contained in the world’s important genealogical documents—like those found in the National Archives of the United States. Such immense undertakings require the cooperation of record custodians, researchers, and specialized services. FamilySearch is committed to being an integral partner in this global effort.”

FamilySearch is the largest international organization of its kind, working with national archives and record custodians worldwide to preserve and increase access to records of genealogical significance. It is currently working on projects in over 45 countries.

About the National Archives. The National Archives and Records Administration, an independent federal agency, is the nation's record keeper. Founded in 1934, its mission is unique—to serve American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. It supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives meets a wide range of information needs, among them helping people to trace their families' history, making it possible for veterans to prove their entitlement to medical and other benefits, and preserving original White House records. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at www.archives.gov.

About FamilySearch. The Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU)—doing business as FamilySearch—is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources; these resources may be accessed through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark licensed to GSU and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

Adventures in FamilySearch Indexing - Week 13

It's Sunday again and that means indexing time. I spent my sabbath indexing time hiding away in my computer room, door closed with a space heater blaring. I was probably the only one in the house comfortable on this crisp, snowy autumn day. You see we just discovered this pass week that our furnace is not working and we need a new one. It won't be until Tuesday before the new one is put in. In the mean time I am freezing. Ok, it's only been really cold in here since after church but I just don't like being cold.

When I prepared to download the FamilySearch Indexing project that I wanted (Vermont 1900 U.S. Federal Census) I was disappointed to find it was completed. Now I don't know if that means they finished the whole project today or if it is just finished with the images loaded. Either way I had to pick something else. So naturally I chose the 1850 Vermont U.S. Federal Census.

At first I was kind of in a panic the handwriting was so weird to me. Every once in a while there was a real stumper for a name that even the "Handwriting Helps" for the project couldn't match. I just had to put "Unknown" in the field. Thank goodness I had seen some of that weird handwriting before so I knew "Maps or Mafs" was really Massachusetts. It did make me wonder how many people new to indexing would stick with it when the handwriting can be so difficult.

On one hand - some letters were difficult to figure out, on the other hand they were beautiful to look at. Very graceful and flowing, nice penmanship. Overall since there were less fields to enter per person a sheet full of names did go by very quickly. Except I did have one problem I would randomly leave out the "y or m" after the age because that was a new concept for me. It was time consumming to have to re-check but it was better to be safe than sorry. I only did 2 batches or 84 names today. My grand total of indexed names to date is 1,258.

I did have a few items to relate to you about FamilySearch Indexing. One comes from a reader:

Hi Renee,

You and your readers may benefit from a table of keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys, if you'd like) for Windoze XP.

You'll find them on my web site, http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com/ssg1.htm under Utilities.

Feel free!

Happy Dae.

Hot-keys are very popular for me right now. I have been such a mouse addict that I didn't understand what I was missing not using these short-cuts. I grew up with DOS and was very happy to move into a windows environment when it became available. I guess there is just something to be said about using some old formats.

The other item is a press release from FamilySearch. I wrote about their need for bi-lingual Spanish/English indexers in my article "Do You Read Spanish". Just this pass week FamilySearch sent me another press release on the same article. I can only think that they are desperate for the assistance. They are looking for 10,000 Spanish reading indexers. So do me a favor and pass that info along because their is a great need.

I also learned that the Utah South Area Family History Training Center is going to hold a class to teach indexers how to read enough Spanish so they can assist in this project. If you live in the Provo, UT area give them a call at 801-356-9114 and they can tell you more about the class.

The last item on my list to mention was a new mailing list that has been created to help people with their indexing questions. This is a Yahoo Group called "FSIndexing". You can visit the site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FSIndexing/ and join there. If you don't want a lot of emails just pick the digest format. There has been some good discussion on there already. It is a nice friendly environment for newbies to FamilySearch Indexing to ask their questions. Like people say the only stupid question is the one you don't ask! Give it a try.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

A Digital Pioneer

There is a new genealogy blog worth watching on the LDS scene. It is called "Digital Pioneering". The blogger is Regina Brindle who lives in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. A day before the FGS Conference she was called a to work on the digitization project. Which is a collaborative work between BYU, FamilySearch and the Allen County Public Library (ACPL).

After the FGS Conference Regina sent me her very detailed and well written notes reporting on the what happened there. She had all the signs of a blogger in the making. Today she started her adventure into the blogging world and has just created her first blog entry "Beginnings". Which is literally her first day on the scene working on this massive collaborative digitization project. Through her blog we get to be a little fly on the wall and actual "see" what is happening there.

The blog is where she will keep her missionary journal and the nice thing is we get to read it. It promises to be an adventure worth watching. Point your blog readers to http://digitalpioneering.blogspot.com/ and come along for the ride.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Cruise Away

Genealogy/Family History Study Cruise to the Western Caribbean
Sponsored by Washington County PAF Users Group

Travel from St. George, Utah on Sunday January 20, 2008 by way of Las Vegas McCarran Airport to Tampa, Florida. Hotel accommodations will be arranged in Florida for the night, then transportation to the port for sailing from Tampa on Monday Jan. 21 on the Grandeur of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Lines). Spend Wednesday at Cozumel and Thursday at the Yucatan Peninsula. A great 5- night cruise including Tuesday and Friday at sea with optional free Genealogy/Family History Classes for your learning and enjoyment taught by Robert and Elaine Booth and Fran Lightner. Return to Tampa and to St. George via Las Vegas Saturday Jan 26. Lots of food and on board ship activities included. Port Tours are on your own.

Cruise is $406 pp/dbl for inside cabin plus gratuities. Estimated costs for all air & bus transportation and hotel is $515. Once group size is determined, group package prices will be sent to you. Invite your friends, neighbors and relatives. This cruise is open to everyone who enjoys the leisurely shipboard life, food, friendships, and seeing new places.

Passport Required, Order it NOW if you need one - Just go to the local post office, they do it all, including picture. Just take your checkbook with you (no credit cards allowed).

For reservations, more information, or for special arrangements if you want to travel earlier or come home later, call Celece Seegmiller/Group Dept of Morris Murdock Travel at 435-628-3633 or 800-777-1785 or you may call Fran Lightner with general questions at 435-688-1260. Deposit of $100 is due ASAP (refundable before Nov 12). Balance is due Nov. 12, 2007.

We had a lot of fun together on the Mexican Riviera Cruise last year and many of you expressed a desire to travel together again. - So let go sailing.

There is Still Life in that Old Computer

There comes a time in every computer's life that it becomes obsolete. If you still have life in that old computer and you wish to donate it or sell it to someone else, make sure your personal information doesn't go with it. Just reformatting the hard drive is not going to take care of that. Someone can still come and recover the old data. Your life is still in that old computer. Why give someone the excuse of committing identify theft on you?

I just saw that Nothing But Software has a special on SecurErase 8.1 Digital HardDrive Shredder. This software might just be your answer and the price is right. Right now if you click the following link:
http://www.nothingbutsoftware.com/Catalog_Type.asp?Product
Code=37006&ai=2938 you can get this software for only $4.49.

I have bought several programs through Nothing But Software and I really like their service. I only pay for the cheapest delivery option $4.99 and I still receive it in just a couple of days. This just might be the stocking stuffer you can give to your Gen-Nerd for Christmas.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day.

Mark Your Calendars! - Hispanic FH Conference

The following story is from DeseretNews.com.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting the tenth annual Hispanic Family History Conference on 19-20 October, 2007.

The conference is free to the public, and classes will be conducted in Spanish and English. Attendees will also receive free genealogy software.

Co-host for the conference is the BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy.

A course on advanced Hispanic research will be offered on Friday, 19 October, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This day long class, taught by Dr. George Ryskamp of Brigham Young University, will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. His topics include: “Finding & Using Sources that Tell the Story” and “Research before 1650 in Spain & Mexico.”

Those who are just beginning to explore their Hispanic family history should attend on Saturday, 20 October. Registration for the free Saturday classes begins at 9:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Family History Library, located directly west of Temple Square.

Various classes will be taught throughout the day on Saturday; they will be taught in Spanish and English. Class topics include:

• How to begin family history
• Hands-on computer workshops
• Research helps
• Spanish resources on the Internet
• Mexican resources
• Finding records in Spain and Mexico
  

Research consultants will be available throughout the conference to provide free help with individual family history questions.

Attendees at the conference will also receive a free CD entitled Latin America Family History Resources which includes research guidance outlines and a genealogy software program for recording, managing and preserving one’s personal family history in Spanish, Portuguese or English.

The Family History Library maintains the world’s largest repository of genealogical resources with vital records from over 110 countries, territories and possessions. There are over 4,000 branches of the library (family history centers) in more than 70 countries.

For additional information, please contact Ruth Merriman (801) 240-6208 or Ruth Gomez Schirmacher at (801) 240-1530, or go to FamilySearch.

Mark Your Calendars! - UGA

Merlin Kitchen, a well known speaker from the Utah Valley PAF Users Group will give the Friday, October 19th, presentation for the Utah Valley chapter of UGA at 100 North 600 East in Provo, Utah, at 7 pm. His topic is "Using Advanced Search for Custom Reports" -- although his examples are from the Personal Ancestral File the principles he uses can be transferred to any data base or genealogy program. (Free to the public.)

Finding Really Good Genealogy Blogs

I received the following email and I thought I would share it with you.

Renee,

I like these two genealogy blogs:

Genealogy Blog (Everton Publishers)
http://genealogyblog.com

Genealogy Blog (Renee Zamora)
http://rzamor1.blogspot.com

Are there others that are this well done?

Kip Sperry

Since I am responding to a commonly asked question by many; here is my response to you all.

Kip,

Back in June here was a list I quickly made up. http://reneesclassnotes.blogspot.com/2007/06/genealogy-blogs-i-read.html

My favorites are:

Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - http://blog.eogn.com/
Dear Myrtle - http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/
The Ancestry Insider - http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/
Kimberly Powell with About.com - http://genealogy.about.com/
Genealogy Insider - http://www.familytreemagazine.com/insider/
Genea-Musings - http://randysmusings.blogspotcom/

I receive the above blogs through Feedblitz so I get a email of their postings.

I also often go to the website or watch in Google Reader Chris Dunham sites. He has a fantastic sense of humor.
The Genealogue- http://www.genealogue.com/
His top ten lists are priceless - http://www.genealogue.com/2005/05/top-ten-list-index.html

His Genealogy Blog Finder is the tool I would recommend that everyone check out - http://blogfinder.genealogue.com/

I've had so many over the past couple of years that I watch, then they kind of fade away for their lack of postings. The Genealogy Blog Finder really is a very quick and easy answer to give an organized list of blogs for people to watch.

I'm glad I made your list!

Renee Zamora
www.harrisena.com

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Georgia Death Certificates Now Viewable Online

Some 275,000 certificates from 1919 to 1927 linked with index and images

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH—FamilySearch and the Georgia Archives announced today that Georgia’s death index from 1919 to 1927 can be accessed for free online. The online index is linked to digital images of the original death certificates. This free database will open doors to additional information for family historians and genealogists with Georgia ties. The index and images can be searched and viewed at www.GeorgiaArchives.org (Virtual Vault link) or labs.familysearch.org.

The names of Georgia’s deceased from 1919 to 1927 are now very much alive, searchable, and viewable online—and for free. The online index to some 275,000 Georgia deaths is the result of a cooperative effort between FamilySearch Record Services, the Georgia Archives, and the Georgia State Office of Vital Records and Statistics.

FamilySearch digitized the records, and volunteers from both FamilySearch and the Archives used FamilySearch indexing technology to create a searchable online index from the digital images of the original historic documents. “These death records are obviously a gold mine for genealogists and historians. Certificates include age, county of death, parents names, occupation, gender, race and cause of death; these documents open all kinds of possibilities to researchers,” said Georgia Archives director, David Carmicheal.

The deceased person’s name, birth and death dates, sex, spouse and parents’ names and location of death were extracted from each certificate for the searchable database. The linked image of the original death certificate can reveal additional interesting facts and clues for the family historian─like the names and birth places of the deceased person’s parents, place and date of the decedent’s birth, marital status, occupation, permanent residence, and place and date of burial and cause of death.

Before making the certificates viewable online, Carmicheal said patrons had to order copies through the mail for a fee or visit the state archive’s office in person. The new online database will make it quicker and easier for patrons to get the information they are seeking.

“It is always exciting for family historians when they can freely search a vital record index online like the Georgia death records. The link to the original death certificate is an added bonus—it saves you time, money, and provides rich genealogy data,” said Paul Nauta, manager of public affairs for FamilySearch. The users just type in an ancestor’s name that died in Georgia between 1919 and 1927. They will see a brief summary of information from the ancestor’s death certificate with a link to also view the original image. Additional state indexes are currently in production.

Genealogical Society of Utah, doing business as FamilySearch, is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources accessed through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark licensed to the Genealogical Society of Utah and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

Adventures in FamilySearch Indexing - Week 12

Hello, it's Sunday that means FamilySearch Indexing time. I guess I'm really moving along now in my speed and ability to index. I actually indexed 150 individuals for a grand total of 1174 individuals indexed to date. I just knew once I hit the thousand mark the numbers would just start flying by.

I once again picked Vermont 1900 U. S. Federal Census records. Since I do most of my genealogy work in the neighboring state of New York I am very familiar with the names and type of handwriting in that locality. In fact the writing was really amazing to me, it had such a local flair. I have seen many, many people write in that style. It made me think of all the school teachers that must of influenced the local kids to write a particular way. It was really difficult for me to read the handwriting in the southern part of the US when I did those census records. I'm not sure it's always a hard and fast rule but there is some truth in regional trends is handwriting.

While I was indexing I would stumble upon older people born in the 1830's and it would just make me think of the early days of the Church? What did the people that I indexed think about Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church. I was working in Windham Co. next door to Windsor Co, VT. I got all excited when I found a Smith in my records, but they were born in New Jersey so I wouldn't think they were related. Wouldn't it of been major coolness if they were!

I must of been indexing some areas with money because there were a lot of servants. The census taker again felt they didn't need to put an "S" for single for those that were under the age of 12. Luckily I had a chance to use my shortcut "Ctrl-B" that I learned last week. As I was marking the fields I realized that if I was the census taker I probably would of done the same thing they did! It just seems reasonable to leave the field blank when you are talking about a kid. I can't even refer to my almost 18 year old son as a single person. His older brother and sister are single but he's still a kid to me right now. Well, maybe thats a poor example because he's the baby in the family, oh well.

So what I am trying to get at is not everyone follows the rules. I'm sure in census taking school (grin) they were told to mark the field, just like us indexers are told to. As I pondered upon the situation I thought how many indexers would mark that blank field or put an "S" in to "correct" the census? The rule by the way is to mark it BLANK - it is a required field. See if you "correct" it and put an "S" in there you are going to make a lot of work for other people. Some think they are helping but in fact they are not. If one goes around and corrects the census records and the next person follows the rule then that record is going to unnecessarily go to arbitration and a third person will have to decide which is primary (they save both entries). I have no idea how we are doing on arbitration but my reasoning is that if an arbitrator is not arbitrating then they can be indexing and the work just gets done all the sooner.

So my words of wisdom to you this day is to follow the rules while indexing and enter what you see - let us all just play nicely now and follow the rules.

On a different note I received a great tip from a reader for you this week.

Hi Renee,

I enjoy reading your blogs. I've been doing indexing off and on for several months now and thought I would share this tip with you. Try listening to music while you type. I am able to get a batch done just a little bit quicker when I am listening to music.

Karen Bush
Page, AZ

Thanks Karen this is excellent advice. When I first started indexing I mentioned how I listened to KZION. I really think that LDS spiritually uplifting music in the background really helped me learn and retain what I needed to do in indexing. It also calms the moments of frustration that come when learning to do something different. I highly, highly agree with your observation.

For whatever reason KZION doesn't seem to work for me anymore, I mean the station not as a type of mood setter. I've also tried BYU Radio and I can't get that in either. I don't know what's up with my computer not being able to access those stations? Today I indexed while listening to the album "The Best of Jenny Oaks Baker" sure can't go wrong with that music.

I was late getting a chance to listen to KSL's "Relatively Speaking" so I listened to KNRS 570 Talk Radio over the internet for a while too. (I was hanging out in my computer room and not in the living room where my husband is watching T.V.) "Relatively Speaking" is a genealogy related talk show with hosts Jackie McKay and Mary Slawson. It's on every Sunday from 4-6pm (MST). You know that might just be the ticket; I should try indexing during their show each week! A double dose of genealogy, can you think of any other kind of high to be on?

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

FHC Director Access to New FamilySearch

In a recent letter to all FHC Directors they were invited to register in and begin using the new FamilySearch in order to better prepare for the transition to the new system. This is the production system and all information entered will become a permanent part of the Church records.

FHC Directors that are in the four current live temple districts, i.e. St. Louis, Missouri; Reno, Nevada; Orlando, Florida; and Billings, Montana; already have access and do not need to register again.

It was strongly encouraged for FHC Directors to access the online training for new FamilySearch. This training will introduce them to the new system and will provide detailed information about the features and capabilities new FamilySearch has to offer.

Items of note:

1. If you are in a temple district that does not yet have this system, the temple will not accept the new Family Ordinance Request forms. Please continue to submit ordinances through Temple Ready until your temple goes live with new FamilySearch. Do not take the Family Ordinance Request forms from new FamilySearch to the temple.
2. The early access is limited to FHC Directors. They are encouraged to utilize the site and to use the helper feature. Do not share your login credentials with others.
3. Please do not request additional access for family history consultants or center staff. They will be invited to use the new system approximately 90 days before new FamilySearch is implemented in your temple district.
4. We encourage you to share the new FamilySearch training information with center staff as you prepare to use the system.
5. Please encourage any family history consultant and center staff in your stake to register at consultant.familysearch.org. This will allow them to receive updates directly from FamilySearch Support.
6. Priesthood leaders may also register at priesthood.familysearch.org. This will allow them to access new FamilySearch early and receive the same information that is being sent to the consultants.
   

So, even if your temple district has not been informed when it will get new FamilySearch you can still get a glimpse of it before hand. The person to get to know is your local FHC Director. All FHC Directors have been given access to the system for training purposes. FHC staff and consultants will not receive access until your temple district is ready for rollout. Your local FHC Director can use the helper feature to give you a peek at what all the hype is about.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Generations Map and NFS

I just recently received my first newsletter from Generations Map one of new FamilySearch affiliates. I first discovered Generations Map in January of 2006 and wrote an article about it, "Charts to Further Your Research & Zip Files".

They are a very reputable company that offers a variety of charts to assist you in your family history research. You can buy blank charts, decorative charts, working charts or anything you can think of that has the resemblance of a chart. My favorite chart is the Generation Map, a pedigree and extended family group sheet. They just have great charts to help you visualize what you have in your genealogical database.

A tidbit from their newsletter:

"And finally, we are starting our beta testing this month with the LDS Church and their New FamilySearch Database. We are looking forward to be able to print charts straight from the database and have come up with some new "think outside the box" charts that will really help you navigate the new information found there. We'll be there as they roll out this new system to help you get things out where you can see them. Watch for further details in our upcoming newsletters. "

I really look forward to using their product with NFS when it comes online. Why don't you sign up for their newsletter and check them out too!

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Insights into Insight

I received the latest edition of Ohana Insights, a newsletter from the creator of PAF Insight. It gives us some light on what is happening with PAF Insight, Family Insight and new FamilySearch, that deserves to be reprinted here.

The Past, the Present, and a Bright Future

Sometime in the late summer or early autumn of 2003 I dropped into our Family History Center and found Paula Vilburn testing software developed by her husband, John. She enthusiastically told me about their new company (it had a Hawaiian name that meant family) and the software would help people clean up their PAF database and search the IGI. She was thrilled with the IGI capabilities. I wished her luck and hurried off as I was busily preparing for a mission.

In January of 2004, my husband and I began serving in the Family and Church History Mission in Salt Lake City where we worked with staff who were heavily involved with the rollout of what is now called the new FamilySearch. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be writing a newsletter for Ohana Software and explaining how Insight will interact with the new FamilySearch. However, here I sit with my past and future intertwined in the present. I could not be happier. As you read today's edition of Ohana Insight, I hope you agree that our future is bright!

Cina Johnson

Insights into Insight: FamilyInsight and the new FamilySearch

The opening line from "New York, New York" jubilantly exclaims, "Start spreading the news". That fits our mood at Ohana Software as we may finally put into writing upcoming changes to PAF Insight. First, we are changing our name from PAF Insight to FamilyInsight. The name change to emphasize family as the foundation of the work we do. After all, Ohana is Hawaiian for family. It also emphasizes our continued ability to connect to FamilySearch. FamilyInsight takes the program into the next generation by providing you with two-way synchronization with the new FamilySearch.

Second, FamilyInsight will have the capacity to read and write to GEDCOM files without importing them into PAF first. You can see the quality of the file by opening the GEDCOM into the Edit RINs and Pedigree mode. You can also open your file and the GEDCOM file in the Compare and Snyc mode and update your records directly from the GEDCOM.

Last of all, the Edit Places mode in FamilyInsight will have increased functionality. When you open your file into this mode, the program will scan every place and check it against the place authority database in the new FamilySearch. Using the suggestions for unrecognized places, you can correct, complete and standardize the place entries in your file. You may also mark places as valid if you know they are correct.

As you can imagine, we are excited about the forthcoming improvements to FamilyInsight and its ability to synchronize with the new FamilySearch. I imagine you have some questions so let's see if I can guess what they are.

Why will I want to use FamilyInsight with the new FamilySearch?

I think there are three reasons for using FamilyInsight. First, since you are accustomed to comparing IGI records with the records in your file, you will probably find it easier to continue using this format than the format used by the new FamilySearch.

Second, you can select information found in the new FamilySearch and add it directly to your PAF file as easily as you currently update records from the IGI.

The third reason needs some background. The new FamilySearch combines all temple ordinances for deceased individuals. LDS membership records, and records from both the Ancestral File and the Pedigree Resource File into one massive database. If you or your ancestor's information exists in any of these databases, it now exists in the new FamilySearch.

Now, think of each of these entries as papers within a folder that represents your ancestors. With this analogy in mind, you should now understand the huge change or "paradigm shift" for sharing information. Uploading a GEDCOM of your complete set of records to the new FamilySearch will be redundant. Therefore, the third reason we will use FamilyInsight with the new FamilySearch is for the two-way synchronization of records. Not only will you get information from the new FamilySearch into your PAF file, as you do now, but you will also add information from your file to someone's "folder" in the new FamilySearch!

Will my information be over written by what someone else adds?

NO! Remember how I describe each person's "folder" with "papers" from the various sources? When anyone finds a family member in this system, they can connect the person to their personal family tree. Then, using FamilyInsight, you can add missing pieces of information to their already existing file. You may also "dispute" existing facts by providing alternate information along with sources. Instead of adding a completely new entry (or "piece of paper"), you simply add supplementary information without duplicating or overwriting existing records.

What should I do when I first log onto the new FamilySearch?

You should begin finding matches to your records and tying them to your family tree. As you build your tree in the new FamilySearch you can also update your records and synchronize your information with existing records.

As a progress, FamilyInsight will detect changes to your family records on new FamilySearch. You can review changes and accept or dispute them as you see fit.

When can we expect to see FamilyInsight?

FamilySearch invited the early web service affiliates to participate in a very limited beta test of their software with a copy of the new FamilySearch. This test is set to begin about October 22nd and the testers have been selected and notified. After this test period of about three weeks, we hope to have a live Beta version available for download from our website. At that point, anyone wanting to participate in the beta may do so but only those living in a temple district using the new familysearch will have the full functionality of the program. BUT ONLY THOSE LIVING IN A TEMPLE DISTRICT USING THE NEW FAMILYSEARCH WILL HAVE THE FULL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE PROGRAM. Those of us living in other temple districts will be able to test using GEDCOM and all the other great features we haven't even mentioned. We hope many of you will test these functions for us.

I am not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When can I use new FamilySearch?

The new FamilySearch must be deployed to members in all temple districts before it will be opened for general use. Staggering the initial use of the website allows for better support and education. All of us who are waiting for the new FamilySearch should continue our file cleanup efforts. We should also strive to understand the new model of collaboration made possible by this new program.

Will I be able to reserve names for doing temple work through FamilyInsight?

FamilySearch has not implemented the procedures for 3rd party products, such as FamilyInsight, to reserve names for temple work. When FamilySearch approves the procedure, FamilyInsight will then provide this function.

Will I have to purchase this new program to get FamilyInsight?

No. Updating to FamilyInsight will be like all other updates. If you have a current license for PAF Insight, you will be able to download the update to FamilyInsight. If your license has expired, you may renew at any time and download FamilyInsight.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the future. Keep reading Ohana Insights and visiting our website for more information on the beta test and eventual release of FamilyInsight.

Do You Read Spanish?

10,000 Volunteers Sought to Put Mexican, Other Latin American Family History on Web

SALT LAKE CITY — FamilySearch — the world’s largest repository of genealogical records — is calling for 10,000 volunteers who can read both English and Spanish to help index Mexican, Argentine and other Latin American records for the Internet.

FamilySearch is embarking on a massive initiative to digitally preserve and index millions of Latin American records that are now difficult to access because they are located on microfilm or in an archive.

The first target is the Mexican census of 1930. People interested in finding their ancestors in that census now have to hunt among 506 rolls of microfilm at a special library. When the project is finished within about one year from now, people with Mexican ancestry will be able to search for relatives easily from their computers at home.

The project is being launched in cooperation with the National Archives of Mexico.

Paul Nauta, manager of public affairs for FamilySearch, said the volunteers could spend as little as 30 minutes a week indexing records from their home computers. Volunteers should register at FamilySearchIndexing.org, which will allow them to download one batch (one census page) at a time. Volunteers simply type in the information highlighted on the digital image. Each batch should take about 30 minutes.

The completed product will be a free, fully searchable online index of the 1930 Mexico Census, and it will be linked to the original images at FamilySearch.org. Digital images of the original census can be viewed currently at FamilySearchLabs.org.

“The 1930 census project will be the first fully indexed census for Mexico,” Nauta said. “When finished, the database will be a tremendous asset to family historians with Mexican roots.”

Nauta said that census records are especially valuable because they include a large portion of the population and can provide details about individuals which may not be available on some church and civil records.

“The 1930 Mexico Census is priceless to genealogists because it is the most recent, publicly accessible census for Mexico. It can provide an ancestor’s age, birth year, religion, birthplace and occupation, explain an individual’s relationship to family members and provide other family information,” Nauta added.

The 10,000 bilingual indexers will be added to a growing army of volunteers that will soon top 100,000, well ahead of year-end targets.

Over the past months, FamilySearch has been preparing digital images of the various census pages and many other records for placement on the Internet. However, without an index for the material, family-tree enthusiasts would still have to go through the pages one-by-one looking for their ancestors.

“Once indexed, the records are searchable in seconds, just like looking up a name in a phone book — except quicker, easier and online,” Nauta said.

The 1930 Mexico Census marks the first Latin American project for the Web-based FamilySearch Indexing program. In addition, FamilySearch indexers just completed the Argentina census of 1895 and will soon start on that country’s 1855 census.

A four-year project to digitize historical land and property documents and wills in Paraguay has just begun, and civil records in Nicaragua will become part of the indexing program within 30 days.

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members consider it a religious obligation to identify their families. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources, accessible through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries.

Old Agriculture Books Can Enrich a Family History

Historic Animal Brand Books Posted Online

SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah State Archives and Record Service and FamilySearch announced today that digital images of the state’s historic brand books are now available at http://historyresearch.utah.gov/digital/540.htm. FamilySearch digitized the state’s brand books from about 1849 to 1930, which were then added to the Utah State Archives’ Digital Collections. A free, full text search and name index link to the newly available images. Brand books officially started in 1851 to prevent the duplicate use of brands by local livestock owners and as a means to identify and control animal inventory. Information included in a brand entry could be a helpful and interesting addition to a family’s history.

"Brand books have been a popular request in the research center for years. We are happy that more researchers will not only be able to view and print from these books anywhere and anytime, but that more might discover this unique resource from Utah's history," said Gina Strack, digital coordinator for the Utah State Archives. Brands have been registered in Utah since 1851 and include all brands and ear marks registered with the State Department of Agriculture. According to the database, over 42,000 livestock owners used brands to help distinguish their animals from the livestock of other owners. Later, as regulations expanded state control over inspection for disease, transportation, and slaughter of livestock, maintenance of a central brand registry became even more important.

“Family historians might find some of the information in the brand entries fun, interesting, or helpful in providing context to their family stories,” said Wayne Metcalfe, director for FamilySearch Record Services. Entries in the brand books include the brand symbol, the name of the person registering the mark or brand, the location on the body of the animal, the county of residence of the applicant, and the date the brand was recorded. Illustrations of where the marks and brands appeared on the body were added to the books in 1901, as were the names of brand owners. “How many people know about or have a picture of the family’s official animal brand? That would be a fun conversation piece to any family history discussion or collection,” Metcalfe added. Holdings of the brand books are not complete.

The law regulating the printing of brand books was passed by the first session of the territorial legislature in 1851. It required the general recorder to furnish printed copies of all marks and brands to the clerks of different counties. The brands were published and distributed to all county clerks.

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources accessed through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries.

Adventures in FamilySearch Indexing - Week 11

I was major productive in my FamilySearch Indexing today. Last Sunday my total of indexed names was 724. I just knew all week that I was going to hit the thousand mark and guess what - I DID!!! I am now a pro at indexing with 1024 indexed names under my belt. I do have to admit that after hitting the 300th name indexed today that I was major wiped out.

This Sunday was also different as in it was General Conference time. I decided that I would try some indexing while watching conference today and it worked. I listened to conference and was able to index at the same time. I guess I'm finally at the point in indexing that I can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Conference started at 10:00am here but I didn't start indexing until 10:30am because we were late eating breakfast. I downloaded 3 batches, the most I have ever done at a time. It took no time at all. When noon came I just couldn't help myself and I continued to index. I kept downloading batches as soon as I finished another one. I indexed all through the TV shows about the Church in between conference sessions. I think I finished my 6th batch somewhere at the beginning of the 2:00pm session. So it was real close to a four hour session of indexing.

By the time that 6th batch was done I just had to lay my head down and take a break. Anyone that has dared to close their eyes while listening to conference knows what happened next. Yup, I fell fast asleep. I didn't wake up until the choir was singing. Guess I will have to listen to that session again. Anyways, I did hit my 1000 mark and now I feel like I have a number that means some business.

Since I am forever setting goals I wonder how many weeks it will take me to get to my next 1000? It's very similar to what happens when you start adding people to your genealogy database. I was so excited when I entered my first 100 names into my genealogy database. I still remember the 1,000 mark. After that it was a fast 3,000 names. Then things kind of exploded and I have over 14,000 individuals in there.

The first 100 had a strong learning curve in the use of computers and backup and all the newbie stuff to genealogy programs. It was somewhere in the 1,000 to 3,000 mark that I was adding GEDCOMs from Ancestral File. The number actually was larger at one point but I deleted massives amounts of individuals that were pre-1500s and really messed up. At the finally 3,000 mark I decided to not go the GEDCOM route again and I have hand entered the next 11,000 individuals in my genealogy database. My speed of entry from the first 100 to the last 11,000 has a lot to do with my mastery of the genealogy software programs I am using. I don't know it all of course, but enough to help me speed up the process of data entry.

Now you wonder is the bragging about the size of my genealogy database really necessary when I am writing an article on FamilySearch Indexing? First off I'm not bragging, many, many people have far more individuals in their genealogy databases than I do. Just like many, many people have indexed far more names than I have. The reason for the comparison is to show you how important it is to learn the tips and tricks to whatever computer program you are using to help you speed up and enhance your efficiency in using it.

This past week another blog "The Ancestry Insider" had an excellent article on "FamilySearch Indexing Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts". I am usually a mouse only kind of person but I actually tried using the shortcut "Ctrl-B" to mark a field blank and it really improved my speed of entry. For some reason my census taker thought he should leave the field blank for marriage status for anyone under the age of 12. Of course that meant that I indexed a lot of families with little kids this week. "Ctrl-B" became a close friend today.

Since I learn by repetition I figure if I add one or two shortcuts each week I should get them pretty well down pat. I am really curious about the shortcuts for moving the highlighted field. I know the first thing I do on every batch is adjust the highlights and I don't need my cheat sheet to do it anymore.

For the recorder The Ancestry Insider has another very helpful article "FamilySearch Indexing Hint: Lookup List". I thought it rather interesting this week that a lot of names marked to lookup or review I actually know I had correct this week. It appears that it was a good choice for me to index names in Vermont because I am familiar with many family names there. I could read it just fine, they were not in the suggested lookup list but they were names I had in my genealogy database or had come across in my own research. My personal knowledge of those family names made me feel a little more useful to the indexing project. At least I have something going on in that brain of mine.

I did notice that there are more U.S. Federal Census records for 1850 available for many states out there to index. I didn't see my New York state available yet but when it comes I am going to go to town on it. Those really are my people. I shall be forever grateful to those that did the 1900 New York census records for me. I hope the feeling in mutual for those I have done for you.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Not Sure Which Genealogy Management Software to Use?

Select vendors allow free use of products through local family history centers.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH─FamilySearch announced that many popular desktop genealogy products can now be used for free in its family history centers in North America. Patrons who already own or use any of the products to manage their personal family histories at home will be able to conveniently update personal files through flash drives while working at the research centers. FamilySearch’s popular genealogy management software (Personal Ancestral File) is available as a free download at www.familysearch.org.

FamilySearch’s family history centers are frequented by millions of genealogy enthusiasts. Patrons use the centers’ computers, Internet, and microfilm readers to do genealogy research. “Once you start moving beyond your parents and grandparents in your personal research, I cannot imagine keeping track of your family tree and research efforts completely by hand or in paper files anymore,” said Paul Nauta, manager of Public Affairs for FamilySearch. “Great software programs are available that make it easy to build, organize, manage, share, and view your family history,” Nauta added.

The challenge is deciding which software programs might be best for the user’s needs. People who want to purchase a commercial program for home use can sample software applications in centers to help decide which to purchase for home use. FamilySearch is working with software developers to make relevant desktop applications available for free for use in family history centers. Some of the products are genealogy management software, while others provide advanced tools for editing and searching personal or online databases, or expanded options for printing or viewing family tree data.

Center patrons that use any of the featured products at home will now have the convenience of using the same product in their local family history center. FamilySearch also offers its own genealogy management software (Personal Ancestral File 5.2) for free through www.FamilySearch.org.

Following are the new products available for use in centers:

Genealogy Management Software

• Ancestral Quest 12 (By Incline Software).
• Roots Magic (formerly Family Origins)
• Legacy Family Tree (By Milennia Corporation)

Family History Software Utilities

• Personal Historian (Roots Magic). Writes and preserves personal life stories.
• PAFWiz 2.0 (Incline Software). Add-on tools and report utility for PAF 5.2.
• PAF Insight (Ohana Software). Performs advanced functions for LDS patrons. Provides improved merging, place editing, and other data cleanup tools.
• PAF Companion 5.2 (Progeny Software). Add-on utility that prints a variety of quality charts and reports in different formats.
• Family Atlas (Roots Magic). Creates and publishes custom maps directly from personal genealogy data.
• Pedigree Analysis (Generation Maps). Patrons can submit any genealogy computer file for a free pedigree analysis.
• Genelines (Progeny Software). Depicts an ancestor's life in the context of time by bringing together elements of time, history, and family relationships on visual time line charts.
• Map My Family Tree (Progeny Software). Automatically “geocodes” a family tree from any popular genealogy file format and illustrates where ancestors were born, were married, and died on a navigable geographic map. It also prints customized maps.

Mark Your Calendars - UVPAFUG Meeting!

UTAH VALLEY PAF USERS GROUP

The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley PAF (Personal Ancestral File) Users Group will be on Saturday, 13 Oct 2007, from 9 am until noon in the LDS "Red" Chapel at 4000 North Timpview Drive (650 East), in Provo. The main presentation will be by John Finlay on SHARE YOUR GENEALOGY AND COLLABORATE WITH RELATIVES ONLINE USING PHPGEDVIEW.

PhpGedView (PGV) is a revolutionary Open Source genealogy program allowing you to share your genealogy easily over the internet including photos and multimedia. The program includes full privacy settings so that you maintain control of who can view or edit your data online. This lecture will show how to use PhpGedView to edit, research, and collaborate more effectively with your relatives. Being Open Source, PhpGedView is the combined effort of developers, testers, and translators from all around the world. It is also free. While designed primarily for the Internet, it can also be run as a desktop application.

John Finlay graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Computer Engineering. He worked in the IT industry for several years developing systems for digital archives and preservation. He is currently a full-time Computer Science faculty member teaching at Neumont University. In the summer of 2002, John founded the Open Source genealogy project, PhpGedView. It is currently the largest and most active Open Source genealogy application. John is married to Melissa Corn Finlay who holds a degree in genealogy and family history. They reside is South Jordan, Utah and have 5 children.

Following the main presentation there will be several classes taught concerning technology and family history. As usual, there will be something for everyone at all levels of expertise. The classes currently scheduled for this meeting are the following:

1. Editing Places 101 with PAF, PAF Pal, and PAF Insight, by Lila Sowards
2. Documenting Sources in PAF, by Duane Dudley
3. Q&A About PHPGedView, by John Finlay
4. Individual Mentoring, by Jon Allan & Val Buxton
5. Video of last month's main presentation on GenealogyBank.com, by Thomas J. Kemp
6. Ancestral Quest 12: Connecting PAF Data to the New Family Search, by Gaylon Findlay
7. Legacy 6, by Dean Bennett
8. RootsMagic 3, by Sue Maxwell

All meetings of the Users Group are open to the public whether members of the Group or not. The Users Group has the goal of helping individuals use technology to further their family history and there are usually 100-125 attending the monthly meetings on the second Saturdays. Several of the officers, including Gerhard Ruf, President; Brian Cooper, 2nd VP; Lynne Shumway, PAFology Editor; Kay Baker, Membership Chairman; and Bruce Merrill, DVD & Video Librarian, will be there to help with membership, questions, distribute the current issue of the monthly newsletter PAFology, and to check out videos and DVD's of past presentations and classes to members of the group.

Information about the Users Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on the Group's website http://uvpafug.org . For further information see the web site or contact President Gerhard Ruf at pres@uvpafug.org (801-225-6106), VP1 Elder Don Snow at snowd@math.byu.edu, or VP2 Brian Cooper at vp2@uvpafug.org.