Thursday, 31 July 2014 was the third day for the BYU Family History & Genealogy Conference. There is one more day left to go. I'm getting a little smarter using my camera so there are more pictures today. Sorry to not give you more details on the classes right now. I just run out of time after the class to write up all the great things I have been learning. The variety and selection of classes has been great!
Here's today's slideshow.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
BYU Family History & Genealogy Conference - Day 2
Wednesday, 30 July 2014 was the second day for the BYU Family History & Genealogy Conference. I'm already tired and there are two more days to go! This was the first day with all the vendors there. They will all be there again tomorrow, so stop by if you have a chance. Only a few vendors in the hallway will be there on Friday.
My son Phil stayed home to recover from yesterday. He's getting over a recent surgery and our 10 hours adventure Tuesday was a little too much. Sadly you have to put up with my photo taking "skills". The only class I attended and didn't take photographs in was with the Ancestry Insider. I have to protect his identity after-all.
Here's today's slideshow.
My son Phil stayed home to recover from yesterday. He's getting over a recent surgery and our 10 hours adventure Tuesday was a little too much. Sadly you have to put up with my photo taking "skills". The only class I attended and didn't take photographs in was with the Ancestry Insider. I have to protect his identity after-all.
Here's today's slideshow.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
BYU Family History & Genealogy Conference - Day 1
Tuesday, 29 Jul 2014 was the first day of the BYU Family History and Genealogy Conference in Provo, UT. The conference is a four day event. Wednesday and Thursday all the vendors will be there. The vendors are free to visit so if you're in the area stop by.
My son Phil helped take some pictures of the days events for me. I hope you enjoy the highlights.
My son Phil helped take some pictures of the days events for me. I hope you enjoy the highlights.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
ISGS Upcoming Webinars
The following is from the Illinois State Genealogy Society.
For the complete list of upcoming webinars, visit http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?
August 12 – Land Records in Illinois
Presenter: Michael John Neill
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
September 9 – Treasures and Hidden Secrets of the Illinois Regional Archives (IRAD)
Presenter: Luana Darby, MLIS
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
October 14 – Hunting for Henry: A Case Study Using Collaterals
Presenter: Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
.com/register/
Presenter: Michael John Neill
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
September 9 – Treasures and Hidden Secrets of the Illinois Regional Archives (IRAD)
Presenter: Luana Darby, MLIS
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
October 14 – Hunting for Henry: A Case Study Using Collaterals
Presenter: Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
.com/register/
For the complete list of upcoming webinars, visit http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?
Consultant Webinar: New Tools for Finding Your Missing Cousins
The following is from FamilySearch.
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My Family History Calling
The following is from FamilySearch.
News you need to succeed--for priesthood leaders, consultants, and center directors.
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 My Family History Calling Newsletter |
July 2014
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How To Submit a Name To the Temple
If you, a ward, or family member are trying to find ancestors who need temple ordinances, here are a few tips that will help!
They're Here! FamilySearch Introduces Two New Mobile Apps
We live in a mobile world. You should be able to connect with your ancestors wherever you are. FamilySearch has just released two new mobile apps that will make it easy to do just that. Read more.
New Help Center User Interface
If you're looking for help using FamilySearch.org, there is a new Help Center interface that makes finding resources easy. You can select a specific help topic, and see everything in one place. Check out the new Help Center.
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Descendancy View Now Live: Data Problems and Research Suggestions
Two powerful new features have been added to the Descendancy view: Research Suggestions and Data Problems. They help you identify where people might be missing in your tree and where you might be able to improve the quality of your data.
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Discovering the Faith of our Forefathers
"Each of us will be greatly blessed if we know the stories of faith and sacrifice that led our forefathers to join the Lord's Church." Elder William R. Walker of the Quorum of the Seventy shared that message during 2014 April General Conference. Read more about what you can do.
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New Youth Family History Event Pages Now Available
Encouraged by the tremendous participation of RootsTech remote events, we have expanded the Host a Family History Fair pages to now include several youth event options, including Youth Conferences, Devotionals, and Weekly Activities. Here's how to get to the new site.
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The Purpose of Family History Centers Everywhere
Technology makes family history work in the home easier and more accessible to Church members around the world. We see new tools created almost every day that facilitate finding ancestors and ensuring that temple ordinances are done in their behalf. With all this ease and convenience, learn about the place of the family history center in a church building and the long-term use of these facilities.
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We Need You To Help Newly-called Consultants Find Success in Their Calling
There are service opportunities available to speak with newly-called family history consultants, making them aware of consultant training and other resources to help them get a positive start. Ideal volunteers are those who are currently serving, or have previously served as a family history consultant, and can spend 5 to 10 hours per week making calls from home.Start here to volunteer a small portion of your time.
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New Online Training Now Available: July 2014
A new set of classes have been added to the Learning Center on FamilySearch.org. See what these new classes include.
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Success Story: Don't Overlook FamilySearch's Book Collection
I'd like to share with you my testimony of the great work of family history. My father, who is not a member, age 85, has been working on our family tree on the maternal side, the Borja side of the tree. We were stuck for many years. Continue reading.
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FamilySearch New Collections Update 25 July 2014
The following is from FamilySearch.
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Digital Collections of Historic Newspaper Available on Veridian.com
The following is from Genelaogy Bits and Pieces.
Veridian is a company that provides newspaper digitization services to libraries and other cultural heritage institutions. Services offered include: scanning services, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) services, software for online discovery and delivery of digitized newspapers, hosting services for online digital collections of any size, and long-term digital preservation solutions. The company’s web site includes links to many of the newspaper collections that have been digitized for the libraries and other organizations. As a result, the web page is an excellent “starting point” to
find many of the collections.
Digitized newspaper collections that may be found by starting at
FamilySearch Indexing Volunteers Obliterate Single-Day Participant Record, Helping Millions Identify Their Ancestry
The following is from FamilySearch.
FamilySearch Indexing Volunteers Obliterate Single-Day Participant Record, Helping Millions Identify Their Ancestry
Monumental Crowdsourcing Effort Also Yields Second-Highest 24-Hour Record Count
Salt Lake City, Utah—FamilySearch indexing volunteers love a good challenge and once again have banded together to obliterate a record—this time the high mark for the most indexing and arbitration volunteers participating in a single day. The previous record of 49,025 volunteers set in July 2012 at the height of the 1940 US Census indexing effort is now a distant memory compared to the new high of 66,511 set yesterday during the first-annual Worldwide Indexing Event.
While the minimum requirement for participation was to submit a single batch of indexing or arbitration work, it is obvious that many volunteers continued working throughout the day as they also produced the second-highest combined (indexed or arbitrated) total of submitted records at just over 5.7 million.
“FamilySearch indexing volunteers continue to astound with their dedication to indexing day in and day out and their ability to not only meet but far exceed every challenge set before them,” said Mike Judson, FamilySearch indexing workforce development manager. “In my mind, the best part of this success is how many people are going to be helped to find their ancestors because so many volunteers were willing to give their time to this great cause.”
Volunteers who jumped into the challenge early (the event started at 6:00 p.m. MST on Sunday evening) discovered a surprise as the indexing system struggled to process the massive influx of volunteer requests. Many were dismayed at the slowness of the system and inability, in some cases, to download or submit batches. Despite the challenges, volunteers showed great patience and perseverance, and most were eventually able to complete and submit a batch.
“We took the indexing system into ‘unexplored territory,’” said Judson. “Never before have so many people tried to contribute all at once. We know some who wanted to give were not able to do so, but we want everyone who tried to know their efforts are appreciated, and we hope they will return soon now that the demands on the system have subsided.”
About FamilySearch Indexing
FamilySearch indexing is the largest known transcription crowdsourcing effort of its kind. With indexing, volunteers view images of historical records and transcribe the information they see for inclusion into a searchable database on FamilySearch.org. Records are indexed twice by two volunteers and then are reviewed by a third volunteer (known as an arbitrator) to ensure quality and accuracy. Since 2006, FamilySearch indexing volunteers have indexed and reviewed over one billion records containing more than 3.5 billion searchable names, including all of the available U.S. Censuses. In 2012 volunteers rallied in a record-breaking effort to index the entire 1940 U.S. Census (132 million records) in just four months.
About FamilySearch International
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.
FamilySearch Volunteers Set Historic Record
The following is from FamilySearch.
Our ancestors deserve to be remembered. You can be proud to be the one who made the difference for someone else who is looking for their ancestors. Because of you, they will know the joy of adding a new branch to their family tree. Thank you!
FamilySearch Volunteers Set Historic Record
FamilySearch volunteers are amazing! On July 20th and 21st, FamilySearch indexers and arbitrators from around the world joined together to set an international record for the greatest number of indexing participants in a single day! We hoped to have an unprecedented 50,000 contributors in a 24 hour period. FamilySearch volunteers excelled, surpassing that goal by 16,511! That’s right—66,511 participants in one day! Incredible! We are grateful for the patience and persistence of many volunteers who faced technical difficulties due to an overwhelming response.
These generous indexers and arbitrators made a true difference. Each record and each name indexed and arbitrated matters. It only takes one to open the door to linking generations of families together. Without question, thousands of lives will be changed as a result of this day’s effort.
While the focus for this challenge was on the total number of participants, a tremendous amount of indexing and arbitration work was accomplished as well. Here are the results for the number of records indexed and arbitrated.
Indexed: 4,682,746
Arbitrated: 941,932
Total Records Processed: 5.7 million
Arbitrated: 941,932
Total Records Processed: 5.7 million
Our ancestors deserve to be remembered. You can be proud to be the one who made the difference for someone else who is looking for their ancestors. Because of you, they will know the joy of adding a new branch to their family tree. Thank you!
Did you participate in this historic event? Celebrate with us! Print and/or share this badge online to let your friends know you helped make history! Visit the badge page to download the badge.
We want to hear from you! Share your event day experience in a comment below or email us at fsindexing@familysearch.org.
And keep indexing! More names and stories-especially from obituaries-are ready to be indexed by you and discovered by researchers worldwide. One volunteer, one document, one name can make all the difference to someone looking for his or her family.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
FamilySearch Indexing: Reminder-We Need You on July 20 and 21
The following is from FamilySearch.
50,000 indexers and arbitrators. 24 hours. One history-making event. All that is needed is YOU!
The international record-setting event is fast approaching! The goal? For 50,000 indexers and arbitrators to submit at least one batch in a 24-hour period! Do more if you would like, but one batch is all that is required to be counted in the record! Please join volunteers from around the world on July 20 and 21 for this international history-making event!
This remarkable goal will require help from every current indexer and arbitrator out there, plus many new volunteers,* but it can be achieved if generous volunteers like you commit to participate. So mark your calendar, and spread the word! Invite friends and family to join you. Organize an indexing party; create a fun family challenge or ward service project. You can print and distribute this poster to spread the word. Everyone is needed. Everyone can make a difference!
Need more motivation? No matter where you live or what language you speak, you can lift where you stand and add to this historic worldwide achievement. You may choose to work on any project you prefer. However, we suggest that you work on the following projects in your native language:
- US-Obituaries, 1980-2014
- US-Passport Applications, 1795-1925
- US, New Orleans-Passenger Lists, 1820-1902
- UK, Manchester-Parish Registers, 1787-1999
The record-setting begins at 00:00 coordinated universal time (UTC) on July 21, which is 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time (MDT or Utah time) on Sunday, July 20. It ends 24 hours later, at 23:59 UTC (or 5:59 p.m. MDT) on Monday, July 21. Check the FamilySearch Facebook event page for your local start time and status updates.
One batch is all it takes. Don’t miss your chance on July 20 and 21 to be part of this history-making event! Plan now to get involved and add your name to the record-setting legacy!
Thank you for helping to hasten the work of salvation!
*New indexers can visit https://familysearch.org/
*New indexers can visit https://familysearch.org/
FamilySearch New Collections Update 19 July 2014
The following is from FamilySearch.
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Ancestry and ProQuest Announce Expanded Distribution Agreement
The following is from ProQuest.
Market leaders expand agreement to provide highly regarded resources for libraries, researchers, and family history enthusiasts
PROVO, UT and ANN ARBOR, MI, June 27, 2014 – Ancestry, the world's largest online family history resource, and ProQuest announced today an expanded agreement to create broader and deeper opportunities to deliver premier genealogy resources to libraries worldwide. Under the new multi-year agreement, ProQuest will be distributor of both existing products, including Ancestry Library Edition, and future Ancestry products. The agreement also allows for significant content and feature improvements to ProQuest’s HeritageQuest Online. These enhancements will be developed in the coming months and powered by Ancestry.
“We are pleased to announce our expanded strategic relationship with ProQuest,” said Brian Hansen, Ancestry vice president of emerging businesses. “We look forward to working together to create new and enhanced resources for libraries that uniquely respond to the needs of this growing market.”
“This new agreement expands on our 10-year relationship with Ancestry to deliver leading solutions for our customers," said Simon Beale, senior vice president and general manager, ProQuest. "We're leveraging the synergies between our companies, bringing together skills and talents in way that will advance the family history services libraries can offer their patrons.”
Ancestry Library Edition, powered by Ancestry and distributed by ProQuest, brings the world’s largest online family history resource directly to libraries. Featuring more than 13 billion records in more than 8,000 unique databases, Ancestry Library Edition is an unparalleled online global record collection from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and beyond.
HeritageQuest Online, which can be accessed from anywhere, is a strong complement to Ancestry Library Edition. HeritageQuest Online is a treasury of American genealogical sources, including the digitized version of the popular ProQuest Genealogy & Local History book collection and other valuable content.
About Ancestry
Ancestry is the world's largest online family history resource with approximately 2.7 million paying subscribers across all its websites. More than 14 billion records have been added to the Ancestry.com sites and users have created more than 60 million family trees containing more than 6 billion profiles. In addition to its flagship site www.ancestry.com, the company operates several global Ancestry international websites along with a suite of online family history brands, including Archives.com, Fold3.com, Newspapers.com, and offers the AncestryDNA service via its subsidiary, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC, all of which are designed to empower people to discover, preserve and share their family history.
ProQuest connects people with vetted, reliable information. Key to serious research, the company’s products are a gateway to the world’s knowledge including dissertations, governmental and cultural archives, news, historical collections and ebooks. ProQuest technologies serve users across the critical points in research, helping them discover, access, share, create and manage information.
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