Win a Free Ticket to the St. George Family History Expo

I am very excited to be attending the St. George Family History Expo,  Feb. 25-26th,  2011, as a "Blogger of Honor".  What's even more exciting are the two free complimentary registration tickets given to me, to pass along to some lucky readers of my blog. At the door registration value of $75 each.

If you would like a chance at winning a ticket all I ask is you send me an email at: harrisena@gmail.com and tell me why you want to go. You don't have to give me a long story, just a compelling story.  If it's too hard for me to decide the top two compelling stories I will put the names in a hat to pick out the winners.

Make sure you include your name, address, phone number and email address on the email you send me, along with a compelling reason why you want to go. Your email needs to be submitted by Monday, Feb 7th at 1:00pm (MST) to be considered.  I will announce the winner on this blog Tues, Feb 8th.

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

FamilySearch Indexing Update: FamilySearch Volunteers Have Indexed Over 500 Million Records; New France, Italy, and Jamaica Projects Added to Start 2011

The following is from FamilySearch.


FamilySearch Volunteers Have Indexed Over 500 Million Records

New France, Italy, and Jamaica Projects Added to Start 2011

It is quite amazing to think it all started in 2006. That was when FamilySearch migrated its then CD-ROM based indexing program to the web. The rest is record-making history—literally. Fueled by growing numbers of record collections from which to choose, the convenience of contributing 24/7 from any PC with web access, and the contagious spirit of wanting to give back or contribute to something very meaningful, the work continues to expand. Volunteers worldwide continue to join the cause and donate time and talent to help index the world's historic genealogical records.
In 2010, FamilySearch indexing posted the following milestones:

• 100+ projects in 11 languages
• Addition of Portuguese and Polish languages
• 40,000 new active indexers (completed a batch of work), for a total of 127,000 active indexers
• Volunteer indexers averaged 2,169 records each
• Arbitrators averaged 17,803 records each
• 186 million records were double keyed and arbitrated
• Over 500 million indexed records have been published since FamilySearch indexing's inception in 2006 

Since 2006, volunteers have indexed 548 million records! It has truly become a volunteer phenomenon and is the largest initiative of its kind. The records can be searched free of charge at FamilySearch.org.
New Projects Added in January 2011

• France, Quimper et Leon, Brest, Saint Pierre—Registres Paroissiaux, 1772–1909
  
  (France, Quimper et Leon, Brest, Saint Pierre—Parish Registers, 1772–1909)
  
  (in partnership with Cercle Généalogique du Finistere)
• Italia, Provincia di Vicenza—Registri Parrocchiali, 1597–1937
  
  (Italy, Vicenza Province—Parish Registers, 1597–1937)
• Jamaica—Church of England Parish Baptisms, 1664–1880
• Mexico, Veracruz—1930 Federal Censo
  
  (Mexico, Veracruz—1930 Federal Census)
• U.S., Indiana, Elkhart County—Marriages, 1811–1959
• U.S., Massachusetts—1930 Federal Census
• U.S., Michigan—1930 Federal Census
• U.S., Michigan—County Marriages, 1820–1956 [Part A]
• U.S., New York—WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• U.S., North Carolina—1930 Federal Census
• U.S., Vermont—Vital Records, 1760–1954 [Part B]

(See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)
Recently Completed Projects
(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process. They will be published at familysearch.org in the near future.)

• Argentina, Cordoba—Registros Parroquiales, 1722–1924 [Parte B]
• Canada, Ontario—1861 Census Records [Part 2]
• France, Quimper et Leon, St. Louis—Registres Paroissiaux, 1772–1909
• Italia, Napolia, Castellammare di Stabia—Atti di Morte, 1809–1936 [Parte B]
• Mexico, Oaxaca—1930 Federal Censo
• Mexico, Puebla—1930 Federal Censo
• U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [IX]
• U.S., California—County Marriages, 1850–1952 [Part B]
• U.S., District of Columbia—County Marriages, 1811–1950 [Part A]
• U.S., Illinois—1930 Federal Census
• U.S., Indiana, Bartholomew County—Marriages, 1811–1959
• U.S., Maryland—1930 Federal Census
• U.S., Mississippi—1930 Federal Census
• U.S., Nebraska—1885 State Census
• U.S., New Jersey—WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• U.S., Oklahoma—Allotment Records, 1899–1907
• U.S., Pennsylvania, Philadelphia—City Probate Records, 1837–1865
• U.S., Texas—1910 Federal Census [Part B]
• U.S., Wisconsin—1930 Federal Census
• Россия, Самара—Метрические книги церкви, 1869–1917 (часть 1)

Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934 [Parte B] (Argentina, Balvanera—Church Records, 1833–1934 [Part B])	Spanish	87%
Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926 [Parte A] (Argentina, Santa Fe—Church Records, 1634–1926 [Part A])	Spanish	52%
Brasil—Registro Civil, 1852–1914 [Parte 2A] (Brazil—Civil Registration, 1852–1914 [Part 2A])	Portuguese	2%
Brasil, Florianópolis—Registros da Igreja, 1751–1954 [Parte A] (Brazil, Florianópolis—Church Records, 1751–1954 [Part A])	Portuguese	17%
Brasil, Pernambuco, Recife—Registro Civil, 1900–1920 (Brazil, Pernambuco, Recife—Civil Registration, 1900–1920)	Portuguese	4%
Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Matrimonios, 1900–1910 [Piloto] (Brazil, Rio de Janeiro—Marriages, 1900–1910)	Portuguese	57%
Canada—Passenger Lists, 1881–1922	English	5%
Canada, Bas-Canada—Recensement de 1842 (Canada, Lower Canada—1842 Census)	French	60%
Canada, New Brunswick—Deaths, 1815–1938 [Part B]	English	94%
Canada, Ontario—Marriages, 1869–1927 [Part B]	English	9%
Chile—Registros Civiles, 1885–1900 (Chile—Civil Registration, 1885–1900)	Spanish	39%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2B] (Chile, Concepcion—Civil Registration, 1885–1903 [Part 2B])	Spanish	51%
Colombia, Bucaramanga—Registros Parroquiales, 1649–1959 (Colombia, Bucaramanga—Church Records, 1649–1959)	Spanish	14%
Colombia, Marinilla—Registros Parroquiales, 1815–1959 (Colombia, Marinilla—Parish Records, 1815–1959)	Spanish	82%
Deutschland, Baden, Achern—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869 [Part D] (Germany, Baden, Achern—Church Books, 1810–1869 [Part D])	German	54%
El Salvador—Registros Civiles, 1835–1910 (El Salvador—Civil Registration, 1835–1910)	Spanish	33%
España, Andalucía—Registros Civiles, 1837–1870 (Spain, Andalucia—Civil Registration, 1837–1870)	Spanish	10%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1] (Spain, Lugo—Parish Registers, 1530–1930 [Part 1])	Spanish	43%
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907 (France, Cherbourg—Parish Registers, 1802–1907)	French	45%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907 (France, Coutances—Parish Registers, 1802–1907)	French	86%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie D] (France, Paris—Protestant Registers, 1612–1906 [Part D])	French	93%
France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907 (France, Saint-Lo—Parish Registers, 1802–1907)	French	62%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1800–1900 (Guatemala, Guatemala—Civil Registration, 1800–1900)	Spanish	18%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900 (Guatemala, Guatemala—Civil Registration, 1877–1900)	Spanish	41%
Ireland—Tithe Applotment Books, 1824–1840	English	10%
Italia, Provincia di Vicenza—Registri Parrocchiali, 1597–1937 (Italy, Vicenza Province—Parish Registers, 1597–1937)	Italian	(New)
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2A]	Italian	56%
Jamaica—Church of England Parish Baptisms, 1664–1880	English	(New)
Jamaica—Civil Births, 1900–1930 [Part C]	English	34%
Mexico, D.F.—Bautismos, 1536–1900 [Parte A] (Mexico, D.F.—Church Baptisms, 1536–1900 [Part A])	Spanish	4%
Mexico, Veracruz—1930 Federal Censo (Mexico, Veracruz—1930 Federal Census)	Spanish	(New)
New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915 [Part 2A]	English	11%
Nicaragua, Masaya—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984 (Nicaragua, Masaya—Civil Registration, 1879–1984)	Spanish	3%
Norge—Tinglysningskort, 1640–1903 (Norway—Probate Index Cards, 1640–1903)	Norwegian	4%
Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1887–1921 [Parte A] (Peru, Lima—Civil Registration, 1887–1921 [Part A])	Spanish	94%
Portugal, Setúbal—Registros da Igreja, 1581–1910 (Portugal, Setúbal—Church Records, 1581–1910)	Portuguese	27%
República Dominicana—Nacimientos Civiles, 1828–1906 (Dominican Republic—Civil Births, 1828–1906)	Spanish	1%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885 (Russia, Saint Petersburg—Parish Register Duplicates, 1833–1885)	German	44%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970	Afrikaans, Dutch, English	71%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1] (Sweden, Södermanland—Church Records, to 1860 [Part 1])	Swedish	81%
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1] (Sweden, Uppsala—Church Records, to 1860 [Part 1])	Swedish	83%
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1] (Sweden, Örebro—Church Records, to 1860 [Part 1])	Swedish	33%
U.K., Essex—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part A]	English	17%
U.K., Manchester—Parish Registers, 1813–1925 [Part B]	English	92%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part 2 Adv]	English, Old English	46%
Uruguay—Registros Civiles (Nacimientos), 1879–1930 (Uruguay—Civil Registration (Births), 1879–1930)	Spanish	12%
U.S.—Naval Enlistment Registers, 1855–1891	English	61%
U.S., Alabama—County Marriages, 1809–1950 [Part A]	English	74%
U.S., Arkansas—WWII Draft Registration, 1942	English	50%
U.S., Illinois—County Marriages, 1810–1934 [Part A]	English	93%
U.S., Indiana, Elkhart County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	(New)
U.S., Iowa—County Births, 1880–1935 [Part A]	English	25%
U.S., Iowa—County Marriages, 1838–1992 [Part A]	English	73%
U.S., Massachusetts—1930 Federal Census	English	(New)
U.S., Michigan—1930 Federal Census	English	(New)
U.S., Michigan—County Marriages, 1820–1956 [Part A]	English	(New)
U.S., Minnesota—County Marriages, 1860–1949 [Part A]	English	83%
U.S., New Jersey—County Marriages, 1682–1956 [Part 1]	English	29%
U.S., New York—1892 State Census [Part 2]	English	67%
U.S., New York—Marriage Licenses, 1908–1938 [Part A]	English	46%
U.S., New York—Marriages, 1908–1935 [Part A]	English	47%
U.S., New York—WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942	English	(New)
U.S., North Carolina—1930 Federal Census	English	(New)
U.S., North Carolina—County Marriages, 1762–1959 [Part B]	English	39%
U.S., North Carolina—Freedmen Letters, 1862–1870	English	32%
U.S., Oklahoma—County Marriages, 1891–1959 [Part B]	English	91%
U.S., Oklahoma—Land Allotment Records, 1899–1907 [Part B]	English	9%
U.S., Puerto Rico—1910 Censo Federal (U.S., Puerto Rico—1910 Federal Census)	Spanish	25%
U.S., Puerto Rico—Nacimientos Civiles, 1836–1930 [Parte B] (U.S., Puerto Rico—Civil Births, 1836–1930 [Part B])	Spanish	8%
U.S., Tennessee—County Marriages, 1790–1950 [Part B]	English	29%
U.S., Tennessee—County Marriages, 1790–1950 [Part C]	English	62%
U.S., Texas—Birth Records, 1903-1934 [Part D]	English	79%
U.S., Texas—County Marriages, 1837–1977 [Part B]	English	70%
U.S., Vermont—Vital Records, 1760–1954 [Part B]	English	(New)
Venezuela—Nacimientos Civiles, 1873–1909 (Venezuela—Civil Births, 1873–1909)	Spanish	3%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 2] (Venezuela, Merida—Parish Registers, 1654–1992 [Part 2])	Spanish	39%
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925 (Austria, Vienna—Population Cards, 1890–1925)	German	40%
Украина, Киев—Метрические книги русской православной церкви, 1843–1845 [Часть B] (Ukraine, Kiev—Orthodox Consistory Church Books, 1843–1845 [Part B])	Russian	50%

Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

België—Burgerlijke Stand, 1851–1900 [Deel 3A] (Belgium—Civil Registration, 1851–1900 [Part 3A])	Dutch, Flemish	10%
Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie A] (Belgium—Civil Registration, 1851–1900 [Part A])	French	78%
Brasil, Minas Gerais—Church Records, 1706-1952	Portuguese	1%
Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935	English	22%
Deutschland, Westfalen, Minden—Volkszählung, 1880–1900 (Germany, Westphalia, Minden—City Censuses, 1880–1900)	German	12%
España, Avila, Barroman—Registros Parroquiales, 1550–1930 (Spain, Avila, Barroman—Parish Registers, 1550–1930)	Spanish	47%
España, Malaga—Registros Civiles, 1846–1870 (Spain, Malaga—Civil Registration, 1846–1870)	Spanish	54%
France, Quimper et Leon, Brest, Saint Pierre—Registres Paroissiaux, 1772–1909 (France, Quimper et Leon, Brest, Saint Pierre—Parish Registers, 1772–1909)	French	(New)
Norway—1875 Census [Part B]	Norwegian	78%
Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982 (Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Church Registers, 1615–1982)	Spanish	87%
Polska—Księgi Metrykalne—Diecezja Lublin, 1902–1945 (Poland, Lublin Diocese—Church Books, 1902–1945)	Polish	54%
U.K., Norfolk—Parish Registers, 1538–1900	English	67%
U.S., Colorado—1885 State Census	English	3%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 4]	English	36%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Birth Registers, 1890–1908	English	69%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940	English	33%

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 126 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Schedule a Free Photo Detective Session at RootsTech with Maureen Taylor

Attention RootsTech Attendees! Schedule a Free Photo Detective Session at RootsTech with Maureen Taylor

FamilySearch will be hosting Maureen Taylor, photo detective, as a free service to registered RootsTech conference attendees, February 10-12, 2011. The photo detective services will be offered as part of the activities at the FamilySearch technology booth in the exhibit hall during the conference. Interested individuals can register online now for any available 10-minute session. There are limited sessions available. Don't delay! Register athttp://photodetective.eventbrite.com/, and figure out what historic family or mystery photo you want Maureen to interpret for you.

Registrants will have 10 minutes with Maureen during their scheduled time at the FamilySearch booth. It is recommended that you bring only one image or photo with you to the consultation. Be sure the photo you select fits one of the following criteria:

• An original photograph in a protective covering to prevent damage during transport.
• High-quality color photographic copy of both the front and back of the image to improve clarity.
• High-resolution color scan (of at least 300 dpi) of both sides of the photograph.

For the past 10 years, Maureen has been providing in-depth analysis of historical photos, primarily for people who are researching their family histories. Maureen estimates that she's studied over 10,000 photos in the past decade, and the Wall Street Journal recently called her "the nation's foremost historical photo detective." Maureen has been interested in old family photos since she was a child. She has a graduate degree in history and has worked as a photo curator, genealogist, and writer. Combining all these interests as a photo identification and preservation expert, the focus of her work has centered on family photography, history and genealogy.

Maureen finds it extremely rewarding to be invited to play a part in piecing together the most important history of all-the story of your family! Don't miss this terrific opportunity during your RootsTech stay in Salt Lake City, Utah!

Watch Maureen solve cases at www.vimeo.com/photodetective.

Thank you,
RootsTech Conference

Reserve your tickets for RootsTech free evening events

The following is from RootsTech.

Dear RootsTech Attendee,

Reserve your ticket for the RootsTech evening events!

Our Night at the Planetarium and Late Night at the Library events will be highlights of the conference. These events are free for attendees, but you'll need to reserve your spot by February 4th. Simply click here, log in, and let us know you're coming. While updating your agenda with evening events, you may also want to review class changes and additions, including lunch events with extended space!

See you at RootsTech!

Night at the Planetarium, sponsored by brightsolid, Feb 10, 5:30 pm-9:30 pm
Join us Thursday night when Salt Lake's Clark Planetarium opens up exclusively for RootsTech attendees. Enjoy an out-of-this-world experience complete with a casual dinner, star shows, 3D IMAX movies, and interactive exhibits! A limited number of guest tickets are also available.

Late Night at the Library, Feb 11, 7:00 pm-12:00 am
On Friday night, stay up late at the Family History Library! Attend the "Who Do You Think You Are" viewing party, enjoy refreshments, and take advantage of extended research hours. And if you don't know a pedigree chart from a probate record, come to a unique workshop designed to introduce technology experts to the basics of family history.

How to RSVP - Step by Step

• Click this link
• Enter your email address and click "Already Registered"
• Enter your password and click "Continue"
• Click "Agenda" in the "Edit" column
• Check the box next to "Evening Events"
• Check the boxes next to the events you plan to attend
• Click "Continue" at the bottom of the page
• Click "Finalize"
• Click "Update Your Registration" at the bottom of the page*
• Your RSVP is now complete

*If you are purchasing a guest ticket, enter your credit card information before clicking "Update Your Registration."