Big Changes at FamilySearch.org

Here is an announcement from FamilySearch.org dated 12/14/2010:

Updated Site Now Available; More Improvements to Come

SALT LAKE CITY–FamilySearch announced several changes today for its family history website,  FamilySearch.org. Online patrons will find millions of new records and images, over 40,000 helpful articles, over 100 interactive courses of instruction, and a dynamic forum to ask personal genealogy questions. The changes have been in testing for some time. FamilySearch will continue to implement the new website in phases to ensure all critical elements are functioning as desired. Once complete, the website will be promoted more broadly.

The new site offers the following free benefits to FamilySearch patrons:

• Millions more scanned, historical documents and indexes that are published more frequently.
• An improved search experience that looks through more content and gives more accurate results.
• A thriving online genealogical community where patrons can give and receive help.
• One user name and password for all FamilySearch products and services.
• Responsive, reliable, and scalable hardware and software that will allow the site to grow and improve.

FamilySearch has published a helpful document called “Adjusting to the New Version of www.familysearch.org” and a video tutorial that summarizes the changes to the new site.  These new guides can be found under the “Changes at FamilySearch.org” link.

The prior version of the site will still be available through the transition period.

To link to the actual announcement, click here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from FamilySearch for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Records Update: FamilySearch Wraps Up Genealogical Gifts for the Holiday Season

Here is an update from FamilySearch:

Nearly four million new digital images are now available on Beta.FamilySearch.org. These collections include the first images from South Africa, as well as records from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Guatemala, the Netherlands, and the United States. About 1.7 million of these records are indexed.
Click here to see the chart for the complete list of newly added or updated collections.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from FamilySearch for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Archives.com Integrates 40 Million New Records and 110 Million Newspaper Pages

Here is an excerpt from a press release recently posted by archives.com:

Already one of the most trafficked family history websites in the U.S., Archives.com is focused on adding new engaging content to help users discover more about their ancestors. New record collections now available on Archives.com include:

40 Million Vital Records: Vital records document significant life events including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. These are the building blocks of family history research. Archives’ collection of U.S. vital records has been developed through the expansion of existing collections and the addition of records from states including Texas, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, and Utah.

110 Million Newspaper Pages: Archives has joined forces with Newspaper Archive to make millions of newspaper pages viewable on Archives.com. Users now have easy access to this historically significant repository with content dating back to 1753 and billions of indexed names.

300,000 Cemetery Records: Partnering with cemetery mapping pioneers Names In Stone, Archives.com now offers access to more than 300,000 indexed burial records.

In spite of this huge record expansion, Archives has not raised the cost of membership, and remains committed to affordability while adding new records, functionality, and resources. Archives.com’s enhanced database and new partnerships demonstrate a major leap forward for value-conscious consumers that want to start researching their family history. To search Archives.com, log in or start a free trial membership.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Click here to go to archives.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation from Archives.com for writing this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

15 Million New Indexed Genealogical Records Added to FamilySearch Beta

Here is part of the announcement from the FamilySearch Beta blog:

The collection of indexes and images available on FamilySearch’s beta website continues to grow by leaps and bounds, with the addition of 34 collections of genealogical records. These records include 15 million indexed records and 2.5 million images. The bounty of information covers 13 different countries around the world: Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Jamaica, Canada, and the United States. Search these records now at Beta.FamilySearch.org.

To read the entire announcement go to https://news.beta.familysearch.org/node/1001.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from familysearch.org.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Recent Press Releases From Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com announced that they have created a strategic alliance with National Geographic Digital Media.  Click here for details.

Ancestry.com also announced the release of West Point U.S. military cadet application papers, including those of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, Colonel Custer, and General Sherman.  Click here for details.

Find out more and access ancestry.com on my website by clicking here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am happy to be an affiliate of  Ancestry.com.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How To Start Your Family History

Familysearch.org is a great resource when starting your family history.  This website outlines six basic steps to family history research.  Those steps are:

1. Remember your ancestors.  2. Use sources in your home.  3. Ask relatives for information.  4. Choose a family or ancestor you want to learn more about.  5. See if somebody else has already found the information.  6. Search records for your ancestor.

Click here to go to familysearch.org.  Happy researching!

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from familysearch.org.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Family Tree Maker For Mac

If you use a Mac, you can now take advantage of the #1 selling genealogy software to create your family tree.  Click here for more information.

Looking for FAMILY-FRIENDLY GIFT IDEAS?  Click here.

Note from Family Tree Gal, Carolyn:  Have you joined the Family Tree Quest at www.familytreequest.com ?  I also invite you to join me on Facebook and Twitter.  Check out my Family Tree Gal Blog if you haven’t done so already.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from ancestry.com.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Alcatraz Prisoner Index

You can now view the Alcatraz prisoner index on Ancestry.com.  This collection is an index to the comprehensive case files of the 1,550 men who did time at Alcatraz. The index includes information such as:

• Name and alias
• Alcatraz inmate number
• Ethnicity
• Offence
• Birth date and birthplace
• Parents’ names
• Death date and place (where applicable)
• Date received at Alcatraz and transfer dates (and where the prisoner came from)

For more information see Ancestry’s blog post.

*****  ***** ***** ***** *****

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am happy to be an affiliate of ancestry.com. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.”  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Ancestry.com and Footnote.com

Ancestry.com has officially acquired footnote.com.  Here is a link to the footnote.com blog for more information.

*****  ***** ***** ***** *****

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am happy to be an affiliate of ancestry.com and footnote.com. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.”  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

4 Major Updates to FamilySearch Beta

Here is what the FamilySearch Beta blog says about the new updates:

At the end of last week we released another substantial update to the FamilySearch Beta website. In addition to the four major updates outlined below, we’ve made a large number of improvements under the hood that aren’t really visible to users of the site but make a big difference in the overall performance and function of the site. Here’s the quick list of updates.

• Redesigned Home Page
• Brand New – Getting Started Section
• Redesigned Learning Resources including online Research Courses
• Just Released – FamilySearch Center Section

To read the entire blog post, click here.

To go to the FamilySearch Beta site, click here.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from familysearch.org.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”