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.

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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.”

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!

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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.”

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.

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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.

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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.”

Family History and Genealogy Resources

Here is a helpful link when you are doing family history research.  It is a list of family history and genealogy resources made available through the Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library.  Click here to see the site. 

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Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from BYU Harold B. Lee Library.  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.

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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.”

Heritage Collector Suite

20 % OFF INTRODUCTORY PRICE and $60.00 in BONUSES WITH PURCHASE. A complete Family History Management System! Everything You Need to Complete a Variety of Family History Projects. Heritage Collector Suite makes photo organization fast and easy. Organize and find photos, documents, audio files, video clips and more. Keep associated photos and files together. Create and update photo collections as you acquire more photos and information. Perfect for the beginner, and also for those who have boxes and boxes of “stuff”. When you don’t know where to begin, begin with Heritage Collector Suite!

Bonus Package
Save over $60 Instantly
Order Heritage Collector Suite and Get the Bonus Package FREE
• Receive ALL Eight—Heritage Collector AND the following seven bonus package add-ons listed below with purchase.

1. Over twenty FREE, easy-to-follow “How To” Tutorials
Heritage Collector comes with over twenty tutorial movies. It’s like having your own personal tutor showing and telling you what to do

2. Digital Family History Guidebook in PDF
Over 200 Pages of step-by-step instructions. Nine Chapters of information designed to help you with family history projects while saving you time, money and frustration.

3. New! Calendar Module
Print and share with children and relatives..
• Create personalized Pages.
• Use your own backgrounds.
• Unrestricted Layouts.
• Print your calendar at your favorite printed facility.
• Different calendar sizes.
• Drag photos from Heritage Collector to pages.

4. Storybook Module
A fun and inexpensive way to print and share family history.
• Create Elegant Pages.
• Make and use your own backgrounds.
• Unrestricted Layouts.
• Save money by printing pages at your favorite printed facility.
• Many pages sizes and configuration to use.
• Different printing options..

5. NEW! GPS Maps
Automatically create maps based on GPS coordinates for burial plots in cemeteries or for the location of other family history sites. Print and use as map to help you and relatives easily find the location.

6. Easier Scanning Interactive Tutorial

7. Using Sound Interactive Tutorial

THE PERFECT SOLUTION to your frustration and stress. SAVE MONEY. CREATE your own family history gifts. PRESERVE priceless memories. ADD Heritage Collector Suite to your shopping cart today!

Most orders ship within 24 hours unless the staff is attending a family history conference.

Software Requirements

Software Compatibility
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Vista
• Windows 7

Basic Requirements
• IntelR PentiumR Processor or
• Equivalent 32 and 64 bit processors
• 512 MG Ram – more recommended
• Video card with high resolution
• 24-bit color recommended
• Resolution 1024 X 768 or greater
• CD-ROM – DVD drive

Optional Recommended Items:
• Scanner
• CD Writer to create shareable CDs
• Printer, Sound Card and Speakers
• An additional 88.0 MG is needed to install the “How To” tutorials

Heritage Collector Suite Install
• 204 MG space on hard drive –
• “How To” tutorials
• Calendar module
• Storybook module
• GPS Maps module
• Digital Family History Guidebook

Heritage Collector Pro Install
• 80.0 MG
• Includes the Digital Family History GuidebookRegular price: $99.95 ON SALE NOW for $79.95.

Click here to order.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I am happy to be an affiliate of heritagecollector.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 to Acquire Footnote.com

A portion of the press release reads,

“Ancestry.com Inc. announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire iArchives, Inc. and its branded Web site, Footnote.com, a leading American History Web site, for approximately $27 million in a mix of Ancestry.com stock, cash and assumption of liabilities. This acquisition will provide the company with a complementary consumer brand, expanded content offerings, and enhanced digitization and image-viewing technologies.

iArchives digitizes and delivers high-quality images of American historical records of individuals involved in the Revolutionary War, Continental Congress, Civil War, and other U.S. historical events to Footnote.com subscribers interested in early American roots. iArchives has digitized more than 65 million original source documents to date through its proprietary digitization process for paper, microfilm and microfiche collections.”

To view the entire press release click here.

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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.”

Worlds Largest Historical Map Collection

Here is the press release from FamilyLink:

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 14, 2010 – PROVO, Utah– FamilyLink (www.familylink.com), the #1 family social network with more than 70 million users and 3.6 billion genealogy names, will soon provide access to the world’s leading historical map collection through its recent partnership with Historic Map Works. In addition to having the largest newspaper, tombstone, and one of the largest family history collections, FamilyLink will add more than 1.3 million maps and 1 million names to its growing collections.
   
“We own the world’s largest collection of historic cadastral, land ownership maps and we wanted to partner with Family Link, the undisputed leader in family social networking,” said Charles Carpenter, Sr., Owner, Historic Map Works. “The historic maps contain several hundred million family names attached to residences and businesses. Nearly every FamilyLink user will be able to find the homes and properties for many generations of their ancestor as the historic maps contain several hundred million family names attached to residences and businesses.”

The exclusive partnership with Historic Map Works will allow users to explore more than 2 million images that span several hundred years of American urban and rural development. Another feature of the collection is the ability for users to overlay old maps on top of current maps (or Google maps) to see exactly where their ancestors lived. Historic Map Works’ users have already found success with these maps.

One Historic Map Works user exclaimed, “I have been searching for twenty-five years for this photo and you had it! It’s a miracle!” Another user said, “In my 20 years of genealogical research, Historic Map Works has the best in geographical reproductions.”

FamilyLink users will be able to trace the histories of their homes, farms, suburbs, cities, and businesses using modern street addresses, GPS coordinates or town names. Much of the content is available exclusively in Historic Map Works proprietary geographic browser, Historic Earth®.

The family history collection at FamilyLink has recently grown from 1.3 billion names to 3.6 billion names with a goal to reach 5 billion by the end of the year.

“We are serious about providing users with the best experience they can possible have with finding their ancestors, which is why we have partnered with 45 content providers in 35 countries to deliver billions of names in more than 20,000 databases,” Allen said.

For more information about FamilyLink or to become a member and to access the 3.6 billion genealogy names, visit http://www.familylink.com/member_offer/.

Additional Resources:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/familylink
Facebook Fans Page: http://www.facebook.com/myrelatives?

FamilyLink helps people find and connect with their living relatives and discover their family history. Millions of people have built family trees on our Facebook application and on FamilyLink.com.

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Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post from familylink.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.”

Free Interactive Slave Records Collection

Footnote.com is making available black history records and documents for free with registration.  They have partnered with Lowcountry Africana to make this possible.

 Here is the announcement:

SALT LAKE CITY – July19, 2010 

Today Footnote.com (www.footnote.com) and LowcountryAfricana (www.lowcountryafricana.net) announced the launch of a new free collection of historical records from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History containing estate inventories and bills of sale for Colonial and Charleston, South Carolina from 1732 to 1872. FamilySearch International donated the copies of the microfilm of the original historical documents.

Charlestons role as a port of entry during the Atlantic Slave Trade means many thousands of African Americans may have ancestors who came from, or through, South Carolina. This new collection on Footnote.com will assist African American genealogy research by forming, in many cases, a seamless paper trail from Emancipation to the 1700s.

“Research about African American history and genealogy has often been especially difficult because of limited access to primary source material,” says Henry Louis Gates Jr., Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.

“Footnote.com is spearheading a revolution in access to the black past by digitizing major portions of the black archive, and making these records available on the Internet. The publication of these records from South Carolina in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is the latest example of their bold commitment to resurrecting the African American past.”

Footnote.com provides an experience where visitors can access historical records and interact with those records and members of the Footnote community.

Visitors to Footnote.com can enhance these records from the South Carolina archives through various activities including:

Creating and sharing webpages about the documents and their discoveries

Adding their own insights and comments to the documents

Uploading and connecting their own photos, letters and documents

Annotating information on the documents, which creates a searchable database

“We are excited that Footnote has joined this collaboration because they offer family historians the ability to turn public records into personal history, said Toni Carrier, Founding Director of Lowcountry Africana. “Nowhere else on the Internet can readers interact with historical records in such a meaningful way.”

“South Carolina has one of the richest sets of early government records of social and cultural history,” said Charles Lesser, Senior Archivist at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. “This new cooperative effort will revolutionize access to an especially important segment of those records.”

To view these South Carolina records, please visit Footnote.com.

About Footnote, Inc.

Footnote.com is a subscription website that features original historical documents, providing visitors with an unaltered view of the events, places and people that shaped the American nation and the world. At Footnote.com, all are invited to come share, discuss, and collaborate on their discoveries with friends, family, and colleagues. For more information, visit http://www.footnote.com.

About Lowcountry Africana

Lowcountry Africana, sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston, South Carolina, is a free website dedicated to African American genealogy and history in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,home to the rich Gullah-Geechee cultural heritage. The entire content of Lowcountry Africana is, and always will be, 100% free.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post from Lowcountry Africana.  I am happy to be an affiliate of 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.”