1940 US Census: MyHeritage
publishes two million images and unveils the first indexed records for free
searches
World’s largest
family network steps up to meet massive demand amidst 1940 U.S. Census frenzy
PROVO, Utah & LONDON & TEL AVIV, Israel – April 3,
2012: MyHeritage, the most
popular family network on the web, today announced the availability of the first
indexed records from the 1940 US Census, searchable for free by names, facts
and other criteria, on www.myheritage.com/1940census.
In addition, MyHeritage has published two million images of the 1940 U.S. Federal
Census out of the total 3.8 million, with complete availability of all images expected
in less than 24 hours.
The highly anticipated searchable indexed records and
images are amongst the very first to appear on the internet as millions of
people rush to satisfy their curiosity and access one of the most significant
and meaningful sets of historical records ever to be released. The first indexed
records come from Bristol County in Rhode Island, with a deluge of additional
records to be added by MyHeritage each day. The images currently available on www.myheritage.com/1940census cover all of New York, California,
Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia,
Rhode Island, Missouri, Wyoming and Nevada. Images for additional states are
added every hour.
“With a tidal wave of demand from the general public, MyHeritage
is excited to be the first to provide a preliminary searchable index and more
than half of the 1940 Census images, all for free. Now anyone can learn more
about their loved ones, celebrities, and life in general in the USA in 1940.”
said Chief Content Officer of MyHeritage, Russ Wilding. “We've been working hard
for months and have built a huge new data center all in anticipation of enabling
the masses to explore the 1940 U.S. Census on a rock-solid site. The overwhelming
interest in the census is a great sign of the growing popularity of family
history among mainstream audiences and we’re proud to be a part of this moment
in history.”
As the largest and most recent U.S. census to be made publicly
available, the 1940 Census opens a window into the lives of the generation that
survived the Great Depression and lived through the Second World War, described
as the Greatest Generation. Users will be able to use the 1940 Census to learn
more about their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and other close relatives.
Following the release of the 1940 U.S. Census past midnight on
April 2, 2012 by the National Archives and Records Administration, the 1940
Census was in the top spot for the most popular Google searches in the USA for
the entire day.
MyHeritage
is the only provider to make the 1940 U.S. census searchable in 38 languages,
enabling family history lovers all over the world to discover more about the
lives of their American relatives during this transformative period in history.
The census images are also currently available on the additional historical
content sites owned by MyHeritage on www.worldvitalrecords.com/1940census and www.familylink.com/1940census - with initial searchable
indexes expected to be live soon on these websites, and to grow throughout 2012.
With the industry’s fastest and most powerful family history
search engine and a sophisticated system of automatically matching records to
family trees on the site, MyHeritage aims to provide an easy, hassle-free and enjoyable
way of discovering more about a family’s American legacy through the 1940 U.S.
Census.
Building on its innovative lead in the family history industry,
MyHeritage will also enable a search of the 1940 U.S. Census on-the-go with a
new version of the MyHeritage Mobile App for iPhone, iPad and Android, to be
launched this week.
With more than 62 million registered users, billions of historical
records, 22 million family trees and close to 1 billion profiles, MyHeritage
has become the trusted home on the web for families wishing to explore their
family history, share memories and stay connected.
About MyHeritage
MyHeritage
is the most popular family network on the web. On MyHeritage, millions of
families around the world enjoy having a private and free place to explore
their history and share special family memories. Pioneers in making family
history a collaborative experience for all the family, MyHeritage empowers its
users with a unique mix of innovative social tools and a massive library of
historical content. The site is available in 38 languages. The company is
backed by Accel Partners and Index Ventures, the investors of Facebook and
Skype. For more information visit www.myheritage.com. The 1940 U.S. Federal Census is available on www.myheritage.com/1940census.
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