Place Names -- U.S. vs. United States

Regularizing place names has become an issue with the introduction of huge international databases like New FamilySearch (NFS). One of the obvious issues is whether to use the designation "USA" or "United States" or nothing. NFS has a "Standardized Place Names" function built into the program. Anytime a place name is edited or added the program suggests a standardized place name. This list of standardized places is also available separately and outside the program in the FamilySearch Labs Website. The program is called Standard Finder and it is a simple look up program with some very useful added features, that gives the standardized place name for any location typed into the find box.

If Standard Finder is able to locate the place, there is a Resources tab that will look for the place in Google Earth, Google Maps and ArcReader. The maps have clickable links to the holding of the Family History Library Catalog.

Other programs use different standards. RootsMagic has one of the most elaborate geographic database programs. The program not only links to standard place names but also geo locates any place name in the database by latitude and longitude. Ancestral Quest allows some editing of place names, but is not nearly as versatile. Legacy Family Tree is somewhere in between.

None of these standardized programs deals with the idea that an event should be placed at the location that existed as of the time the event occurred. This rule preserves the historical names rather than the modern name. One reason for preserving historical names is to reflect the possible jurisdictional location of the original records. If you arbitrarily select the "standard" name, the original location and its historical context will be lost.

This is a subject that needs more development and discussion.

Record Search Pilot Release 1.5

In an announcement dated February 21, 2009, FamilySearch Labs described the changes made to Record Search Pilot in their release of Version 1.5. The changes include an updated home page, listing all of the collections in a single column, a new upgrade to the image viewer and improved help and feedback screens.

On the updated home page a map shows the number of collections available when your mouse hovers over a region and the drop down list of regions and collections has been changed.

The collections' list shows collections that are waypoints only, that is referrals to other Websites, and also collections that have no images.

The image viewer has been rearranged and adds image rotation, full screen view and the ability to print selected areas of an image.

The help and feedback screen have improved options to find answers to questions.

Although not dramatic changes, the functionality of the Website has been increased. The real issue with Record Search Pilot however, is the number of useful collections being added on a regular basis. As I have noted before, the number is not overwhelmingly large, as yet, but the steady increase in the availability of records makes this a more valuable site every month, especially because the records are free.

There were a number of comments to the Blog announcement of the upgrade indicating that people using older computer systems are experiencing a problem viewing the Website. As systems change and programs, such as Flash Player, get upgraded it is inevitable that older systems will lose the ability to view newer content. When upgrading software it is more important to incorporate new technology than it is to continue to support much older technology. The cost of upgrading you computer is now in the $300 range and costs much less than a new HDTV or many other appliances. Perhaps those people still using Windows 98 need to seriously evaluate their needs. I certainly sympathize with those on fixed incomes in this time of economic hardship, but computers have always changed and will continue to change and evolve in the future. As a consolation, many libraries, including Family History Centers, have free access to computers.

New way to deliver Family History training

FamilySearch support has announced a new way of delivering Family History training. This new method is being tested beginning with a series of classes on handwriting. These classes will be taught both in person at the Family History Library on January 31st and at the same time will be broadcast over the Internet. All interested persons need to register for the classes by sending an e-mail message to FHLClassReg@ldschurch.org with the words “Internet Broadcast” in the subject line. Registered persons will receive instructions through e-mail on how to attend the event. Those attending the class through the Internet will be able to see the computer presentation and hear the presenter’s voice. They will also be able to ask questions by typing the question into a chat “pod.” The submitted questions will be relayed in person through the broadcast host and then answered by the presenter. The number of computers that can join these classes is limited, and registration will end no later than Friday, January 30 at 4 P.M. (MST). Below are the classes that will be offered.

Early American Handwriting
9:00 A.M. (MST)

Older English Handwriting
10:30 A.M. (MST)

Germanic Scandinavian Gothic Handwriting
1:00 P.M. (MST)

New records on FamilySearch Pilot update

As of January 20, 2009, the following new collections of records have been added to the FamilySearch Pilot (also found on FamilySearch Labs):

1920 U.S. Census (Alabama)
1916 Canada Census
Costa Rica Church Records
Mexico Aguascalientes Church Records

The following collections have been updated with new records:

1870 U. S. Census
1850 U. S. Census (all schedules)

The 1920 U.S. Census is only 2% complete as of this date, but updates are coming regularly.

Changes in genealogy and fear of change

In a recent conversation, I heard about a common problem. Surprisingly, this problem is not limited to older genealogists, but is a common challenge for many, young and old. It is the fear of change. The person in this conversation has a ten year plus, older computer running Windows 98. She is still using a dial-up modem and has all of her records in PAF. Many of her family members are more advanced in computers and constantly try to get her to buy a new computer. She lives on a very limited budget and cannot really afford the expense of adding a cable connection. But the real problem is not the cost, the real problem is breaking out of her comfort zone and trying some of the newer products.

In helping people with their research, I commonly get into situations where I get real hostility from someone who knows how to do the research and doesn't want me to tell them anything different. One lady, sitting across from me at a genealogy library, was in tears. It turned out she was looking for her grandmother's maiden name and was so frustrated she could no longer control her tears. When I offered to help, her reaction was surprising. She got huffy and mad at me for suggesting that there might be someplace she hadn't searched. After talking to her for fifteen or twenty minutes, I could see she did not want any of my suggestions on additional resources, even though it appeared that she didn't even know what sources she had already searched.

These stories happen almost daily. What can we do? Probably not much for some of the people caught in this trap, but it is important to realize that there is an every changing and increasing amount of primary information available every day on the Web and change is inevitable, we might as well enjoy the ride.

For example, Record Search Pilot has new records in the 1850 US Census, the 1870 US Census, and the 1900 US Census, just for one instance. Keep and open mind and you may just break through that wall stopping your research.

15,000,000 new records on Pilot FamilySearch

Approximately every two weeks the Pilot FamilySearch Web site adds new records. This last week, as of December 8, 2008, FamilySearch announced the addition of 15,000,000 new records to the site. In an article in the Mormon Times, author Michael De Groote quoted Paul Nauta, FamilySearch public affairs manager as stating that "We've got close to 150,000 active volunteer indexers indexing about a million names a day. These particular censuses are almost done. The 1870 (census) is around 99 percent done, and the 1850 (census) is not too far behind."

The article went on to indicate that the 1850 census additions were 2,027,454 indexed records for Alabama, Indiana and Missouri. There were also additions for the 1850 census (slavery) of 869,076 records in the states of Alabama, Missouri and South Carolina. The 1850 census (mortality) has 37,990 newly indexed names from the states of Alabama, Indiana and Louisiana.

The Pilot FamilySearch files have some of the best images I have ever seen of these early records. The records are available from the pull-down menu for Search Records on FamilySearch.org. The same records are also available through the site for FamilySearch Labs.

FamilySearch: Family Tree

If you need a more graphic list of names submitted for LDS Temple work and if you have access to New Family Search with your login and password, you may wish to look at the Temple list generated by FamilySearch: Family Tree.

Clicking on the Temple tab shows a list of all of the ordinances you have reserved and the following:

Last Name
First Name
Gender
Birth Event
ID
Ordinance Status
To Parent
Date Submitted
Assigned To

Yes, you can find out who printed out the Family Ordinance Request and contact them about the status of the ordinances.

More later

Recent additions to Family Tree

The program known as new FamilySearch really has two components. The main component is found at http://new.familysearch.org. The second component is found at http://labs.familysearch.org and is known as Family Tree. It is presently the plan, according to John Greene, head of product development, to phase in Family Tree as the main interface for the program. In following this plan, new features are added to the Family Tree program from time to time.

Recently, printing a family group record was introduced. To print a Family Group Sheet from the Family Tree, open a folder for any individual, click on the relationships tab, and then click on the Family Group Sheet link.

In addition, until now, the Family Tree expanded trees without an easy way to collapse. Now, when an arrow is clicked to expand the tree, the Family Tree flips the arrow horizontally. Clicking a left arrow allows us to collapse the tree. You have to look carefully to see the small arrow is now pointing to the left of the screen. Clicking the little arrow collapses the expanded line. This is useful if you wish to scan several lines without expanding the pedigree and making it hard to follow.

Another new feature should be welcomed by all those working in new FamilySearch. Now, in Folders, from the Records Tab, the Family Tree allows us to:

• Identify records that don’t belong by checking the checkbox to the left of the record.
• Move the checked records to a new folder or folder that is open on the left by clicking the pulldown. We can also drag and drop selected records to an open folder on the left.
• Drag one open folder over the top of another folder to combine the two folders.

Some of the checkboxes are deactivated and the records can’t be moved. This is a know problem and will be resolved in the near future.

Apparently, these actions are updating live data on new.familysearch.org.

Continue to watch for new developments in the Family Tree program.