Now Online: Pennsylvania State Death Certificates, 1906-1924

April 17, 2014--Pennsylvania State 1906-1924 death certificates are now online. This marks the first of multiple releases through the next year. Eventually, all deaths before the 50 year privacy window (1964) will be online, with an additional year anticipated to become available every year afterward.

 Search the collection (click here).

Free access is available to PA residents, and to everyone who visits select libraries or a Family History Center. https://familysearch.org/locations/

Learn more about free access for PA residents (click here).

Follow PaHR-Access for updates.

Current FamilySearch digitization projects: How to find them

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy non-profit, and is always adding new content to their flagship website FamilySearch.org. As any other genealogist and avid user of FamilySearch's digital record collections, I am always curious when the records I need will go online.

For full-time genealogy researchers, knowing what is coming online within the year may result in saving untold funds and time. If I am desperate to find ancestors in X, and I pay a genealogist to search X's records by hand, I could be out of several hundreds of dollars. If X's records will be digitized within 1-3 years I may decide to spend my several hundred on records farther out in the queue of digitization (or records that are not in the queue at all).

Unfortunately for all of us enthusiastic genealogists, we have to learn patience. FamilySearch's official policy on listing their current projects is as follows:

"FamilySearch does not provide information on current or future projects. The first public notice of FamilySearch's newly acquired records appears in the Family History Library Catalog."

I wonder if things might be changing at FamilySearch and all around us though. I wonder if we are moving toward an era of greater project transparency. Ancestry.com and FamilySearch will no longer be competing for digitization contracts with the same archive. Their recent partnership was discussed in detail at RootsTech and several online news sources. Last month at RootsTech, one of the leaders of FamilySearch mentioned a project that is still under discussion with the government of India. I was a little surprised to hear this announcement before a contract was even final, considering FamilySearch's general policy. Perhaps FamilySearch has little reason to withhold the information, but there is no efficient system to list current project to the public at this time.

There are a few ways I have learned to gather information about current digitization projects.

1. Attend FamilySearch presentations
   RootsTech, Family History Library classes, or local family history fairs often have speakers who are FamilySearch employees. Last month at RootsTech there were several current projects announced. Some of these were later mentioned in a FamilySearch Blog post.
2. Network with FamilySearch employees and missionaries (on and offline)
   FamilySearch employees are fairly closed lipped online due to company policy, but will sometimes share more in person. They are enthusiastic genealogists too! I have found one recently who is tweeting sometimes about current projects.
   
   Attending events like RootsTech is a great way to jump start your networking. You can sometimes get specific employees email addresses and begin to have discussions with them about what is going on inside FamilySearch. Being helpful and providing useful feedback is a good way to approach this.
   
   FamilySearch missionaries can often be found in your own congregations or areas. If you are involved with your local Family History Center, societies, and genealogical repositories, you may just end up running into some of these digitization teams.
3. Follow the news and blogs
   Using a search engine to search for terms such as "FamilySearch digitization" (without quotes) will reveal some online newspaper articles about FamilySearch missionaries and what they are digitizing. You can use keywords like those to create alerts on Google News so that you will be emailed when a new story goes online.
   
   Subscribing to genealogy blogs will help you to be among the first to know. The following blogs are some that often discuss FamilySearch news:
   
   1. FamilySearch Blog
   2. Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
   3. Ancestry Insider
   4. Genealogy's Star
   5. Larry Cragun Family and Genealogy Blog
   6. Renee's Genealogy Blog
   7. Enduring Legacy Genealogy (you are here)

 Check back for a possible follow-up article about known current projects.

How to obtain Pennsylvania state vital records

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was one of the main ports of entry into our nation. Many families in the United States have some ancestors who are connected to Pennsylvania, even if they moved out soon after immigrating. This is why the availability of vital records in eastern states like Pennsylvania is important to the genealogy of the nation.

The process of obtaining Pennsylvania state vital records is changing. Vital records are the records of birth and death that are recorded at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Chances are that you have your own birth certificate, and perhaps a death certificate of a recently deaceased close relative. These records list date and location of the recorded event, parents names, and several other useful facts of genealogical interest. Imagine if you could have these certificates for all your Pennsylvania ancestors. You may unlock relationships, find out where an ancestor was buried, the causes of death (for family health history), or simply fill in those missing dates on your pedigree. Soon you will be able to do all this more easily.

State vital records (births and deaths) for Pennsylvania begin in 1906. Until recently, the only way to search these records was to ask the staff of the Pennsylvania Department of Health to search the records for you. In early 2012, the state legislature passed a law directing that all deaths filed 50 years ago, and births filed 105 years ago, are now open to the public. For those public years, the health department quickly posted images of the typed indexes online. The first benefit was that you could now search the index yourself. That was an immediate genealogical benefit. For example, you could look for spelling variants, or look for everyone with the last name you are interested in.

Starting this year (2014), Ancestry.com will put digital images and a searchable index of these records online. The first batch of records is anticipated to come next month (April). These records may include deaths from 1906 through 1924. Details of when specific batches of these records will be released online is subject to change, but they will be coming online soon.

When these records come online they will start to appear in the "Hints" of Ancestry.com member trees, and will also be searchable with various data entry fields like current collections on the Ancestry.com website. This will allow you to find vital records in seconds that you may not have even known existed before. If any of your relatives died in Pennsylvania between 1906 and 1963, this collection is for you. It also will include births from 1906 through 1908, although those may not be uploaded for almost another year. The deaths records will be release in batches first.

If you do not have an Ancestry.com account, please do not despair. There will be several free options to access the Pennsylvania records. You may use the database at the archives, at a Family History Center, or select libraries. You may also have free access from home if you are a Pennsylvania resident. You can already access other Pennsylvania collections for free. Get started today to set up your free account at http://phmc.info/ancestrypa.

If you can't wait, check out the typed indices today at the public records page of the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.

WorldCat.org now includes Family History Library Catalog

Thanks to the Maryland Genealogical Society Facebook page for sharing Michael John Neill's blog post. Michael John Neill of RootDig.com wrote the good news. Click here to see his post.

Click here for the WorldCat.org site.
Click here for the FamilySearch Catalog.

FamilySearch Catalog advertizes WorldCat.org and Archive Grid

These two links may have appeared today. It is the first time I remember noticing them. FamilySearch has been working with WorldCat (OCLC) for perhaps a year or two from what they've been saying in the past. This is the first noticable trace of this agreement I have noticed in the catalog. 

I understand that FamilySearch Catalog items should be showing up in WorldCat.org at some point. Archive Grid is part of the same website. 

Please don't overlook these two sources. The largest genealogical organization in the world (FamilySearch) has put prominent links here because they are extremely valuable catalogs. Almost any book has an entry in this catalog. I just helped a patron in our Family History Center find the location of a rare family history by showing him how to use WorldCat a couple weeks ago.

Living on FamilySearch.org

If you spend as much time on FamilySearch as your loved ones spend on Facebook, perhaps you are living on FamilySearch.org. That could be me.

Today's post is about a different topic though.

United States, Public Records Index, released June 28, 2013.

This collection is a major step by FamilySearch to include records of living people. This index is obtained from a third party.(1) There are many websites that feature the addresses, numbers, suggested relatives, and even birth date of almost everyone in the USA.(2) That isn't new, but FamilySearch has only now joined the list after noticing demand, and a careful overview from their legal team.(3) In helping beginners, I have seen them try to type the name of a living relative. Finding living relatives is an important part of genealogy. I'm an advocate because I found many cousins this way. I also use such sources for my career as an investigative genealogist and heir searcher. With the recent panic about identity theft and privacy, many question whether this historically public information should now be restricted. Names and addresses have been public since the 1800's in cities who have developed city directories, and when phones became popular, that data was public in phone books. Possible relatives may seem new, but is done by comparing individuals living at the same address. This analysis can be done in databases with ease because of computers. The Internet also makes it easier to show birth dates. Heir searchers, mineral and property rights workers, and other investigative careers rely on all of this data to complete their work and distribute assets to the correct persons. The data aggregation is done by 3rd parties, but comes from public sources like phone books, property records, tax records etc. Such records can be found on many county websites.

This data contained in this collection is described on the collection page and associated wiki page. The collection name actually appears to be a place holder for future locality expansion. The collection today only includes New York City. The current description reads:

"This collection is an index of names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, and possible relatives of people who resided in the five boroughs of New York City between 1970 and 2010. These records were generated from telephone directories, driver licenses, property tax assessments, credit applications, voter registration lists and other records available to the public."(4)

Footnotes
1. Source information, "From a third party aggregator of publicly available information," https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956.
2. Examples: Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1. Intelius.com. ZabaSearch.com etc.
3. Conversation with Dan Peay, multi-area manager and collections strategist at FamilySearch.
4.  https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956

FamilySearch's new website for Archives

FamilySearch has a page for archivists and potential collections donors. This page gives summaries of the records services FamilySearch can provide to archives and government agencies.

It can be accessed via the About page of FamilySearch.org (a link at the bottom of the new layout).

FamilySearch Archives has a fresh, more inviting look. The most notable additions appear to be a map showing the number of digitization cameras in each country, and a form for collections agents to initiate contact with FamilySearch.

This is an improvement over expecting such people to wait for FamilySearch to solicit relationships or cause them to fight their way through the Support system that other questions go to.

What do you think of the new design?

Occupy Genealogy!

Occupy Genealogy is a Facebook page and website where people can gather to discuss legislative issues facing genealogists.

Any interested person can help. I've been interested in legislation affecting genealogy research for a few years. Since at least 2009, I have taken that interest to social media as the first admin of the People for Better Pennsylvania Historical Records Access' PaHR-Access Facebook page. While I did not lead the organization in any formal way, I asked the founder if I could step in to help--using the name--and he gladly consented. Making a difference in our communities is all about the grassroots efforts of individuals. Occupy Genealogy seeks to provide a grassroots forum where we can all learn about the issues facing genealogists, and learn some ways to get involved.

In the end, it will be up to you to be creative. You can call, email, write letters, visit and find other ways to make your opinion known to relevant legislators. Your efforts don't need to stop there though. Other ideas have included local ralies or discussions, coordinating between organizations in support of records access, contacting the archives or departments in charge of the records policies directly, talking to the local genealogy societies about what is being done, etc. etc.

Recently I joined as an admin of the Occupy Genealogy Facebook page to do what I can in helping get the word out there about various issues facing our records access. Please join the discussion and consider how you might help.

My RootsTech 2013: Day 2 - Ancestry.com breaking news, FHISO and GEDCOMX, handwriting recognition

 As always, a highlight of the day was the keynote. Today it was sponsored by Ancestry.com who took the opportunity to talk about family history collaboration in general, using online trees for collaboration, and--breaking news--their biggest partnership with FamilySearch yet:

• Over the next 3 years, Ancestry.com will index approximately 140 million pages of probate records previously microfilmed by FamilySearch.
• Ancestry.com also announced the new price ($99) for their DNA test. ($99 for everyone, not just subscribers as when they launched it)

 One of my acquaintances at FamilySearch, Ben Baker (seen on the left), invited me via e-mail to talk to him about his relationship calculator idea during the lunch hour. He was presenting his idea in the BYU Technology Workshop demo area outside room 260. My only regret was not knowing about the BYU Technology Workshop offerings sooner. Some of the "how to" complexities are lost on my user (non-developer) brain, but it was well worth my time. Most things were discussed in concept and user-friendly language.


The relationship calculator can be tweaked to include more or less relationship types, capped at a certain generation or left infinite; the main concern Ben seemed to have at this time is that his model would take too long to process information inside the FamilySearch database. He displayed two different algorithms he has tried.

 Randy Wilson of FamilySearch demos his ideas about working toward a model that could become a standard for data transfer (data transfer, think GEDCOMX) that is used for indexed record data. He showed a concept like part of Ancestry.com's attaching sources (the part when you choose which indexed data to merge into your tree). As a caveat, my favorite class of the day was the 4:15pm class on GEDCOMX, when Ryan Heaton of FamilySearch explained their vision to the point. Randy's concept of a model for indexed data was mentioned as a post-"GEDCOMX 1.0" priority by Ryan later.

In the FHISO (Family History Information Standards Organization) class at 3pm, many of us voiced the community's opinion that FHISO was working too slowly and we wanted to see FamilySearch working with them. To the credit of both FHISO and Ryan of GEDCOMX (FamilySearch), they mentioned each other in a friendly manner. The points in the FHISO discussion seemed not to be answered to the satisfaction of many present. For example, it was asked what we have to work with today regarding a better GEDCOM model. It was asked where we might read more specifics of a suggested model for any particular standards. While the answers there seemed soft and tentative, the GEDCOMX vision discussed in the next hour was well defined--an exampe of a modern and live (within FamilySearch) model that could be used by FHISO and altered to the community's needs. Ryan was enthusiastic about the idea of working with FHISO to adjust the "open" GEDCOMX. The complexities were interesting. It was mentioned that the name GEDCOMX is owned by FamilySearch and requires a citation crediting them, but the things needed to implement it are all open and may be altered without permission. When we asked Ryan about why FamilySearch had not officially joined FHISO, Ryan told us that he wanted the same thing and we should take it to upper management because his recommendation was previously dismissed. We do not know why the choice was made, so it is our job to try and find contact information for the right person (that isn't easy) and tell them we want to see an official partnership.

 Back to the BYU Tech. Workshop, at 145pm I attended the session depicted to the left. There were about three shorter talks, with all of them being pretty easy for me to understand except the last which was still interesting. The over-all take-away message (I think) was that FamilySearch is listening to the students at BYU and others about their research. They want to be able to use some automation soon, but it is still rather complex. Various models for handwriting recognition were discussed. Larger research organizations were mentioned. From June 2011 - March 2012 FamilySearch had an evaluation done to measure accuracy of one method. BYU students have done evaluations too. The general result was handwriting recognition between 50-90% accuracy. The 90% figure was from a single author study where the model words were taken from the same handwriting style (author) as the writing being tested against. Tests were closer to 70% accuracy when multiple authors were tested against. The variation in error was significant depending on method, type of record, etc. One of the FamilySearch representatives commented that the accuracy percentage is high enough for limited data fields like gender, marital status, and other simple census fields that such a thing could be used soon to at least provide a suggestion to an indexer/arbitrator. No specific future use plans were revealed, but the overall feel from the workshop and Dennis Brimhall's unconferencing comment (as I recall) is that FamilySearch will seriously look at using this is some form within the next year or two. No time-frame was mentioned, but that is my estimate based on sentiment of those in a position to decide. I think it is key that the community of bloggers and tech-loving-genealogists understand the realities so we do not expect too much too soon. Though it sounds realistic to have at least limited fields on form based records available as a key-A in an indexing experience (as a practical application example). Any time saved without introducing more error is good. People index with 7-8% error on average as FamilySearch reported in this workshop session. If some fields can be pre-filled at 90% accuracy based on today's technology by the computer then I say let us do it--but not as a final result (something to be arbitrated).

To the right, a BYU student shows his project on word recognition in headstones. He is in talks with BillionGraves whom I mentioned is looking at this kind of technology from my post yesterday. Perhaps this is the guy that prompted them looking into it. At any rate, we know it is being worked on by someone and that is exciting.

It turns out that all workshop ideas above are not fully implemented or ready for prime-time. That is easily the nature of a technology workshop from any cutting edge genealogy technologists.

My main take away is that people-who-know-more-than-I-do want the technologies I want just as much as I do, but they also understand the complexities more than I do. After hearing some of their complexities, I will be much less likely to complain to my blogger and other friends. Perhaps this should be a required experience so we all can understand more of the hard work and determination behind-the-scenes. Even though it is complex, they are closer every year to solving these issues--an exciting idea, and what RootsTech is about for people like me.

Miscelaneous

• RootsMagic released update for RootsMagic 6 that is the first program to work directly with FamilySearch Family Tree instead of the dying new.FamilySearch.org
• Between David Rencher's class yesterday (my favorite Thursday class) and the FGS RPAC (Records Preservation and Access Committee) unconferencing session today, I've enjoyed trying to stay in the loop with legislative issues. It is an important area to be involved and there is much opportunity to help.

My RootsTech 2013: Day 1 - FamilySearch reveals website beta and vision, BillionGraves tech plans

I guess most of all I am glad about the focus to beginners and pre-beginners. We need to share the joy of story, family, love, etc. Many of the "reveals" at the conference are "soft"and this added beginner emphasis is an important aspect of FamilySearch's vision.

With about an hour left until I head to the Mormon Tabernacle to listen to the choir, I hope to give a somewhat decent overview of highlights from my first day. With so much to do, everyone's experience will be different.

Favorite classes

• Genealogy Legislation with David Rencher
• Unconferencing with Dennis Brimhall

Favorite exhibit hall happenings

• Meet a few more enthusiasts who I previously only knew online: James Tanner, Dan Peay, John de Jong, Carol P., and several others who I spent less time with.

I was not as interested in some of the afternoon classes today so I spent a couple of the class periods in the exhibit hall collecting ribbons for my badge and meeting exhibitors. I did the card for entry to win an ipad, got my picture taken at both the FindMyPast and FamilySearch Indexing booth, and picked up two free family history charts, a t-shirt, took my photo in front of the BillionGraves booth to tweet as part of their contest, enjoyed a demo in a nice cushy sofa chair, and just loved the feeling of being with a bunch of wonderful people who love this stuff as much as I do.

What's new? This is subjective and biased by my opinion.

• FamilySearch reveals website overhaul (mobile friendly, additional LDS features, photos, stories, fan chart view...)
• BillionGraves anticipates My Legacy Memorial app to be available in the iOS store within days-weeks (in Apple approval now)
• BillionGraves working to use OCR on headstones to provide a draft transcript that transcribing volunteers can then correct (instead of transcribing from scratch) One of the staff at the booth told me.
• FamilySearch wants to reach out to those who don't use computers, reach out to youth, reach out to everyone. Only 8% of sponsor's members are registered for FamilySearch.org. Family history is more than genealogy, includes discovering self, talking to family (focus from CEO Dennis Brimhall)
• FamilySearch still working towards form and letter recognition (regarding FamilySearch Indexing), as well as availability in more languages. (No release date, but closer than last year. Some additional relationships with companies and organizations who can help them reach those goals.) Dennis Brimhall was the source for most of this.
• Lots of story sharing apps and tools

Virginia Vital Records images and index online by June 1, 2015

The following announcement was made by the People for Better Pennsylvania Historical Records Access Facebook page (which I write for as a volunteer records access advocate):

We inquired with the Virginia Genealogical Society about the digitization of Virginia vital records. Soon afterwards, this update was posted on their website and we were sent a link:

The 2012 Virginia General Assembly legislation (SB 660) reduced the closed period for marriage and death records from 50 to 25 years; and marriage and death records created prior to 1987 are now available to the public through orders placed with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The legislation also gave VDH a goal of entering into a contract with a genealogical indexing company (to index open and closed vital records, and to link open records to underlying images) by June 1, 2013, and to have an index online on the VDH and Library of Virginia websites by June 1, 2015.

VDH has been negotiating an indexing contract or contracts with Ancestry and FamilySearch, and it is expected to announce a contract before the June 1, 2013 target date. It is anticipated that Ancestry/ FamilySearch may start to index and film records in batches, perhaps starting with the oldest first (e.g., 1853-1896), and once a batch has been scanned and indexed, the original records in question will be turned over to the Library of Virginia. When a contract is announced, tentative timetables and initial batches may be announced, though these will undoubtedly still be subject to change as the original records are organized and processed.
http://www.vgs.org/component/content/article/43-section-newsflash/86-virginia-vital-records-update

FamilySearch dCamX videos, image pipeline, and being involved in records donations

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the process of donating collections to FamilySearch. I donated a collection and have been quite curious about what happens behind the scenes. I've also been talking with FamilySearch employees about the possibility of helping them image new collections. The whole process is rather internal, and I do not know nearly as much about it as I'd like to. This and more has motivated me to write posts about the topic.

The process is more complex than I first would have assumed. My limited understanding comes from several sources.

In August 2007, Ancestry Insider posted a four part blog series on "The [FamilySearch] Digital Pipeline." That post has a picture that shows what looks like a 10-phase pipeline. When I was discussing the donation I made with a FamilySearch employee in January, he mentioned the "12 step process pipeline." Exactly how the process is different today than in 2007, I wish I knew.

In February 2011, the Ancestry Insider blog featured the "FamilySearch Technology Booth," a post about the new dCamX technology.

The same post brings up the idea of donating to FamilySearch: "If you’re in the Salt Lake area, bring your family history photographs and documents down and FamilySearch will scan the documents for you. Your document images will be stored on the Internet and you will receive an e-mail with a link to them."

I have no idea how this was managed and I've never heard of anyone actually having FamilySearch host their family photos until the recent addition of the FamilySearch Photos beta. In my opinion, this is an example of one of the many times that FamilySearch has a good concept for a long time before a practical system is put in place to make it easy for the average patron to get involved. I am guessing very few photos were donated to FamilySearch until this new beta in the past month.

The Archives page at FamilySearch.org gives a brief description of dCamX:
"2012 dCamX image capture technology and Digital Reading Room (DRR) solutions introduced, opening a new era of digital capture and sharing. These technologies are now being provided to archives around the world, allowing them to capture and share their own records with their users."

It looks like the digital pipeline is becoming a little less private, as FamilySearch seeks to get others more directly involved. 

At the end of January, FamilySearch quietly posted several dCamX training videos on YouTube under a new channel: http://www.youtube.com/familysearchdcam Before that, the training videos were only available on a page that required authorized sign-in.

In the past month, a FamilySearch employee has told me a little about a pilot to allow individuals to use the software and a prosumer Canon camera to gather collections. This appears to be limited to a select few. The majority of all camera teams are official records preservation missionaries or employees of FamilySearch. If I have the privilege of being involved, I will likely post again about this beta.

If you post with your questions or thoughts, I will be able to consider them in my discussions with FamilySearch--and maybe get an answer.

Does FamilySearch want my collections? Learn how to donate!

FamilySearch is world renowned for their efforts in preserving and sharing genealogically relevant records. Do you have a collection that you would like to have preserved or shared? Do you know of a collection that you want to see put online?

Last month I mentioned my experience in donating a collection and promised to talk about the process in a future post. I am honored that they accepted my collection and made it available online.

It took several emails, calls, bumps, and bruises from start to finish. It was evident that the process was self-explanatory neither to donors nor to some of the staff I contacted. My unfortunate experience took more than a year from beginning to end. Had I known how to donate correctly, it would have been handled in 3 months or less.

FamilySearch has been diligently working to improve the experience and is still doing so. This will likely become a series of posts about donating and the things I learn along the way. I am still conversing with FamilySearch about the experience and their efforts in improving it for others. I'm also talking with them about opportunities to be involved as a volunteer in records acquisitions. It is a very interesting conversation.

The most complete instructions I can find online must be searched for on the Help tab at FamilySearch.org. These instructions have been updated since I found them in August 2011. I still think they are less than clear about who to contact for which need, but hopefully that will be improved soon. If you ask your specific questions as comments I will do my best to respond.

The remainder of this post (until the ending notes) is a quote from:
"How patrons can donate or loan records, books, or personal genealogy to the Family History Library"
Document ID: 101707

Many valuable records have been added to the Family History Library through the generosity of patron donations. We will need information about the records you want to have digitized so we can determine if they meet our criteria.  With permission from the author, the material will be digitized and posted online at our website FamilySearch.org. At this site researchers will be able to view the material free of charge. Donations may be sent to the following address:

FamilySearch

Family History Library

Donations

35 North West Temple Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84150-1103
USA

or e-mailed to  bookdonations@familysearch.org
Please include the following information.

– Information about the book or records (title, author, content, etc.)

– Patron information (name, phone, e-mail address)

Note:  Donations may also be delivered to the Family History Library donation desk, located in the main floor lobby.

For a complete list of items and guidelines for donating to FamilySearch, please see “Gifts, Donations, and Loans to FamilySearch,” [link inserted into this blog post] attached and posted on FamilySearch.org.

To locate these guidelines, go to http://www.familysearch.org.
Select FamilySearch Centers, then Family History Library, then Gifts and Donations, and then Donations to the Family History Library.

A summary of the items FamilySearch will accept is listed below.

FamilySearch will accept only materials that:

• Are readable, organized, and accessible to help researchers identify individuals and relationships by name, date, and place.
• Add new information to FamilySearch’s collection (duplicate materials are not accepted).
• Fit in available shelf space.
• Do not violate current privacy and copyright laws.

FamilySearch accepts the following materials:

• Autobiographies and biographies containing genealogical material.
• Family histories with genealogical information.
• Indexes to records.
• Local histories (limited).
• Well organized collections of genealogical and research materials (if preapproved by Library Rights).

FamilySearch accepts the following materials only if submitted with a Permission to Duplicate form signed by the copyright owner or legal custodian of the original documents:

• Census records.
• Directories (limited).
• Genealogical periodicals.
• Newspaper extracts (such as obituaries).
• Commercially available computer software.
• Original records, such as cemetery records, church records and histories, court records, land records, military records, naturalization records, passenger lists, probate records, and vital records.

Note: Requests for filming of records at libraries, societies, etc. should be directed to libraryrights@familysearch.org [This e-mail address is for large collections at their original repository. Small collections should be mailed as above, after contacting Support and reaching an agreement.]

[Things you'll need:
Permission Request Form
Gifts, Donations, and Loans to FamilySearch
I recommend printing both and understanding them clearly before even contacting support.]

My ending notes:
Even though I had much of this data, I went down the wrong path. I emailed Library Rights and they told me that I needed to email someone else and so on the chain went for the first five and a half months until I finally was connected with the right people. For example, at one point they thought they'd gotten me to the right people when they got me to talk to book donations, but mine was a historical records donation--a different division. Good luck! If you will stick on them it will all work out. Maybe you wont even have any of the trouble I did.

PS. I feel inclined to explain that this wasn't so much the fault of any one individual or the FamilySearch brand. This is a real issue that really needs to be worked at. One of the employees in FamilySearch strategic collections has been conversing with me about it extensively and has been very helpful. He has since taken my ideas on several matters and invited me to meet with him at RootsTech. He is taking the problem of my donation experience very seriously and instead of getting upset at FamilySearch, I am helping to provide appropriate feedback in the correct channels. The end. :) ...

I donated a FamilySearch Historical Records collection

The collection I donated to FamilySearch is online! I donated images of my 2x great grandfather Frank S. Rowland's Church register from his 30 years as a Methodist minister. I'm excited that his record keeping can now be a blessing to anyone descended from those listed herein.

New York, Frank S. Rowland Church Register, 1889-1917

www.familysearch.org

Digital images of a church register kept by Frank S. Rowland (1859-1917), Methodist (Episcopal) minister. Reverend Rowland served congregations in Hornellsville, Hartsville, Rochester, Buffalo, and Olean, New York; Detroit, Michigan; and Winona, Minnesota. The register contains marriages and burials...

For now, I simply want all of you to know my ancestor has a collection on the website of the largest genealogy organization in the world. It feels like quite an accomplishment. I hope that anyone else out there with a special collection of genealogical value will consider donating theirs as well.

Donating a collection to FamilySearch was not a self-explanatory process, so I plan to explain it in some detail in future post(s).

New Jersey vital records online access under discussion

People for Better Pennsylvania Historical Records Access (PaHR-Access) posted the following announcement on their Facebook page today:

Our FamilySearch source stated the following: "We have begun discussing a cooperative project with the New Jersey state archives. This would include vital and state censuses and other records. They have a concern with revenue and we are trying to find a good solution to help them. Ancestry is also very interested. - This is a complex issue and we are trying to find a model that meets our respective mandate. I have confidence we will find the right model eventually. The archives is open and is an eager participant in our discussions."
Click here to see the post as it appears on Facebook.

Enduring Legacy Genealogy continues to support records access for genealogists. If you become aware of any records access discussions or action points please share. I will be glad to help spread the word.

Pennsylvania Opens Death Certificates to the Public

UPDATE: As of 15 December 2011 Governor Tom Corbett has signed SB 361. It is now known as PA Act 110 of 2011. This puts the effective date at 13 February 2012. (60 days to take effect)
See the government website for further information on this law.

On December 6th, 2011 the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 361 which previously passed unanimously in the Senate. This bill will make all Pennsylvania Death Certificates from 1906 when they began filing until 1961 public record. The law requires the certificates to have been on file for 50 years before becoming public.

Prior to this law, death certificates never became public. With this new law these older certificates may be put online and used for genealogical research.

The law will be official on or before 16th February 2012. The bill has a 60 day period before it comes into effect, plus the 10 day period in which the governor may review it which ends this Sunday on the 18th. The governor will approve the bill by that date or it will become law by default. Because of the unanimous vote, there is no reason to fear a veto.

Stay posted for updates regarding when these records go online. It is expected to happen quickly on Ancestry.com. Three years from now the state archive website will also provide access.

PaHR-Access Pennsylvania Genealogy Bill (Major Update)

After PaHR-Access' article of two days ago titled "Pennsylvania Dept of Health still fighting any change", Scott Sikorski's declaration today comes as a pleasant surprise. Sikorski is the Legislative Director of Senator Jake Corman who sits as Appropriations Committee chair. Sikorski stated that Senate Bill 361 will pass from the Appropriations Committee when the senate reconvenes on Monday, the 19th.

This action is expected to occur at about 12:30pm EST, but if there is a call for discussion the action may take place closer to 2:30pm, Sikorski said. Sikorski was helpful to answer all of my questions regarding the movement of this bill. While the Fiscal Note from the committee does not become public record until Monday, Sikorski was able to report that this bill would create "no adverse impact" on the finances of the state. Sikorski also reported that there is a standing agreement with Ancestry.com to digitize and index the death certificates at no cost to the state. While a date of availability has not been fixed, we may "anticipate a high priority" in the Ancestry.com process. The resulting records will be searchable at the Pennsylvania Archives Search Room as well as to Ancestry.com subscribers. In 3 years from the time the bill is passed the PHMC (Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission) website will make these same records available. This is the website which hosts the page for the Pennsylvania Archives. Being aware of FamilySearch International's intent to make these same record available I asked Sikorski about the potential availability at FamilySearch.org, and though he did not know the answer, he agreed to write a letter to find out.

While these are the aims of the bill as outlined by the Appropriations Committee as they prepare to pass it to the floor of the Pennsylvania Senate, the success of the bill continues to hinge on all remaining steps in the legislative process. Thanks for all of your enthusiasm and help in making this step in the process possible.

Pennsylvania Senate Genealogy Bill Update

Mike Hengst, of Senator Ribbons' staff, sent me an update on SB 361 today. He explained why nothing has happened recently by reminding us that the Senate does not return to session until September 19th and the House not until September 26th. Mike Hengst has been working for this bill for the last decade and feels positive about the progress being made this session. He plans to meet with the executive director of the Senate Appropriations Committee next week "to make the case to list the bill soon after the Senate returns to session." Mike's attitude was positive with a parting call for action: "Just keep the letters going to the members of the Appropriations Committee – believe me it does help even if you haven’t been getting a response – folks are becoming aware of this issue here."

SB 361 is a bill that will change the way genealogy is done in Pennsylvania. Current vital records laws make genealogy research inconvenient through overly restrictive policy. For example, PA has no public vital records index.
Learn how you can help at the website for People for Better Pennsylvania Historical Records Access - PaHR-Access.

FamilySearch Team Digitizes Somerset County Maryland Records

NOTE: The quotes are an extract from the July 30, 2011 article "Mormon documents digitized: Original records to be moved to Annapolis," http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110730/LIFESTYLE/107300349. Unless otherwise noted all quotes come from Gary Miller, Somerset County Register of Wills for Maryland.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons, sent a 2-person FamilySearch team to Somerset County, Maryland last year to digitize the records of the Register of Wills office. Some of the Register of Will office's documents were copied to Annapolis previously, but the copying was incomplete. The cost to digitize the records of their office was estimated to run into the tens of thousands. In about four months, last summer, the FamilySearch team digitized the holdings of the entire office from the earliest records in the 1600's to 1940. Currently the digitized work is being organized and indexed according to Miller. "The Mormon work should come back to me this time next summer," Miller said.

Help index records for FamilySearch @ https://familysearch.org/volunteer/indexing

Other than the usual digitizing and indexing FamilySearch provides at no cost Miller was impressed that "the group working in Salt Lake City is taking every document and linking it to relevant documents whenever they could. Some papers that seem to have been lost or misplaced from files or cases, or appear obscure, will be associated with a number that corresponds with a will."

He was so impressed with the team's work that he recommended it to the rest of his state:
"Hopefully, in due time, the Mormons will do every office in Maryland."

As for the benefit to his office and those who come searching for data Miller said:

"This is good for the public because the next step is to provide public access to every document that this office had (prior to 1940). The original documents were so fragile I wouldn't let the public handle them. Soon they will be able to see stuff they once couldn't have."

"We are going to incorporate all of the images and index information they are sending us and put them [in] our system so you can sit down at the public computer here and pull up every document we have up to 1940."

PA Senate Bill 361 Given First Consideration

Since 2007 genealogists have come together under the organizational head of PaHR-Access for the purpose of making Pennsylvania Vital Records open for genealogical research.

Last session the bill made it unanimously past the PA Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee for the first time (September 2010) before the 2 year legislative session ended.

Half way through the first year of this new session our bill has reached that same point.
For this I am thankful!

June 8: PA Senate Bill 361's First Consideration on the floor of the state senate.

To understand the process the bill will be going through please read [PDF] Law Making in Pennsylvania.

UPDATE:
June 14: Referred to the PA State Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senate staff sources suggest this bill will remain there into the Fall season.

If you would like to help this bill move through the legislative process please contact the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair and members.

There is a chance the bill will move sooner with enough expressed interest.