Tuesday, November 28, 2017

And The Winner of the Free RootsTech 2018 4-Day Pass Is...


First of all, before I announce the winner of the FREE RootsTech 2018 4-Day Pass, I want to thank everyone who entered my contest. There were 106 entries! Wow!

The winner was chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. So, here we go. Drumroll please....

The winner of the FREE RootsTech 2018 4-Day Pass is... Lise Harding!

Congratulations Lise! You are the winner of a FREE RootsTech 2018 4-Day Pass!

I will be emailing you a certificate with instructions on how to redeem your 4-day Pass.

Thanks again to everyone who entered my contest! There are still other contests running for a chance to win a 4-Day Pass to RootsTech 2018. Just click on the Conference Keeper site's link below to see a list of the contests. But hurry. These contests end on November 30th.

Conference Keeper Contests

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Enter to Win a Free 4-Day Pass to RootsTech 2018


How would you like to attend RoostTech 2018 for free? Yep. That's right. I said FREE.

What is RootsTech you ask? It's the world's largest family history technology conference. And it's super fun and exciting! Imagine spending four days with people who share your passion for family history.


As a RootsTech 2018 Ambassador, I have the awesome opportunity to give away a FREE 4-day pass to RootsTech 2018!

This free 4-day pass ($279 value) includes the following:


What this free 4-day pass does not include: Airfare, meals, hotel, luncheon events, paid workshops, or other expenses.

You say you've already purchased a RootsTech pass? No problem! If the winner has already purchased a RootsTech 2018 pass, they will get a full refund. How cool is that!?

The winner will receive a certificate with instructions on how to redeem their 4-day pass.

RootsTech 2018 is being held February 28 - March 3, 2018 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter and will be announced on November 28, 2017. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Genealogy Fab Finds on Hiatus


As you probably have noticed, I haven't been posting my weekly Genealogy Fab Finds for some time now. Life has gotten pretty busy around here, especially lately.

So, this post is to let you know that Genealogy Fab Finds is on hiatus until further notice. Thank you so much for reading my Fab Finds posts in the past. They have been some of my most-read posts.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Humans of New York Brandon Stanton to Keynote RootsTech 2018

Brandon Stanton, Humans of New York, to keynote RootsTech 2018
I received the following press release from FamilySearch:

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (25 October 2017), RootsTech is delighted to announce that Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York, will be the keynote speaker at RootsTech 2018, on Thursday, March 1, 2018. Stanton is a world renowned photographer and storyteller. He is recognized for his incredible talent of telling the story of everyday people he photographs, helping them feel important. At RootsTech 2018, Stanton will share his story, motivations, and some of the messages that his camera has captured in his quest to find the stories that drive the lives of the people of our world. Easily find and share this announcement online in the FamilySearch Newsroom.

In 2010, Stanton was laid off as a bond trader in Chicago. Undaunted, he bought a camera and set out to create a photographic census of 10,000 everyday people on the streets of New York. He published his initial work on his website, Humans of New York, and then added quotes of his subjects to create short, heartfelt, personal glimpses from their lives. His efforts were noticed—gaining over 20 million fans across TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

Stanton’s work beautifully illustrates that every life has a story—an important story. He masters the art of visually telling each person’s story, which he now conveys in his popular new weekly Facebook series for a TV show called Humans of New York: The Series. Some messages are sweet, some surprising, some sad, and many contain homespun nuggets of insights that people have found in the chronicles of their lives.

Since his journey began in 2010, Stanton and his camera have roamed the streets of New York and through more than 20 different countries, including the streets of some of the world’s most remote and troubled regions. The storytelling power of his social media sites have provided a platform to raise money to help change the situations of thousands of people in difficult circumstances.

Stanton is also the author of two books that catapulted to number one on the New York Times Bestsellers list: Humans of New York (2013), and Humans of New York: Stories (2015). His Children’s book, Little Humans (2014), a 40-page photographic picture book, was featured on the New York Times Children’s book bestseller list.

Learn more about Brian Stanton’s RootsTech 2018 appearance or his Humans of New York website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

###
About RootsTech

RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, is a global conference celebrating families across generations, where people of all ages are inspired to discover and share their memories and connections. This annual event has become the largest of its kind in the world, attracting tens of thousands of participants worldwide.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Hungry During RootsTech 2018? They've Got You Covered!


I'm excited to attend RootsTech 2018! I missed last year, but did attend as an Ambassador in 2016.

While I was there, I spent most of my time in the Media Hub, which is in the Expo Hall.

Also located in the Expo Hall were several food vendors in a food court area. These photos are from when I attended in 2016, but I asked and was told there should be vendors here again in 2018.


As you can see, there were several yummy options to choose from. And there should be just as many delicious options in 2018.


One of my lunches during from the food vendors at RootsTech. 😊


In addition to these yummy food options, there are several restaurants around the Salt Palace Convention Center. City Creek Mall is across the street and it has lots of restaurant choices, including Kneaders Bakery, Blue Lemon, Cheesecake Factory, and Chick-fil-A, just to name a few.

So...there's no need to go hungry while you're attending RootsTech. Mmmm...so many fun and delicious options to choose from. See you there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Awesome News! The RootsTech 2018 Class Schedule is Now Online!

 


I have exciting news to share with you! The RootsTech 2018 Class Schedule is available online. You can now plan your RootsTech 2018 schedule for each day.

Check out how easy it is to plan your RootsTech 2018 class schedule. 😃

You can filter your choices by day,


by type of RootsTech Pass,


by Difficulty,


by Category,


and by Room.


As you can see, those last two filters each have a scroll bar. That equals even more options than are shown here in this post. Yay!

There's also a search box.


As a RootsTech 2018 Ambassador, I will most likely be spending a lot of my time in the Media Hub, but I will definitely try to fit some classes in my schedule.

I hope this helps you choose your RootsTech 2018 classes! To access the class schedule online, click HERE.

I'm looking forward to attending RootsTech 2018 next year. I hope to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved


Friday, October 6, 2017

Gold Olympian Scott Hamilton to Keynote RootsTech 2018

I received the following exciting news from FamilySearch:

Gold Olympian Scott Hamilton to Keynote RootsTech 2018

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (6 October 2017)RootsTech 2018 is delighted to announce that Scott Hamilton, American champion figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, motivational speaker, author, philanthropist, cancer survivor, TV broadcaster, and husband and father will be the RootsTech 2018 keynote speaker on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hamilton is hailed as one of the greatest male figure skaters of all time. He won a gold medal for his stunning performance in the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo. He won four consecutive US figure skating championships and four world championships from 1981 to 1984. In 1990, Hamilton was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. In all, he has earned more than 70 titles, awards, and honors for figure skating.

For the past 30 years, his broadcast analysis of national and global skating competitions has provided firsthand insights, and his speeches and books are uplifting and motivating.

Besides his many accomplishments in the public arena, Hamilton says his family members have always been an integral part of his success and are the most important people in his life. He is excited to share more of his personal and family stories at RootsTech 2018.

Born August 28, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio, Hamilton was adopted when he was six weeks old by Dorothy and Ernest S. Hamilton. He has overcome many obstacles on his path to success including an illness at age two when he stopped growing. Doctors were unable to determine the cause, and over time the condition corrected itself.

His parents supported his figure skating passion from the time he began skating at age 13. “Family in my early years of skating were all in the ice show. I remember taking pictures on our front lawn in April, all in our costumes and ices skates. . . . Once I started skating, everybody was involved. . . . We were all in, 100%. It was our ‘candy,’” he said.

His highly publicized battles with cancer that interrupted his skating career have inspired millions. Following his mother’s passing from cancer and his own survival, he established the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education, and Survivorship) to improve cancer survivorship. In 2014, he founded the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy to rebuild figure skating and offer fresh ways for students to fall in love with skating, as he did as a child.

His wife, Tracie, and four children are now the center of his life. While helping with recovery efforts in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake, he and Tracie fell in love with two amazing orphans. “Now they are our own children; so now we have four,” said Hamilton. “It’s fun, and it’s crazy, and it’s non-stop, and [we] just keep going, going, going. Life is full. Life is good. And I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities to be a part of this very fun—we put the fun in dysfunctional—family.”

When asked how he feels about keynoting RootsTech 2018, Hamilton says he looks forward to soaking in the RootsTech experience and sharing his story. “We all have a story to tell. All of us. And we all have great lineage and heritage. And we’ve got all of these generations and generations and generations [before us]—nothing started with us.” While at RootsTech, Hamilton says he is excited to meet as many people as he can and hear about how they have found their lineage, ancestors, and their families.

“All of us have a legacy to leave for future generations,” he said. “It’s hard to be memorable in this world, but through our children, we have a chance to really make an impact,” he said.

Hamilton feels his legacy is compassion, kindness, and generosity, “If I can raise money for cancer research and be successful in that, if I can be a good father and allow my kids to have everything they need to be successful in their lives and for their children and for their children and their grandchildren, then I think I’ve done my job."

Go to RootsTech 2018, February 28 to March 3, 2018, to learn more about Scott Hamilton’s incredible journey, discover your roots, make family connections, and catch the spirit of belonging to generations of your family.
###
ABOUT ROOTSTECH

RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, is a global conference celebrating families across generations, where people of all ages are inspired to discover and share their memories and connections. This annual event has become the largest of its kind in the world, attracting tens of thousands of participants worldwide.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Family History 2.0: A New Generation of Genealogy

My husband and I watched this video yesterday. It's excellent! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. After watching the video, please leave a comment. I'd love to know what you thought of it.






Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Monday, September 25, 2017

FamilySearch's New Web Tool Makes Ancestry Records Easier to Find

Hurray for indexing! This is great news!

The following is a press release from FamilySearch.

FamilySearch's New Web Tool Makes Ancestry Records Easier to Find 


infographicSalt Lake City, Utah 

(25 September 2017), FamilySearch International, a leader in historical records preservation, has launched its new web-based indexing tool. Indexing is a technology used to make the world’s historical records freely searchable online for family history research. The new program makes it easier for online volunteers to participate using web-enabled computers, laptops, or tablets, and enables FamilySearch to expedite its online publishing of completed indexes. (Find and share this announcement and its graphics online in the FamilySearch Newsroom).

New features enable volunteers to work on tablets, modify the layout of their dashboard based on personal preferences, set and track individual goals, and create groups with friends or others interested in working on a common project.

Global nonprofit FamilySearch digitally preserves billions of historical records online to help individuals with their family history research. It has published billions of images of historic records from all over the world online. Researchers can find the record images in FamilySearch's Catalog or Historic Records Collections online. But searching through billions of images online in search of one's elusive ancestors is not fun for the average person. They want to type in an ancestor's name and known context, press Enter, and voilà, see highly matched results from their search query.

"That requires an index," said Jim Ericson, marketing manager for FamilySearch Indexing. "Until the records are indexed online, they can only be discovered by browsing through often enormous collections of digital images. With a digital index, researchers can locate records in seconds by using a person's name and other helpful information as search terms. A searchable index saves researchers time and effort by returning search results from the entire collection in a matter of seconds."

Ericson says the new web-based indexing platform will enable more volunteers to participate worldwide and increase the rate at which FamilySearch can make indexed records accessible online. "It is a straight-forward experience that no longer requires people to download software," said Ericson.
Using the new tool enables volunteer indexers to help make it possible for millions of people to have personal family history discoveries quickly with just a few keystrokes. Indexing also fuels hints, a new feature on FamilySearch.org that makes finding records even easier by mapping indexed records against a person’s family tree and sharing high probability ancestral matches with them.
The web-based indexing program also has new built-in helps, plus a lab section that allows you to test upcoming product features and enhancements for the new program.
For first-time volunteers, simple training provides step-by-step instructions. To participate, go to FamilySearch.org/indexing, and click the link to web indexing.

RELATED
Check out or plan to participate in the Worldwide Indexing EventOctober 20-22, 2017.


###
About FamilySearch
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 5,000 family history centers in 129 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Adding Yet Another Sweet Little Leaf to Our Family Tree


We added another sweet little leaf to our family tree. An adorable baby girl was born last month to our second-oldest son and his wonderful wife. Our new little granddaughter is just so beautiful!

It was awesome to add our new granddaughter's name to my Legacy Family Tree database. Our family tree continues to grow. 😊

We now have three grandchildren, with one more on the way this year. We are so excited!

Being a grandparent really is the best!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved


Tuesday, September 19, 2017

RootsTech 2018 Now Open for Registration

Don't miss out on early bird discount prices for #RootsTech2018. See you there! 

The following is a press release from FamilySearch:

RootsTech 2018 Now Open for Registration

SALT LAKE CITY (19 September 2017)--FamilySearch International has announced that registration to RootsTech 2018 is now open. RootsTech is a popular 4-day annual family history and technology conference where individuals and families are inspired to discover, preserve, and share their family roots, heritage, and stories. The conference will be held February 28 to March 3, 2018, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, go to RootsTech.org. (Find and share this announcement online in the FamilySearch Newsroom.)

In 2017 the growing event attracted more than 26,000 attendees in-person from all 50 U.S. states and more than 35 countries. Family Discovery Day, a free 1-day event held on Saturday as part of the conference, is also open for registration.

RootsTech 2018 will offer attendees a full lineup of inspiring and well-known keynote speakers; over 300 informative sessions, including hands-on computer labs taught by industry professionals and leaders; interactive activities and helpful exhibitors in the expo hall; and entertaining evening events. All are designed to inspire and empower personal family discoveries.

INNOVATION SHOWCASE

RootsTech 2018 officially begins on Wednesday, February 28, with class sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. The all-new general session begins at 4:30 p.m. Steve Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International, will be the keynote speaker. Following Rockwood's address will be the all-new Innovation Showcase. The Innovation Showcase will feature the best new technology in the industry from around the globe. RootsTech is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Innovation Showcase from the public. The public can nominate its favorite family history related app, product, or service by using #RootsTechInnovation on Facebook or Twitter, or visit the Innovation Showcase page at rootstech.org. The submission deadline is October 15, 2017.

The showcase also offers attendees the opportunity to interact and connect with industry influencers, executives, and investors. Online viewers will also be able to vote for their favorite product or service during the live showcase event on Wednesday. (See RootsTech 2018 Grows to 4 Days, Introduces New Innovation Showcase.)

FAMILY DISCOVERY DAY

Registration for Family Discovery Day is also now open. The event takes place on Saturday, March 3, 2018, and is designed for families and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This free and fun 1-day event includes inspiring messages from Church leaders; engaging classes for families, youth, and young single adults; and evening entertainment to inspire and help families and members discover, preserve, and share their family connections. Family Discovery Day attendees will also have access to all the interactive activities and exhibitors found in the RootsTech Expo Hall. Event details, including speakers and classes, will be made available soon at RootsTech.org. Registration is required.

PRICES

Early bird discount pricing is available for a limited time on 4-day passes at just $169 (a $100 discount). Single-day RootsTech passes are also available for $99. A 4-day Getting Started pass is only $69. All passes include access to the popular Expo Hall and morning keynote sessions.

RELATED

Watch archived sessions of RootsTech 2017

###
About RootsTech

RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, is a global conference celebrating families across generations, where people of all ages are inspired to discover and share their memories and connections. This annual event has become the largest of its kind in the world, attracting tens of thousands of participants worldwide.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

I'm Excited to be Serving as a RootsTech 2018 Ambassador!



I am so excited to announce that I've been invited to be a RootsTech 2018 Ambassador!

I served as a RootsTech Ambassador in 2016 and had a wonderful time attending the conference. I was invited to be a RootsTech 2017 Ambassador, but I wasn't able to serve that year because we moved into a our new home in early 2017.

What is RootsTech you ask? It's the world's largest family history and technology conference, and is hosted by FamilySearch.

RootsTech will be held in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah from February 28 - March 3, 2018.

The theme for RootsTech 2018 is: Connect. Belong.

Registration for RootsTech 2018 opens on September 20, 2017.

To learn more about RootsTech 2018, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you at RootsTech 2018!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, August 17, 2017

I'm Still Here....

Ragged Point, California

Just wanted to write a quick note to let my readers know that I'm still here. My blog has been on hiatus for a while now. We've been busy around here. I've been spending time with family, and we're also trying to settle into our new home, specifically with decorating and furniture purchases, etc. That sure does take a lot of time and research (at least for me) with a brand new home. It's such a blank canvas. And I want to get it right. So, for now, our walls are blank (sigh) with no photos or artwork up yet. But, I'm hoping that we will figure all that out before too long.

So far, our summer has included trips to the Central California Coast, the birth of our second grandchild, spending time with family, hosting a baby shower for our daughter-in-law who is due any day now with our third grandchild, and the engagement of our oldest son. Such fun, happy and exciting times!

With the upcoming birth of our third grandchild any day now, my blog may still be a bit quiet in the near future. But hopefully, I will be getting back to my normal post schedule in the not too distant future.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Adding Another Sweet Little Leaf To Our Family Tree


This has been a very exciting week in our family. An adorable baby boy was born earlier in the week to our third-oldest son and his sweet wife. It was wonderful to add our new grandson's name to my Legacy Family Tree database. Our family tree is growing. 😊

We now have two grandchildren, with two more on the way this year. We are so excited!

Our new little grandson is so very cute. We've seen pictures of him, but haven't actually met him yet. Our son, daughter-in-law, and grandson live in another state. My husband and I are looking forward to meeting our sweet little newborn grandson in person.

Being a grandparent really is the best!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Friday, July 7, 2017

Jana's Genealogy Fab Finds for July 7, 2017



My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order)
  1. Mapping Your Ancestry: A Genealogist's Quick Guide to Google Maps by Michael Dyer, author of Family Sleuther
  2. Announcing: DearMYRTLE's new blog "Myrt's Musings" by Pat Richley-Erickson, author of DearMYRTLE
  3. Visualising Ancestry DNA matches–Part 1–Getting ready AND Visualising Ancestry DNA matches-Part 2-Loading files the first time AND Visualising Ancestry DNA matches-Part 3-Navigation and Presentation by Shelley Crawford, author of Twigs of Yore
  4. Treasuring Our Homes and Our Families by Peggy Lauritzen, author of Anxiously Engaged
  5. Family Reunion Bingo Games! by Amberly, author of TheGenealogyGirl
  6. School Records from Sparta: Finding Your Ancestors as Children by Carol Kostakos Petranek, author of Spartan Roots
  7. Dear Randy: How Best to Save Your Genealogy Work? by Randy Seaver, author of Genea-Musings
  8. MAPPING HOMESTEADS by Susie, author of Genealogy Journey
  9. THE JULY GENEALOGY BLOG PARTY: DNA DISCOVERIES by Elizabeth O'Neal, author of My Descendant's Ancestors
  10. Family History Travel with Kids – July Blog Link Up by Nicole Dyer, author of Family Locket
  11. Finding the Like-Minded by Jacqi Stevens, author of A Family Tapestry
  12. 2017 NFHM Blogging Challenge by Alex Daw, author of Family Tree Frog
  13. Independence Day 2017: Celebrating Your Genealogy Freedoms by Thomas MacEntee, author of Abundant Genealogy
  14. DAR MAGAZINE DIGITAL ARCHIVE by Linda Stufflebean, author of Empty Branches on the Family Tree
  15. Was My Ancestor a Deserter? by Miriam J. Robbins, author of AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors

New Blog Discoveries

In Case You Missed Them….My Contribution to the Blogosphere Last Week

Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog

Thanks for reading!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

My Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestor ~ Dr. Luther L. Waterman



Today is Independence Day here in America. Happy Independence Day!

I always thought I didn't have any family connections to the founding of America since my Dad's side of the family are from Norway and Sweden. And all I knew about my Mom's side of the family is that they were from Brazil. But, after the death of my maternal grandfather, Debs Warren Webster, I saw a photo of my 2nd great-grandfather, Ebenezer Perry Carlisle Webster. I learned that Ebenezer had served in the American Civil War. That was news to me! I hadn't ever seen his photo or heard his name before.

Not only did I have a Civil War ancestor, I learned that I had a Revolutionary War ancestor named Dr. Luther L. Waterman. He was my maternal 4th great-grandfather.

Luther served as a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. I'm grateful for his service.

I've written about Luther before on my blog. I'd like to share my previous posts about this patriot ancestor on this Independence Day. For those of you who haven't read about Luther before, I hope you enjoy getting to know him better. I was thrilled to see his signature on a document from 1776. I shared that document in the second post on this list.

  1. Military Monday ~ Revolutionary War Surgeon: Luther Waterman
  2. My 4th Great-Grandfather's Signature on a Revolutionary War Document ~ Dated August 23, 1776
  3. 52 Ancestors: #37 ~ Phebe Barker – Wife of a Revolutionary War Surgeon

Happy Independence Day!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Friday, June 30, 2017

Jana's Genealogy Fab Finds for June 30, 2017



My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order)
  1. Using FOOD to Connect Kids to Ancestors by Jana Greenhalgh, author of The Genealogy Kids
  2. FamilySearch to Discontinue Microfilm Distribution Services by Thomas MacEntee, founder of Abundant Genealogy
  3. The end of microfilm by Judy G. Russell, author of The Legal Genealogist
  4. The End of FamilySearch Microfilm Loans: What It Means for You by Amy Johnson Crow, author of the Amy Johnson Crow Blog
  5. Genealogy Finds in Your Own Home by Lori Samuelson, author of Genealogy At Heart
  6. Family Food Story by Allison Kimball for FamilySearch Blog
  7. Research Like a Pro, Part 3: Where Did They Live? AND Back to the Basics with U.S. Census Research – Part II by Diana Elder, author of Family Locket
  8. Ancestors' Ages at Parenthood by Michael Dyer, author of Family Sleuther
  9. Ancestors’ Ages at Parenthood by Lark M. Dalin Robart, author of Eight Roads to Montana
  10. No Image Available – Maybe There is One – Part 2! by Mary Kircher Roddy, author of Searching for Stories
  11. 50 ESSENTIAL WEBSITES FOR MY GENEALOGY RESEARCH by Linda Stufflebean, author of Empty Branches on the Family Tree
  12. Indexing with Children by Camille, author of The Mommy Genealogist
  13. These Old Fire Insurance Maps Reveal a Surprising Amount of Genealogy Data by Tony Bandy for Family History Daily
  14. Genealogy Scan Along Week 2: Scan Your Photos by Denise May Levenick, author of The Family Curator
  15. A Trio from the Tribe by Jill Ball, author of GeniAus
  16. DNA Proves Me Right! by Devon Noel Lee, author of the Devon Noel Lee Blog
  17. Western State Lunatic Asylum and Martha Saul by Nancy Loe, author of Sassy Jane Genealogy
  18. Look What I Found Cleaning Up My Trees! by Valerie Hughes, author of Genealogy With Valerie
  19. The Archive Lady: Preserving the Family Bible by Melissa Barker for Abundant Genealogy

New Blog Discoveries

In Case You Missed Them….My Contributions to the Blogosphere Since My Last Fab Finds Post

Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog

Thanks for reading!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved

Monday, June 26, 2017

FamilySearch Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm


FamilySearch Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm


SALT LAKE CITY, UT (26 June 2017)—FamilySearch, a world genealogy leader and nonprofit, announced today its plans to discontinue its 80-year-old microfilm distribution service. The transition is the result of significant progress made in FamilySearch’s microfilm digitization efforts and the obsolescence of microfilm technology. The last day for ordering microfilm will be August 31, 2017. Online access to digital images of the world's historic records allows FamilySearch to service more people around the globe, faster and more efficiently. See Finding Digital Images of Records on FamilySearch.org and Frequently Asked Questions for additional information. Find and share this announcement online in the FamilySearch Newsroom.

A global leader in historic records preservation and access, FamilySearch and its predecessors began using microfilm in 1938, amassing billions of the world’s genealogical records in its collections from over 200 countries. Why the shift from microfilm to digital? Diane Loosle, Director of the Patron Services Division said, "Preserving historic records is only one half of the equation. Making them easily accessible to family historians and researchers worldwide when they need them is the other crucial component."

Loosle noted that FamilySearch will continue to preserve the master copies of its original microfilms in its Granite Mountain Records Vault as added backup to the digital copies online.

As the Internet has become more accessible to people worldwide over the past two decades, FamilySearch made the decision to convert its preservation and access strategy to digital. No small task for an organization with 2.4 million rolls of microfilm in inventory and a distribution network of over 5,000 family history centers and affiliate libraries worldwide.

It began the transition to digital preservation years ago. It not only focused on converting its massive microfilm collection, but also in replacing its microfilm cameras in the field. All microfilm cameras have been replaced with over 300 specialized digital cameras that significantly decrease the time required to make historic records images accessible online.

FamilySearch has now digitally reproduced the bulk of its microfilm collection—over 1.5 billion images so far—including the most requested collections based on microfilm loan records worldwide. The remaining microfilms should be digitized by the end of 2020, and all new records from its ongoing global efforts are already using digital camera equipment.

Digital image collections can be accessed today in three places at FamilySearch.org. Using the Search feature, you can find them in Records (check out the Browse all published collections link), Books, and the Catalog. For additional help, see Finding Digital Images of Records on FamilySearch.org.

Transitioning from microfilm to digital creates a fun opportunity for FamilySearch's family history center network. Centers will focus on simplified, one-on-one experiences for patrons, and continue to provide access to relevant technology, popular premium subscription services, and restricted digital record collections not available to patrons from home.

Centers and affiliate libraries will coordinate with local leaders and administrators to manage their current microfilm collections on loan from FamilySearch, and determine when to return films that are already published online. For more information, see Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm.


About FamilySearch


FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 5,000 family history centers in 129 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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