Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Jana's Genealogy Fab Finds for June 30, 2017

My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order)

Using FOOD to Connect Kids to Ancestors by Jana Greenhalgh, author of The Genealogy Kids
FamilySearch to Discontinue Microfilm Distribution Services by Thomas MacEntee, founder of Abundant Genealogy
The end of microfilm by Judy G. Russell, author of The Legal Genealogist
The End of FamilySearch Microfilm Loans: What It Means for You by Amy Johnson Crow, author of the Amy Johnson Crow Blog
Genealogy Finds in Your Own Home by Lori Samuelson, author of Genealogy At Heart
Family Food Story by Allison Kimball for FamilySearch Blog
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
Ancestors' Ages at Parenthood by Michael Dyer, author of Family Sleuther
Ancestors’ Ages at Parenthood by Lark M. Dalin Robart, author of Eight Roads to Montana
No Image Available – Maybe There is One – Part 2! by Mary Kircher Roddy, author of Searching for Stories
50 ESSENTIAL WEBSITES FOR MY GENEALOGY RESEARCH by Linda Stufflebean, author of Empty Branches on the Family Tree
Indexing with Children by Camille, author of The Mommy Genealogist
These Old Fire Insurance Maps Reveal a Surprising Amount of Genealogy Data by Tony Bandy for Family History Daily
Genealogy Scan Along Week 2: Scan Your Photos by Denise May Levenick, author of The Family Curator
A Trio from the Tribe by Jill Ball, author of GeniAus
DNA Proves Me Right! by Devon Noel Lee, author of the Devon Noel Lee Blog
Western State Lunatic Asylum and Martha Saul by Nancy Loe, author of Sassy Jane Genealogy
Look What I Found Cleaning Up My Trees! by Valerie Hughes, author of Genealogy With Valerie
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

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.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Family History Blogging Can Help Others Find Their Ancestors

I am so excited to share with you that a previously unknown cousin contacted me recently to tell me some wonderful news.

He left a comment here on my blog. His comment began with this sentence:

"I was so happy to stumble onto your blog, as it has helped me finally crack the mystery of who my three times great grandfather was."

Isn't that awesome!? This previously unknown cousin and I share an ancestor in my Norwegian family line. My cousin's ancestor was one of the brothers of my third great-grandfather, Michael Christian Christopherson. My cousin also said,

"...and thanks to you I now have their parents names as well :) Thanks!"

Wow! You're very welcome cousin!

My cousin went on to say that I was a good DNA match with his grandmother on GEDmatch. Yay!

My new cousin's comments made me feel so good! It really is worth all of the time and effort to write about my ancestors in my blog. Not only is blogging about my ancestors beneficial to me, it's also helpful to others.

Have you had any cousins contact you because you shared your family history in your blog?

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

Friday, June 9, 2017

Jana's Genealogy Fab Finds for June 9, 2017

NOTE: There will not be a Fab Finds post next week due to family activities. Thank you!

My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order)

GeneaBloggers announces GeneaBloggersTRIBE
It’s not just about blogging… by Pat Richley-Erickson for GeneaBloggersTRIBE
New GeneaBloggersTRIBE Badge for Your Blog or Website by GeneaBloggersTRIBE
GeneaBloggersTRIBE - Answering your questions by Jill Ball, author of GeniAus
Dear Genealogy Bloggers, I love you! AND Salt Lake Tribune Negative Collection by Amberly, author of TheGenealogyGirl
Another Internet Surprise by Valerie Hughes, author of Genealogy With Valerie
USING SURNAME DISTRIBUTION MAPS by Linda Stufflebean, author of Empty Branches on the Family Tree
Another gem for researching relatives who served in the Soviet Army during WWII by Vera Miller, author of Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family
Research Like a Pro, Part 2: Analyze Your Sources by Diana Elder, author of Family Locket
What is a ‘Professional Genealogist’? by Amie Bowser Tennant, author of The Genealogy Reporter
New Facebook Group: Historical City Directories by Miriam J. Robbins, author of AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors
The mailman brought letters Dad wrote 72 years ago by Becky Jamison, author of Grace and Glory
Our Ancestors and Their Gardens by Melissa Barker, author of A Genealogist In The Archives
“LITTLE BYTES OF LIFE” IS NOW “MY DESCENDANT’S ANCESTORS” by Elizabeth O'Neal, author of My Descendant's Ancestors
The Norwegian Digitalarkivet with new design by Martin Roe Eidhammer, author of Norwegian Genealogy and then some
Mastering Genealogical Proof & Mastering Genealogical Documentation by Colleen G. Brown Pasquale, author of Leaves & Branches
TRACING MY FAMILY TREE AT THE AGE OF SEVEN by David Allen Lambert, author of The Past Finder
Formal citations: Do it for those who follow by Janine Adams, author of Organize Your Family History
Genealogy Blogging Like It's My Birthday! by Michael Dyer, author of Family Sleuther

Previous "May I Introduce To You" Interviews on GeneaBloggers.com

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