News of the Family History Library 35 North West Temple Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 Vol. 2, No. 1 January/February 1990 News of the Family History Library is published six times yearly by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISSN applied for. Not available by subscription. General information about the hours and services of the Family History Library is available at 801-240-2331. Comments are welcome. Please address them to Editor, News of the Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150. From the Director The response to our bimonthly news release has been encouraging. We appreciate the publishers and societies who have found it useful. Since the News is not available by subscription, you are welcome to copy the text in full or in part. In this release you will read about our expanding microfilming program, genealogical word lists, additional family history centers, and new research collections. We are particularly pleased to announce a microfiche edition of one major new research tool, the PERiodical Source Index (known as PERSI). This is a comprehensive place, subject, and surname index to genealogical and local history periodicals, published by the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We will distribute it to all of our family history centers in the United States and Canada. We are also announcing significant enhancements to Personal Ancestral File. Release 2.2 of this computer program, developed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, makes it easier to store, manage, and share genealogical information through home computers. --David M. Mayfield Microfilming Update The library continues to increase its efforts to gather, preserve, and circulate original records of genealogical value. These documents are made available on microfilm or microfiche at the library and may be lent to the 1,350 family history centers affiliated with the library. We recognize the need to obtain a wide variety of vital sources so that you will be more successful in assembling accurate and complete information. The quality of family histories and genealogical databases depends on careful research. The following statistics illustrate twelve months of microfilming and purchase projects. We hope the new records will help you extend your pedigree and share your findings. Genealogical Word Lists The Family History Library has begun publishing a new series of genealogical word lists. First off the press is the Dutch list, which gives Dutch words with their English translations. It lists approximately 900 words that you are likely to find in Dutch genealogical sources, including general words, numbers, dates, and times. It also describes the characteristics of the language and suggests sources for further help. Danish, German, Norwegian, and Swedish word lists will be available later in 1990. All lists will be available in family history centers. Personal Ancestral File 2.2 Now Available Though it is designed for people who have no experience with computers, Personal Ancestral File offers many sophisticated features. More than 100,000 people, from beginning researchers to computer buffs, are using earlier releases of the software to link family records, create pedigree charts, and make research notes. Release 2.2 offers many improvements and refinements at a price unchanged from Release 1.0. You can now: Add to your personal files information that has been copied directly from Family History Library databases. Merge duplicate entries for the same person into one entry. Add new records while searching your pedigree chart. Print a wider variety of charts and forms, including those you design yourself. Share more easily all or selected portions of your data on computer disks, and add GEDCOM (a data format) files to your data. Personal Ancestral File 2.2 supersedes all previous MS-DOS (IBM-compatible) releases of the software. A comparison of the different editions of the program highlights the refinements made thus far: Release 1.0 1984 For IBM PC and XT computers (DOS 1.1 or 2.0) 64K memory needed Has lineage-linking system and data-sort utility; does not provide access to LDS computer files $35 cost; no longer available Release 2.0 1986 For MS-DOS, Apple II, and some CP/M systems 256K memory needed for MS-DOS Includes Family Records, Research Data Filer, and GEDCOM; allows exchanging data with Family History Library computer files $35 cost; only Apple II version still available [Release 2.1 1988] For MS-DOS, Macintosh 320K memory needed for MS-DOS Has improved genealogical communication programs; includes enhanced installation features $35 cost; only Macintosh version still available Release 2.2 1989 For MS-DOS systems (DOS 2.0 or above) 512K memory needed Has improved data entry, new match/merge features, etc. Improves exchange of data with Family History Library computer files $35 cost Equipment Needed to Use Release 2.2 To use the newest MS-DOS release of Personal Ancestral File on your home computer, your system should meet the requirements listed above under "Release 2.2." Your computer will also need two disk drives (one floppy and one floppy or hard disk). Versions of earlier releases for Macintosh (Release 2.1) and Apple II (Release 2.0) computers are still available. Personal Ancestral File Features Release 2.2 has several choices on its main menu. The program formerly called PAF Utilities has been incorporated into the Family Records Program. The two main programs in the package are: 1. Family Records This program helps you make a pedigree as you enter dates, places, and notes concerning an individual's history. The program will automatically assign unique numbers to as many as 65,000 individuals. The Family Records program includes these important features: Match and merge data. Print a list of individual records in your file that may be duplicates. Then, you may merge information automatically or manually while viewing two possible matches side-by-side on the screen. Enter and edit information. Add, modify, or delete individual records as you create family groupings. One of the many new functions of this MS-DOS software is that you can easily reposition a child within a family and change the order of spouses. You can also copy several lines of basic information from one entry screen to another, or copy from one field to another on the same screen. Search and edit pedigrees. Search your pedigree in many different ways. One new feature allows you to add new records without having to return to the main menu. In addition, arrows now indicate that a pedigree extends to another screen. Keep notes. Create up to thirty screens of notes per person. Notes can automatically be stored in a Family Records file, in a separate notes file, or in a separate file using your own word processor. All notes can be printed regardless of how they are labelled. Design reports. Design and print your own lists of individuals based on criteria that you choose. You may also sort the lists in many different ways. Print forms and reports. Print a variety of charts, forms, and lists of selected families or individuals. For example, you can print a six-generation pedigree chart or a cascading pedigree chart of up to 1,000 pages or 10,500 individuals. You can also print descendancy charts, Ahnentafel charts, and lists of possible record problems. You can print blank forms, such as research logs. 2. Genealogical Information Exchange This part of the 2.2 MS-DOS program enhances the GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunications) feature of earlier releases of Personal Ancestral File. Other leading genealogical programs also have the ability to convert data into a GEDCOM format that can be used with Personal Ancestral File. Personal Ancestral File now provides on-line help if you have questions about sharing data. With the information exchange program you can do the following: Add information you have copied directly from Family History Library databases, such as the compact disc edition of the International Genealogical Index(TM). You may then use the merge feature of the Family Records Program to combine duplicate records. Convert your Family Records data into a format that you can send on diskette to another Personal Ancestral File user. Prepare contributions on diskette to Ancestral File (a large computer file that links millions of families from throughout the world). You can also submit diskettes with information you want processed for LDS temple ordinances and listed in the International Genealogical Index. In each case, you can edit individual and marriage records while you prepare your file for submission. Other programs in Personal Ancestral File are the Research Data Filer, Config, and Family Records Check. Getting Help with Personal Ancestral File Inquiries about any Personal Ancestral File program may be addressed to: Ancestral File Operations Unit 50 East North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150 You may also telephone 801-240-2584. The staff will gladly answer your questions and help you use the software. Ordering Personal Ancestral File First-time users can order the program by telephone, using a VISA or Mastercard, at (800) 537-5950, or (801) 240-5274. You can also request order forms from the Ancestral File Operations Unit. The programs costs $35. Registered users of Personal Ancestral File 2.0 and 2.1 will receive a notice regarding the price of upgrade packages. Family History Centers We are establishing new family history centers throughout the world. Those set up in 1989 in English-speaking areas include the following: Eufaula, Alabama Brisbane, Australia Eagar, Arizona Antioch, California Wilmington, Delaware Redditch, England Jacksonville, Florida Marietta, Georgia Kankakee, Illinois Lafayette, Indiana Great Bend, Kansas White Rock, New Mexico Durham, North Carolina Enid, Oklahoma Allentown, Pennsylvania Kirkcaldy, Scotland Murfreesboro, Tennessee San Angelo, Texas Bluefield, Virginia Selah, Washington New U.S. Research Materials PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) The Periodical Source Index is a subject index to thousands of articles in genealogical periodicals. Using PERSI can save you many hours of searching through unindexed periodicals. The index is published by the Allen County (Indiana) Public Library Foundation as a joint effort with the Genealogical Department of the Allen County Public Library. The microfiche edition of PERSI was produced by the Family History Library. The index on microfiche will soon be available at each family history center in the United States and Canada. The Periodical Source Index has these features: Indexes 1,700 English and French-language genealogical periodicals Provides subject access to about 500,000 articles Includes separate indexes to articles on families, localities, and research methodology The index does not: Index every name in an article Include queries, book reviews, ancestor charts, or family charts Include family surname magazines or newsletters Include the actual article Include page numbers for the articles The PERiodical Source Index has a retrospective index (covering articles in journals dated from 1847 through 1985) and annual indexes (for periodicals dated 1986 and later). The retrospective index is not yet complete, but it presently indexes about 200 of the most popular genealogical periodicals. U.S. Military Records During the past two years the Family History Library has doubled the size of its collection of military records. Most of the microfilms are copies of original records microfilmed at state archives or purchased from the National Archives. Two significant collections from the National Archives are: Veteran's Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933 These cards were made by the Bureau of Pensions for veterans who were in the regular military establishment. There are about two million cards in this series, stored on 2,539 rolls of microfilm. They record pension payments made between 1907 and 1933. The pension cards are in alphabetical order according to the surname of the Army or Navy veteran or widow. These pension cards disclose the veteran's unit of service, disability, rate of pension, date of pension, and date of death. These records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog(TM) under the heading UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS - PENSIONS. Disapproved Pension Files of Navy Dependents, 1861-1910, and Index Each Navy widow's or dependent's pension application file has been copied on microfiche. There are 7,034 microfiche in this series of disapproved applications. An index (on 15 microfiche) is also available. The genealogical information in the Navy pension files includes names, residences, and vital dates; property lists; family records, such as Bible pages; affidavits of witnesses who knew the veteran; a summary of the veteran's military service; and medical and burial information. These files are listed in the library catalog's locality section under UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS - PENSIONS. Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index, Personal Ancestral File, and Family History Library Catalog are trademarks of Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This copy of the News of the Family History Library was posted on the Genealogy RoundTable(TM) on GEnie(TM).