News of the Family History Library 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 Vol. 2, No. 4 July/August 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 Over the past decade at the Family History Library, we have had both ardent researchers and casual visitors ask the same question: "Can't I just type my name into your computer and have my genealogy come out?" After a decade of development, we now are closer than ever to saying "yes" to that question. We call our new system of databases and software FamilySearch(TM). In the last issue of the News, we briefly described FamilySearch and the compact disc editions of two files, the International Genealogical Index(TM) and the Family History Library Catalog(TM). In this issue of the News, we describe Ancestral File(TM), the centerpiece of FamilySearch. In its first edition on five compact discs, Ancestral File is already the largest database of linked genealogies. More importantly, this file can become a worldwide file of increasingly accurate and complete genealogies. In this issue of the News, we also highlight our collection of British city and county directories and describe some new and significant statewide death files. These and other microfilmed records may be loaned to our 1,500 family history centers. --David M. Mayfield Announcing Ancestral File What Is Ancestral File? Ancestral File is a computer file of 7 million names linked into families and pedigrees. Ancestral File displays information by individual, family group record, pedigree chart, or descendants chart. As part of the FamilySearch system, Ancestral File also includes help keys and the ability to print your discoveries on paper or to copy data to your own diskette. What Can the File Do for Me? The purposes of Ancestral File are to help you: Simplify your genealogical research Coordinate your genealogical research with others Permanently preserve your genealogy for your posterity. Where Does the Information in the File Come From? The file depends exclusively on contributions from families and family organizations for its information. About 120,000 individuals have already volunteered information, mostly from their first four generations. You can find the contributors names and addresses in the file. Because many contributors have ancestors in common, only 7 million unique names are in the file so far. The Family History Department itself has also added pre-1500 royal names to the file. What Information Is in Ancestral File? In order to preserve the privacy rights of living persons, the file contains genealogical information for deceased persons only. This information includes names of individuals; their family relationships and pedigrees; and the dates and places of birth, marriage, and death. Information about living persons is limited to the names of persons who are identified as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ancestral File also contains the names and addresses of individuals who have contributed information and the film number of the source documents. A random sampling of entries in the file shows that the file presently includes mostly recent generations: Ancestral File Names by Century of Birth pre-1600 12% 1700s 12% 1800s 55% 1900s 21% Although it is destined to be a worldwide file, the first release of Ancestral File primarily includes ancestors from English-speaking nations: Ancestral File Names by Place of Birth United States 64% England 12% Germany 4% Other 20% Where Can I Get Information from Ancestral File? Ancestral File is available at 57 workstations at the Family History Library. Beginning in late September, it will be distributed to many family history centers in the United States and Canada. Not every family history center will have access to Ancestral File in 1990. In the next few months, the file will be sent to the family history centers that already have FamilySearch and the necessary equipment. As of July, over 300 FamilySearch systems-- without Ancestral File--were distributed to centers throughout the United States and Canada. Since Ancestral File is proving to be popular and the number of computers in a small center staffed by volunteers is limited, you may want to call ahead to learn if you need to schedule a time to use the file. Since it is on compact discs, information in Ancestral File is not available by using a telephone or modem. Cost and security factors make modem access impractical. At this time, Ancestral File and other components of FamilySearch may not be purchased for use by institutions or individuals. How Do I Use Ancestral File? Like all FamilySearch files, Ancestral File has been designed to accommodate those who have never used a computer. The FamilySearch system offers a 30-minute tutorial to teach you how to use a keyboard. Or you can follow the simple instructions on each screen. Additional information is available through the use of "help" key. If you have a question, you need only to press the F1 function key, and the screen will shift to a more detailed explanation about the screen you are looking at. Written information about using Ancestral File is also available. Two brief user's guides are included with the file: Using Ancestral File gives a brief overview of Ancestral File's features. Getting Started with Ancestral File is a tutorial consisting of practice exercises that familiarize a person with the various options available in Ancestral File. Contributing to Ancestral File describes the process of contributing information to the file using any of several genealogical software packages. To use Ancestral File, type in a given name and surname (or either one of them alone). The computer will display the closest match it can find. You may use the exact spelling of the surname or ask for similar spellings. After seeing the "index list," you can quickly see a family group or pedigree chart. The ability to view a descendancy chart will be added in a subsequent release of Ancestral File. How Do I Copy Information from Ancestral File? You may make paper copies of any individual record, family group record, pedigree chart (with or without all of the accompanying families), and descendancy chart (when available). Information can also be copied to 3.5-inch (720KB) or 5.25-inch (360KB double-sided, double-density, or 1.2 MB high-density) diskettes. Ask a library worker for a disk label that provides space for you to label your diskette and includes the FamilySearch copyright notice. How Do I Correct Information in the File? Ancestral File is a user file. It depends totally on those who use the file for its information. As a result, it contains errors and discrepancies, and everyone who uses it has the opportunity and responsibility to improve its accuracy. In the next release of the file, an "edit" function will be added to the system, enabling users to note corrections while they are using Ancestral File, record those corrections on a diskette, and send that diskette to us. The corrections would be reflected in the next edition of the file. A version of this corrections capability is currently being tested in the Family History Library. Detailed instructions will be provided in a brief user's guide when the capability is added in the next release of the file. How Often Will Ancestral File Be Updated? The file will be updated periodically, depending on how many contributions are received. Is There a Charge to Use Ancestral File? There is no charge to use any of the FamilySearch files. Nor are there any fees for submitting information to the file or correcting its data. However, you will be charged a nominal fee for any printouts you make. Why Are FamilySearch Files Copyrighted? FamilySearch and its files are copyrighted to ensure that they are used appropriately. Ancestral File consists of donated information. We feel a great responsibility to safeguard that from commercial misuse. The copyright protects contributors' rights and prevents commercial exploitation of a file that is made available by the LDS Church at no cost. Every contributor still retains the right, of course, to use his or her own family information in the file. How Do I Add My Family Information to Ancestral File? Ancestral File depends exclusively on contributions from families and genealogical organizations. As you and others share your work, the file will grow by millions of names. We especially encourage contributions from those who use our family history centers and from our friends in genealogical and lineage societies throughout the world. Here's how to share: 1.Check for research that may already be done for your family. 2.Compile the information you want to contribute. 3.Send your information to Ancestral File on diskettes created using a genealogical software program that can produce files compatible with Ancestral File. Detailed instructions about contributing to Ancestral File are contained in a brief guide entitled Contributing to Ancestral File, which is being distributed to family history centers. Further questions about contributing to Ancestral File should be directed to: Ancestral File Unit, 2WW Family History Department 50 E. North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150 If you do not have access to a computer and the appropriate software, ask for assistance at a family history center, genealogical society, or public library. British Directory Collection Most researchers looking for ancestors who lived in the United Kingdom's larger cities soon discover the importance of knowing an ancestor's address. For example, two researchers searching the same parish in the 1861 census discover that there are six films that may contain the information they are looking for. But one searcher, armed with the knowledge of his ancestor's street address, is able to narrow his search to one film. His success is tied to the effective use of the British county and city directories that enabled him to find that address. The library has British directories from as early as the mid-18th century, although most are from the 19th century. The collection includes post office, occupational, business, commercial, and court directories. They contain alphabetical lists of tens of thousands of residents and their addresses. City directories also provide useful information on the occupation, rank, or profession of an ancestor. British directories are listed in the Locality section of the microfiche edition of the Family History Library Catalog under-- ENGLAND, COUNTY - DIRECTORIES ENGLAND, COUNTY, TOWN/PARISH - DIRECTORIES Other records that provide street addresses or place of residence in large cities include church registers, civil registration certificates, probate records, poll books, parish chest records, and newspapers. U.S. Statewide Death Files New Death Records and Indexes from Illinois By 1918, over 95 percent of all deaths in Illinois were registered each year. The Family History Library now has a copy of the alphabetical index to all registered deaths in Illinois between 1916 and 1938. This index usually provides the name, gender, race, date and place of death, filing date, and certificate number. The index is available on 191 microfiche (FHL microfiche 6016862). The death certificates are also available on several hundred microfilms. The certificates may reveal the birth date, parents' names and birthplaces, cause of death, place of burial, and informant. The March 1990 edition of the Family History Library Catalog lists the certificates from 1916 through 1930. In the next few years, additional records to 1940 and certificates from Chicago from 1923 to 1945 will be filmed. When using a certificate number from the statewide index, please note that the first two or three digits listed do not appear on the actual certificate. Additional details on using the index and records are found in the Family History Library Catalog under the heading ILLINOIS - VITAL RECORDS. Death records specifically for the Chicago area are available as follows (catalog headings are in bold letters): ILLINOIS - COOK - VITAL RECORDS County Clerk county death records 18781920 58 films Coroner's Office death records 18791904 27 films County Clerk death record index 18711916 70 fiche ILLINOIS - COOK - CHICAGO - VITAL RECORDS Board of Health city deaths index 18711933 13 films County Clerk city death records 18781915 655 films County Clerk out-of-town deaths 19091915 11 films State Board of Health Chicago deaths 19161922 148 films Other Modern Statewide Death Files Available at the Family History Library State / SourceDescription/Films DE / Bureau of Vital Statistics deaths 1855-1910 index 1855-1888 53 films HI / Dept. of Health registers 1896-1903 index to 1909 17 films ID / Dept. of Health certificates 1911-1937 index to 1932 63 films KY / Bur. of Vital Statistics birth and death indexes, 1911-1954 62 films ME / Div. of Vital Statistics indexes to vital records, 1892-1922 332 films MA / Sec. of Commonwealth registers 18441899, index 1841-1971 187 films NH / Reg. of Vital Statisticsindex to pre1900 deaths 60 films NJ / State Librarydeath records and index, 1848-1900 104 films OR / State Archivesindex to death records, 1903-1970 12 films TN / State Board of Healthdeath records and index, 1914-1925 189 films TN / State Board of Healthenumerator's deaths, 1908-1912 35 films VT / Sec. of Stateindex to vital records, 1871-1908 120 films WA / Bur. of Vital Statisticscertificates, 1907-1952, index to 1979 466 films WI / Bur. of Vital Statisticscertificates, 1862-1907 98 films CA / State Registrardeath indexes, 1940-1983 391 films WI / Bur. of Vital Statisticsdeath index, 1862-1907 29 films