Results of the Worldwide Indexing Event

We received the results of the recent Worldwide Indexing Event from FamilySearch. Here is the report:

Thank you for participating in the Worldwide Indexing Event! 82,039 volunteers joined together from all over the world to help “Fuel the Find.”* Several milestones were achieved this week, including 12,251,870 records indexed and 2,307,876 records arbitrated. Click here to see what else was accomplished across the globe. 

Thank you especially to those of you who used your language skills to help index French, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish records. The need for indexed records in languages other than English will continue well into the future. If you or others you know are fluent in one or more these languages, we need your ongoing help to “Fuel the Find” for people worldwide who are looking for their ancestors. 

If you choose to continue indexing in English only, please know that your efforts are equally needed and appreciated! 

Again, thank you for your efforts to make records searchable. Share the participation badge below with your friends on social media to let them know you helped "Fuel the Find." You are making a huge difference for people around the world!

FamilySearch also prepared an Infographic to show the worldwide participation:

Thanks to all those who helped achieve this major amount of Indexing in one week. 

The Details of Sharing Data Across Family Tree Programs -- Part Two

The main idea of this series is to explore all of the possible methods of moving data from one family tree program to another. My emphasis is on the ability to share source data along with the details of both individuals and families.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have free access to Ancestry.com, Findmypast.com and MyHeritage.com, all of which have automated or semi-automated record hinting search procedures in conjunction with a family tree on each program. If a member is to take advantage all of three program's record hints, the member would have to have a separate copy of all or part of their family tree on each program. If the member also has a copy of his or her family tree on a separate desktop genealogy database program, then there could be five copies of their family tree, including the one always present on the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. All members of the Church have a share in the family tree on the FamilySearch.org Family Tree by virtue of being members of the Church.

As I mentioned in the first installment, I consider the FamilySearch.org Family Tree to be the "master unified copy" in its current state of the entire human family tree. This is no reflection on the utility of the other family tree programs, or even of other online unified family tree programs. It is just my opinion that the FamilySearch.org Family Tree has the best overall chance of being preserved. So my idea is that it should act as the recipient of all of the accumulation of data from all the other family trees.

You might need to refer to the diagrams in the first installment to understand the continuity of what I am saying. The main reason for this series is to explain the process of moving digital family history data from one program to another, i.e. from MyHeritage.com to FamilySearch.org Family Tree etc. including all of the iterations of that process.

Today's post focuses on the desktop programs that connect directly to the FamilySearch.org Family Tree such as RootsMagic.com, Ancestral Quest, and Legacy Family Tree. Both RootsMagic and Ancestral Quest have programs for Windows and Mac based operating systems. All three of these programs have a "free" version available for download. There are a few other programs that also share data with the Family Tree. They include Mac Family Tree, MagiTree Deluxe, and a German program, FamilienBuch. I cannot determine the data movement capabilities of these other three programs. But you should be aware that they are FamilySearch Certified. I will focus on the three programs that claim data synchronization with the Family Tree including sources.

Here is a simple diagram of the operation of the three main programs that claim full synchronization of data:

The process of exchanging data between the three programs and the Family Tree is not automatic. In most cases, the user must move individuals or even individual data items, one-by-one, from the desktop programs to and from the Family Tree. Each of the programs provide a way to download more information from the Family Tree, but in doing a bulk download, there is no way to be assured that the information from the Family Tree is either accurate or complete.

From my own standpoint, adding more than a very small amount of information either into or down from the Family Tree is very inadvisable. The main reason for maintaining a separate desktop database program is to try to maintain the integrity of your own data. If you begin moving information, especially unverified information, down from the Family Tree, you run a serious risk of corrupting your own data with the existing unreliable data in the Family Tree. Even though these and other programs provide a method to more easily transfer data between the programs and the online Family Tree, does not mean that moving the information is a good idea per se. The main benefit is simply reducing the amount of re-typing of the information in either the Family Tree or your own program.

There are, of course, dozens of other genealogical database programs. Many of which are very sophisticated and available in a variety of languages that do not synchronize directly with the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. However, there are ways to share information back and forth with these other programs indirectly. I will get to that information in future posts.

The GEDCOM Alternative

Beginning back in 1984, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, released the very first version of the GEDCOM program, a method to exchange data between genealogical database programs. A historical summary of the released versions of the program is available on Wikipedia: GEDCOM. Most of the currently available genealogical database programs have some sort of GEDCOM file exchange capability. In addition, many of the large online database programs allow users to download a GEDCOM copy of the data in their family tree. The last generally available and latest version of the GEDCOM standard was released clear back in 1999. Exporting a GEDCOM file can be a complicated process, especially if you are trying to export the data from less than all the individuals in your family tree. In addition, because of the changes in the structure of the genealogy programs since the last version of GEDCOM was released, it is not uncommon that portions of the files of any given exported program will be ignored by the target program trying to import the data.

I am frequently asked if there is a way to export a GEDCOM file from the Family Tree. No, there is no direct way to do that. But you could create a GEDCOM file from any one of the three synchronization programs after downloading information from the Family Tree. You might want to beware of the size of a downloaded file. Even downloading a few generations of ancestors from the Family Tree can involve a huge number of individuals.

I realize I am giving short shrift to GEDCOM, but the issues involved in its use as a method of transferring data are very complex and its utility is marginal. Exporting a GEDCOM file will almost certainly result in a loss of some data and importing the file into another program will almost always result in further loss of data.

Unfortunately, I cannot give explicit instructions about specific method of transferring data between any one of the programs and the Family Tree. I would refer you to the websites for each of the programs, linked above, for that kind of specific information. I would also suggest that you look at the online tutorials for each of the programs for further information. Here are some helpful links to the YouTube.com and Vimeo.com videos I could find on each of the programs:

• RootsMagic
• Ancestral Quest
• Legacy Family Tree
• Mac Family Tree
• MagiTree

The previous post in this series is as follows:

http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-details-of-sharing-data-across.html

Ground Breaking for First-of-its-Kind St. George FamilySearch Library

If you have had concerns (like I have had) about the future of various FamilySearch facilities around the world, then you need to carefully read this press release from FamilySearch about the new "first-of-its-kind" St. George, Utah FamilySearch Library. It does not take a whole lot of speculation to answer some of the questions about the status of existing facilities, including those in Orem, Utah and Mesa, Arizona from the direction indicated by this statement. I have been hearing about the "new" St. George facility for two or three years. Some time ago, I visited with the Directors of the St. George FamilySearch Center and had a tour of their then new facility in an office building. I heard rumors that FamilySearch was thinking about building a new facility at that time. Frankly, I thought they had already built it and it was functioning. I guess I needed to stop off in St. George and see for myself.

Well, here is the Press Release. I have not changed anything from the one I received by email.

For Immediate ReleaseAugust 15, 2015

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Breaks Ground for First-of-Its-Kind St. George FamilySearch Library ST. GEORGE, UT (AUGUST 15, 2015)—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its nonprofit subsidiary FamilySearch International broke ground today on a first-of-its-kind facility in St. George, Utah. When complete, the state-of-the-art St. George FamilySearch Library will offer incredible free ancestry research services and fun, family-friendly experiences that invite personal and family discovery. Elder Allan F. Packer of the Church’s First Quorum of the Seventy presided over the groundbreaking ceremony along with local civic and faith leader guests. The new facility is projected to open in the fall of 2016. 

“Today family history research and telling, sharing, and preserving family memories through stories, photos, and technology are engaging a growing number of individuals of all ages like never before,” said Dennis Brimhall, CEO of FamilySearch International. “Youth want to discover themselves and their family’s history in fun, exciting ways, and adults want to strengthen family connections and leave enduring legacies. The discovery experiences provided by this facility will help do just that,” Brimhall added. 

The 13,500-square-foot St. George facility will be state of the art—designed from the ground up with the entire family in mind. It will deliver personal discovery experiences through interactive technologies and activities that can be continued in the home. Think of it as a dynamic, ever-unfolding “museum of me.” 

Patrons will have access to the most current research resources available online and personal guidance from 150 very knowledgeable staff members. In addition, 4,700 square feet of the facility will offer new, fun, interactive, family-friendly activities that enable patrons of all ages to discover themselves through their personal family stories (see more about the FamilySearch Discovery Center in Salt Lake City). 

The official opening of the new St. George facility is scheduled for late fall of 2016, and admission will be free to the public. 

The current St. George FamilySearch Library is located at 162 North 400 East, Bldg. B Suite 200, and will remain open until construction of the new facility is completed.  

About FamilySearch 

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. 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. 

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,800 family history centers in 132 countries, including the renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

 The difference between this new facility and those in Orem and Mesa, of course, is that in the case of both Orem and Mesa, the facilities are now closed with no scheduled re-opening. But the announcement does give a clear picture of the future direction of FamilySearch. I also talked this week with the Director of a FamilySearch Center in the Salt Lake Valley and he indicated that his facility was going to be a "test" for a scaled down "Family Discovery Center" concept. Looks like a clear message to me.

The Details of Sharing Data Across Family Tree Programs -- Part One

Many members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now find themselves with more than one copy of their family tree. The family trees can be in a desktop-based program or online in one or more of the large online family tree programs. This proliferation of family trees has become a challenge to some and a burden to others. This series will examine both the issues involved in maintaining separate family trees on different programs and the methods, presently available, for moving data from one to another of those programs.

Why would I want more than one copy of my family tree? Aren't I just inviting trouble? How would I keep more than one family tree up-to-date? How do I move information from one tree to another? This series of posts hopes to answer all those questions and many more.

The main reason for writing this particular post series is because members of the Church have access to putting family trees on several large database programs, including presently, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, Findmypast.com and possibly more in the future.

I am going to start this post with the assumption that the end product of gathering our family history will ultimately end up in the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. I suggest that this should be be goal for several very important reasons. The first of these reasons include the fact that the Family Tree program is a unified tree and that the sponsorship by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints adds a substantial measure of assurance that the information captured by the Family Tree will be preserved for a very long time. In fact, the present, transitional nature of the Family Tree demonstrates that FamilySearch and the Church never throw away anything even remotely of value. You might think you are deleting information from the Family Tree, but ultimately all of the changes to the program are preserved, even if not immediately recoverable. This does not mean that information cannot be lost, but the there is a rather high level of assurance that everything of value will be preserved.

For this and other reasons outside the scope of this post, I am beginning with the Family Tree. Obviously, you can add information to the Family Tree simply by keyboarding it into the program. Beginning with this simple model of the process, I will start to analyze other methods of adding information, some difficult to understand and others quite easy. Here is the first (of many) diagrams to illustrate the process:

There are some advantages to manually entering data into the Family Tree. These include the following:

• Possibility of a greater accuracy in the entries
• Greater control over the format and content of the data
• Works to add data from almost any source

There are also some definite disadvantages:

• The process of manually adding data is very slow
• There is a definite problem with typographic errors
• Entering large amounts of data will likely not happen
• Data entry is slowed by the physical limitations of those entering the data

You can probably supply the rest of the reasons. The main objection to manual data entry is that the information is probably being copied form an existing source. If the source is an individual's memory, there is probably no way to speed up the entry process. The person has to remember and enter the information. At this point there is a possible source of assistance from voice recognition software, so this adds another path to the diagram.

Voice recognition could be used to enter the data directly into the Family Tree, but the software for doing this will depend heavily on manual correction and movement on the screens. If voice recognition produces a digital document, then the resulting document is no different than any other digitized document. Here is an example of me reading a list of the names of my ancestors into a very good voice recognition program, Dragon Dictate.

• Henry Martin Tanner
• Sidney Tanner
• Thomas Parkinson
• Marianne Bryant
• over a Christian over some
• Charles Godfrey to freeze
• Margaret Jarvis
• Margaret Godfrey Jarvis

You can see that some of these voice recognition examples come out in a less than desirable format.

For the purpose of this particular series of posts, I am considering the data to have been entered initially into some written format. I mentioned voice recognition capabilities because they exist, not because I believe they are ultimately useful for entering data into family tree programs.

Manual entry of the data into the Family Tree program is mandatory unless the information has been converted from a physical format into a digital format. There is really no difference, from a data entry standpoint, and having the information on a piece of paper or in my own head. Assuming, that the information had already been typed, I could use optical character recognition software to transcribe document. Here is the diagram showing the intermediate step of transcribing the document into a digital format. Of course, the process of transforming a typed document could be done by scanning the document and then using optical character recognition software to extract the data from the scanned file, but this particular process is only slightly more accurate than my example of voice recognition software above. Many of the large online databases are experimenting with the process of optical character recognition for indexing their records. This particular technology is likely to increase in accuracy to the point where it will be a substitute for human indexing.

There is the modified diagram:

The dashed lines and question marks indicate possible, if questionable, methods of data entry into the Family Tree program. 

Even though I am presently beginning with data entry, ultimately in this series, I will be addressing the problem of moving data from one family tree program to another. Obviously, the methods that I have discussed so far could be applicable to information presently in a family tree as well as "raw data" from personal knowledge or from typed documents.

In the next installment of this series, I will address the issues of moving information from a desktop based program to the Family Tree. 

A Short Bibliography of Family History Books

Despite the plague of apathy currently dominant about the subject of family history, there are glimmers of hope. One background issue is whether or not the skills necessary to do serious family history will be taught and preserved past the now elderly generation of researchers. As usual, my attitude in writing any given post is determined, to a large extent, by recent conversations and experiences. On one hand we have the positive promise of projects such as The Family History Guide. On the other hand, I regularly encounter, not just apathy, but active antipathy and some rejection that verges on persecution. I could be shortsighted and blame that on moving to Utah Valley, but in fact, during the past 10+ years, I have been almost completely surrounded by those who go beyond a lack of interest in family history, but also actively impede its progress.

This morning, I decided to provide a short list of published resources about family history with an emphasis on those pertaining to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My goal here is not just to provide a list of books and other materials, but to demonstrate that there really are a lot of positive writings about family history. Perhaps, some of the "technologically savvy" youth will find the time in between texting to their friends to read a book on the subject of family history and start the learning process that will provide some excellent research in the future?

Here are a few suggested books for those who still read books:

• Allen, Desmond Walls. Family History Detective a Step-by-Step Guide to Investigating Your Family Tree. F+W Media, 2011. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=799238.
• ———. First Steps in Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide to Researching Your Family History. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1998.
• Anderson, Chris, and Ernest Thode. A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your Germanic Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
• Annal, David. Easy Family History: The Beginners Guide to Researching Your Family History. London: A. & C. Black, 2012.
• Arthur, Stephen, and Julia Arthur. Your Life & Times: How to Put a Life Story on Tape - an Oral History Handbook. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987.
• Balhuizen, Anne Ross. Getting Started: How to Begin Researching Your Family History. Indianapolis, IN: Ye Olde Genealogical Shoppe, 1994.
• Beasley, Donna. Family Pride: The Complete Guide to Tracing African-American Genealogy. New York, NY: Macmillan USA, 1997.
• Berry, Lesle. Writing and Publishing Your Family History: A Labour of Love. Modbury, S. Aust.: Unlock the Past, 2010.
• Best, Laura. Genealogy for the First Time: Research Your Family History. New York: Sterling Pub. Co., 2003.
• Black, Susan Easton. Introduction to LDS Family History: (genealogy). Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 2008.
• Burroughs, Tony. Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree. New York: Fireside Book, 2001.
• Candelaria-Rodriguez, Gloria. How to Start Your Family History: A Guide for the Beginning Genealogist and Family Historian. Port Lavaca, Tex. (P.O. Box 1308, Port Lavaca 77979): Universal Family History, 1982.
• Cass, Deborah. Writing Your Family History a Practical Guide. New York: Crowood, 2012. http://www.msvu.ca:2048/login?url=http://www.msvu.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=953026.
• Chater, Kathy. Family History Made Easy: How to Trace Your Family Tree and Find Relatives in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. London: Hermes House, 2010.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Genealogical Department. Ward, Branch, and Mission Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints up to 1948 (locality Arrangement). Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969.
• ———. Ward, Branch, and Mission Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints up to 1948 (some up to 1951). Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1965.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family and Church History Department. United States and Canada Reference Unit. Tracing LDS Families Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1998.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family History Department. LDS Reference Unit. Founding Fathers Project. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1987.
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oshkosh Ward, and Family History Center. A Guide to the Genealogical Research Materials Available at the LDS Family History Center--Oshkosh, Wisconsin. [Oshkosh, Wis.]: [Family History Center], 1995.
• Cosgriff, John Cornelius, and Carolyn H Cosgriff. Turbo Genealogy: An Introduction to Family History Research in the Information Age. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1997.
• Croom, Emily Anne. The Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Strategies for More Successful Family History Research. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
• ———. Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best-Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy. Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2001.
• Crowe, Elizabeth Powell. Genealogy Online. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.
• Davis, Joann Marie, Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society. How to Begin Your Family History. Detroit, Mich.: Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society, 1989.
• El Paso Genealogical Society. Genealogy Workshop, Level 1: For Beginning Genealogists. El Paso County, Tex.: The Society, 1993.
• Ewell, Barry J. Family Treasures: 15 Lessons, Tips, and Tricks for Discovering Your Family History, 2012.
• Fifer, Susan. Family History for the Older and Wiser: Find Your Roots with Online Tools. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.; Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
• Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History. S.l.: s.n. http://www.genuki.org.uk/gs/#Genealogy.
• Hunter, Nick. Finding Out About Your Family History., 2014. http://www.freading.com/ebooks/details/r:download/OTc4MTQ4NDYwMjQzMA==.
• Kempthorne, Charley. For All Time: A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook Publishers, 1996.
• Kovacs, Diane K. Genealogical Research on the Web. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2002.
• Kurzweil, Arthur. From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.
• Larsen, Paul. Crash Course in Family History for Latter-Day Saints: A Step-by-Step LDS Guidebook to Temple and Family History Work Using the New, Easy Way. Orem, Utah: Fresh Mountain Air Pub. Co., 2003.
• L.D.S. Individual Histories, Utah County: Provo, Mapleton, Vineyard, Springville. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1944.
• Maxwell, Ian. How to Trace Your Irish Ancestors an Essential Guide to Researching and Documenting the Family Histories of Ireland’s People. Oxford: How To Books, 2009. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=471321.
• McLeod, Marilyn. Clues to Your Past: Beginning Your Search for Family History : A General Guide to Resources Available in Boone County, and Callaway County, Missouri. [Columbia, Mo.]: [Daniel Boone Regional Library], 1992.
• Melnyk, Marcia Yannizze. Family History 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your Ancestors. Cincinnati, OH: Family Tree Books, 2005.
• Morgan, George G. How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy. New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004.
• Nichols, Elizabeth L. Genealogy in the Computer Age: Understanding FamilySearch. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Educators, 1994.
• Ogden Regional Family History Center Records. J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah Manuscripts Division. http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/UU_EAD,3452.
• Owen, William, Tay Valley Family History Society. Index to Family Group Sheets, Membership List and Beginning Your Family History Research in the Tay Valley a Where to Guide. Dundee: Tay Valley Family History Society, 2000.
• Pelling, George, and George Pelling. Beginning Your Family History in Great Britain. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1989.
• Peterson, Ann H, and Ginger Hamer, Minnesota Genealogical Society. Journey into Your Past: How to Begin Tracing Your Family History. St. Paul, MN (P.O. Box 16069, St. Paul 55116-0069): Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1985.
• Powell, Kimberly. Everything Family Tree Book Research And Preserve Your Family History. F+W Media, 2010. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=805208.
• ———. The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: Use the Web to Trace Your Roots, Share Your History, and Create a Family Tree. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, 2011.
• ———. The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: Use the Web to Trace Your Roots, Share Your History, and Create a Family Tree, 2014.
• Presnell, Jenny L. The Information-Literate Historian: A Guide to Research for History Students. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
• Richley, Pat. The Everything Online Genealogy Book: Use the Web to Discover Long-Lost Relations, Trace Your Family Tree back to Royalty, and Share Your History with Far-Flung Cousins. Holbrook, Mass.: Adams Media Corp., 2000.
• Shepherdson, Nancy. Ancestor Hunt: Finding Your Family Online. New York: Franklin Watts, 2003.
• Sperry, Kip. A Guide to Mormon Family History Sources. Provo, Utah: Ancestry Pub., 2007.
• ———. Introduction to LDS Family History (genealogy): Religion 261, Student Syllabus. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Departmant of Church History and Doctrine, 1999.
• Sterling, Dorothy. We Are Your Sisters: Black Women in the Nineteenth Century. New York: W.W. Norton, 1984.
• Stryker-Rodda, Harriet. How to Climb Your Family Tree: Genealogy for Beginners. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1983.
• Szabados, Stephen. Basic Genealogy: Saving Your Family History. Lexington, KY: [CreateSpace], 2013.
• ———. Find Your Family History: Steps to Get Started. Lexington, KY: [CreateSpace], 2012.
• Tracing Your Family History Made Easy. London: Which?, 2011.
• Warren, Paula Stuart. How to Start Gathering Your Family History. St. Paul [Minnesota]: Warren Research & Marketing, 1990.
• Webster, S. M, ed. Genealogy for the Beginner. Charleston, SC: PeeperPub, 2013.
• Wenzerul, Rosemary. Tracing Your Jewish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Family History, 2008.
• Wilkes, Sue. Tracing Your Ancestors’ Childhood: A Guide for Family Historians. South Yorkshire [England]: Pen & Sword, 2013.
• Willard, Jim, Terry Willard, and Jane Wilson. Ancestors. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
• Wolfman, Ira, and Michael Klein. Do People Grow on Family Trees?: Genealogy for Kids & Other Beginners : The Official Ellis Island Handbook. New York: Workman Pub., 1991.

New Ancestry.com Update now syncs with FamilySeach Family Tree

For some time now, the older version of the Ancestry.com website has synchronized both details and sources with the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. Unfortunately, for some time, the newer version of the website was lacking that feature. Now, the ability to synchronize data between the two programs has been added to the new, updated version of the Ancestry.com website. Here is a screenshot showing the link.

The link allows you to do the following:

When you compare a person on your Ancestry.com family tree with the FamilySearch.org Family Tree, you get a screen that compares both details and sources between the two programs. You can then move the information, by clicking the check boxes, from one program to the other.

You need to carefully consider which of the information is correct and make sure that the sources really apply to your ancestor or relative. The process is completed when you save the changes.

This is a big benefit to those who are keeping most of their information either on the FamilySearch.org Family Tree or on Ancestry.com.

Upcoming Family Discovery Day at RootsTech 2016

RootsTech 2016 is just around the corner. I have already been notified that I will be a RootsTech Ambassador for the sixth consecutive year of the Conference. This next year's Conference will once again be held in the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 3rd through the 6th, 2016. If you are planning on attending the Conference, it is not too early to get accommodations reserved.

One of the major events of the Conference is the Family Discovery Day scheduled for Saturday, February 6th, 2016. Last year, the tickets for this event ran out some considerable time before the event occurred. Prospective participants thought they could just "show up" and attend, but found out otherwise. I would suggest that if you have any plans to come to the event or bring youth to the event, that you plan to check the website frequently and make sure to reserve tickets before they run out.

The website is just now beginning to be updated. I would suspect that as we get a month or so down the road, we will start seeing some announcements about the upcoming Conference. Stay tuned.