My Heritage-Training Video

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My Heritage is an amazing website.  More than 83 million people are registered throughout the world.  They are now in every single country in the world.  They have 2.6 Billion people on their trees. 6.8 Billion documents supporting the entries.  They have over 200 million photos and 42 languages available.  These stats alone merit our consideration.  They are adding roughly 100,000 users per month.  Their numbers are staggering for a company that has only been around for a little over a decade.  They partnered with Family Search in 2013.  The growth has been phenomenal.

https://youtu.be/0v0fbjil9W8

The Webinar is 1 hour in length.  It is a small price to pay for what could save you countless hours of searching in the future.  Knowledge is power.  The more we learn the more we realize how much more there is to learn.

August Updates for FS/Family Tree

As you know, every month there are updates to FS/FT.  After the new.familysearch program was merged into the Family Tree, the attention of the developers turned to innovations and additions to the Family Tree once again.  This is the name of the game for these types of websites.  Change or die...basically.   

The first change on this blog post for Family Search is a big change.  We can now add unindexed images.  Considering the vast majority of records we have on FS are still unindexed this is a major change and improvement.  We all need to study and learn this material.  Of course James Tanner has some thoughts already on clarifying this procedure.  See: 

 http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2016/08/important-updates-to-familysearchorg.html

Each month, FamilySearch publishes a list of new changes and updates to the FamilySearch.org website. This list includes changes to Family Tree as well as other parts of FamilySearch.org. In some cases, these changes will also be published as individual articles where the need to do so exists.

Recently Released

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FamilySearch: Add Unindexed Images

You can now link unindexed images to a person in the Family Tree. Previously you had to go through the attach process for each person in the image. The new flow will greatly reduce the number of steps you must take to properly attach an image to all family members in your tree.

1. In the first step you give the photo a title and add notes about the image. The notes are not indexed, nor is the data in fields searchable, but the notes can be viewed on the source attachment in the Family Tee.
   
2. During the second step you can select a person in the Family Tree to attach the image to. You then select the person’s surrounding relatives (spouses, children, parents, siblings) to the image.
   
3. For the third step you add a statement about why you believe the people in the image are the same as the people in your Family Tree.
   
4. You will be alerted that the attachment successfully took place.

FamilySearch: New Logged-In Home Page

FamilySearch will soon be rolling out a new dashboard for you when you are logged in to FamilySearch. The content on dashboard will be customized to you based on your preferences and activity in the Tree. You will be able to view photos and read stories about your ancestors that have been recently added from other patrons. You can comment on these photos and stories and share them on social media.

FamilySearch will also provide recommended tasks that you can view and then work on to further your family history work. In addition, there is a list of recently viewed ancestors so you can pick up where you left off and a to-do list so you can plan your future work. This new dashboard will help inspire you to learn more about your ancestors and give you tools that will help you complete your family history work.

Memories: Landing Page

Our memories page has been updated. This update will help you to better understand the multiple functions of Memories, not just the Gallery.

Memories App: Audio Recording

When recording audio, you can now use suggested questions provided from FamilySearch to conduct interviews and learn more about your ancestors. 

Family Tree Mobile:

Search General Historical Records

In your main menu, a Search Historical Records button has been added. This is the same as going to the Search menu on your main FamilySearch web page.

Access the Ancestry Website

You can search Ancestry for a person’s historical records. On the person page, the app has an option to search records for that person in FamilySearch. The app will also let you choose “Ancestry” and will open a browser on the device and take the user to the Ancestry website.

Add and Edit Person Notes

You can now add and edit Notes for a person. Under the Person Details tab, the app will show notes for a person that has any Notes. You can also add a Note.

Photos, Stories, and Audio Files in One List View

You can view the photos, stories, and audio files for a person in one list view on the tab menu bar for a person.

Person’s Event Map

You can now open a map for the places of a person’s event. You will see this map when you open a vital event of your ancestors to view more details. Maps are currently only featured on iOS, but will be available on Android soon.

Digital Images Of Microfilm On FamilySearch.org

This is a screenshot of the images for the Argentina, Córdoba, Protocolos notariales Film #7397619 Índice de protocolos notariales, Registro 1 - Tomo 01 - Letras A-B, 1775-1925. This filmstrip viewer is extremely useful for researchers because navigating through the roll of microfilm is facilitated. You may or may not have found one of these types of images on the FamilySearch.org website, depending on whether you use the Catalog or not.

If you search in the FamilySearch.org Catalog for records, you will find three general categories: books and other printed material, microfilm and microfiche. The microfilm records are starting to be displayed in a variety of ways with the above filmstrip view one of the very most useful for researchers. Microfilm records fall into two general categories: those records that are indexed and those that are not.

The above view, is marked on the Catalog entry for the film and related films. Here is a screenshot of the Catalog entry for the above film from Argentina:

The little camera icon in the Film Notes indicates that the microfilm roll is available in this format as a filmstrip. The main group of records also has a red letter notation about the digitized records as shown by this screenshot:

I am sure there is some system as to which films appear in this format, but to the user finding films that are available in this format seems to be random.

The red link shown in the last screenshot goes to this page.

You can continue reading this post here: Part 1

http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2016/08/viewing-digital-record-images-on.html

It turns out that there are now a number of ways to view the digital records on the FamilySearch.orgwebsite. This is just my (James Tanner) first installment. I also think this will end up being a webinar in the future. So if you are reading this sometime after the publication date, you might want to check the BYU Family History Library YouTube Channel to see if I have done a webinar on this subject."

 There are three posts in this series.

Part 2    http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2016/08/viewing-digital-record-images-on_5.html

Part 3    http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2016/08/viewing-digital-record-images-on_7.html

Making the Most of Find My Past~Video

Making the Most of MyHeritage com by James Tanner.  James has done one of these videos on the big four,  FS, Ancestry and My Heritage as well.. BYU YouTube page.  Subscribe.

July Updates From The Family Search Blog

Each month, FamilySearch publishes a list of new changes and updates to the FamilySearch.org website. This list includes changes to Family Tree as well as other parts of FamilySearch.org. In some cases, these changes will also be published as individual articles where the need to do so exists.

 Recently Released

FamilySearch: List View in Memories Gallery

There is a new way to look at memories within your Gallery. The Gallery has new arrangement options as well as visibility for you to date and place information on each memory.

Note: The arrangement options will not show memories missing information. For example, if you select Title A-Z, only memories with titles will show, though your count on the My Memories album does not change.

FamilySearch: Memories Tab on the Family Tree People Page

The process of uploading or attaching memories to a person through the Memories tab on the Family Tree people page has been simplified. The single Add link to do both has been replaced by two buttons within each section: the first one, Upload Memory, uploads a new memory, and a second button, Select from Gallery, selects a memory from previously uploaded memories.

FamilySearch: People Page Updates in Memories

Updates to People page within Memories. 

1. If a person is linked to your tree, the name of the person in Memories and the tag on each memory will now match the vital name showing in your Family Tree.
   
2. The People page will default to the Close Relatives Show option.
   
3. The Show option of Close Relatives will allow you to sort by options of Last Name and First Name. Last Name sort will then also sort by First Name. First Name will then also sort by Last Name. 
   
4. 
   

Read The Instructions Before Attempting Repairs In The Tree

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Some people get very frustrated by the fact that Family Tree is always changing and that people keep messing up "their tree".  
I think we as staff members know the premise of our Tree pretty well, but sometimes we have patrons that just don't understand. Perhaps we could give them a few of the principles of a wiki-based program in correcting errors and collaboration and then give them a link that includes this blogpost series by James Tanner.  We can have this link handy in our toolbox inside our source box for just such occasions.  

Here is a portion of blogpsot #3:

Some people are overwhelmed with the obvious errors in the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. They immediately conclude that the Family Tree is either not working or there are so many errors that the job itself of cleaning up the Family Tree is overwhelming. Neither conclusion accurately represents the reality of the Family Tree. Yes, there are a lot of problems, but these problems are really opportunities to correct the Family Tree and thereby add individuals who need Temple ordinances.

I will repeat my first two Rules for cleaning up the Family Tree:

Family Tree Accuracy Rule No. 1:
You and your family are responsible for the accuracy of your portion of the Family Tree.

Family Tree Accuracy Rule No. 2:

No one has or will verify the accuracy of your portion of the Family Tree except you and your family.

Now I will add another rule:

Family Tree Accuracy Rule No. 3:
Accuracy in the Family Tree is like cleaning a house. There are different perceptions of what is already clean and what needs cleaning.

One of the things I like that he includes is some information and screenshots of the Get Help sections of Family/Search Family Tree.

There are many levels of support and help for the website and all of its parts. In the upper, right-hand corner of the screen there is the Help Menu.

Each of these links goes to a different type of help and support. But the basic, question answering help is in the Help Center. When I am asked a question, I usually sit down with the person asking and show them the answer in the Help Center.

Check it out. If you think it might be helpful to you in the Library or in your wards why not capture it and save it for the moment you need it.  

http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2016/08/what-to-look-for-in-cleaning-up_22.html

What I like to do is copy the url above which is the 3rd post in the series.  I chose that one because it has the links to the first two posts at the bottom of it.

Next I go to tinyurl.com and paste the link into the box provided.  It then gives me a tiny url that is just more manageable. 

http://tinyurl.com/zlcgk2z  Now I have a nice, compact link to create my toolbox link in my soucebox on FamilySearch Family Tree.  You can find the source box directly under you name after signing in.  The drop down menu has it as one of the selections.

Open the Source Box and create a source.

Now you have this at your finger tips when you need it. Using your source box creatively is helpful.   Otherwise it just holds all the documents you have already attched to people in your tree. You can create one folder for all of them, in the unlikely event you'll ever need them again.  Then you have 49 other folders to store things that can really help you remember the things you need to know and to help patrons.  If you need more help with this let me know.   

Considering DNA?

If you are considering DNA but really feel you lack some knowledge in this area The Family History Guide just added an 8th Project called DNA..  www.thefhguide.com  I have looked through the goals and it looks like there is a lot of pertinient infromation regarding this chance to find out more about your origins.  Here is an excerpt from the first article in the new goals section of the DNA Project.

"By the 1980s it had been established that DNA could be used very effectively for identification purposes, leading to widespread use in the fields of forensics and criminology. Only very small samples were needed, with sources varying from a body to traces left by a body, in what is referred to as “genetic fingerprints.” DNA paternal testing soon followed, effectively proving paternity far past the limits of earlier blood tests. A major achievement occurred in the early 1990s, with the exhumation and identification by DNA testing of the remains of members of the royal Romanoff family of Russia.

First public attention was brought to potential use of DNA as a genealogical tool in the late 1990s. Of special significance were efforts to determine if Thomas Jefferson was the father of some or all of slave Sally Hemmings' children."  

The Family History Guide supplies many answers to our 
questions in Family History in one convenient place  Check out Project #8 DNA.