The Family Tree
By Terence L. Day
Terence L. Day, genealogist and journalist, is on the Washington State University faculty. He welcomes e-mail at genealogy@moscow.com, or regular mail in care of the Tri-City Herald City newsroom, P.O. Box 2608, Tri-Cities, WA 99302-2608.
Internet invaluable resource for genealogists
This story was published July 23, 2000
The Internet has done more for genealogical research than anything since Johannes Guttenberg used movable type to print the Bible in 1455.
Both are watershed technological advances that changed society, and genealogists have been among the prime beneficiaries - whether in the 15th century or the 21st.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Johnny-come-lately to cyberspace, but has long been one of the world's prime moving forces in genealogical research.
Ever conservative, the Mormon Church watched, waited and carefully planned its entry onto the new playing field. When it finally burst onto the Web in May 1999, it did so in grand style.
Its offerings, at the FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service (www.familysearch.org) grow daily. Among other things, the site offers access to four databases - Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index, Family History Library Catalog and Internet Index to the Pedigree Resource File.
Alan E. Mann and Marvin R. Zautcke wrote an excellent overview, Family History via the Internet, which was published in the July edition of the church's Ensign magazine.
Mann and Zautcke write for a Mormon audience, but most of the information is relevant for any genealogist.
Importantly, all of the genealogical services of the church, including its Web site and data collections, are available free to all comers.
Ancestral File is a collection of millions of names of individuals and families gathered from throughout the world. They are organized into pedigrees (genealogical charts) and family group record forms.
Many people mistakenly accept information gathered here as fact. Unfortunately, much of the information is unreliable.
All users are cautioned to verify information from sources of vital data - birth, death and marriage certificates, church baptismal records, census and tax records, voting registration books and other documents.
The International Genealogical Index is an index of more than 330 million names of dead folks, whose records have been gathered since 1970.
This provides clues to genealogists on where to look for vital records that may contain information on their ancestors.
The Family History Library Catalog describes books, microfilms and microfiche in the Church's Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Many of these materials may be borrowed through local Family History Centers throughout the United States. There is a small fee to cover mailing costs.
The Internet Index to the Pedigree Resource File lets you know if your family history is part of the Church's collection of family histories submitted by individuals via the Internet.
It's also published on compact disk and may be bought from LDS Distribution Centers. Information is organized in family groups and pedigrees printed exactly as submitted. Errors in, errors out. But this is a source that definitely should be consulted. Nine such CDs are currently available.
The Mann and Zautcke article also includes a lexicon of Internet vocabulary, which explains some of the arcane terminology of genealogy, computers and cyberspace that are relevant for folks who want to explore their family roots.
This is but a small part of the territory covered by Mann and Zautcke.
I recommend you read their article. The nearest Mormon Church should have a copy of the magazine. Nearly all LDS Church buildings throughout the United States have libraries and copy machines. Someone there would be happy to make you a copy of the article.