FamilySearch has been in a very active process of upgrading and experimenting with their web site and their resources. The new look and feel (Fig 2), much of which comes from the Pilot Site experiments, does provide far more family history data when the researcher learns to navigate the new site. This article will be a general introduction to a series of articles aimed at helping new and older users get the best results from FamilySearch.
Background Understanding
For decades the heart of FamilySearch, whether accessed in Salt Lake at the main library, at Family History Centers all over the world, or more recently online, has been the International Genealogical Index (IGI). The IGI was created by the LDS Church as a result of a very ambitious program of filming original records all over the world. Thousands of parish records and other original sources were filmed, produced as microfilms and then made available at Family History Centers, again all over the world.
The "index" was created as thousands of LDS church members participated in an Extraction Program where they read the microfilm, filled out the information in data sheets which were then fed into the Church’s computer system to create the IGI, a searchable index to the world’s available original records. The original microfiche IGI filled two or three drawers and at the time was a huge addition to the genealogical resources available to most family history researchers. The IGI provided quick access for millions of searchers as they traced their family trees. Herein lies one of the main issues with the new look at FamilySearch; for all intents and purposes the IGI has disappeared and along with it the Pedigree Resource File.
Old Search Patterns
A large number of people learned to pull up the advanced search page at the old FamilySearch (still available by clicking on the button at the middle right hand side by the world map (Fig. 3)), select just the IGI and then get down to work. Once working with the IGI the search could be readily narrowed by dates, events, and places.
FamilySearch’s Problem with the IGI
As the IGI was under development another project, the Pedigree Resource File, was soliciting ideally a four-generation pedigree and family group sheet package from every member of the Church. They were to research their families, at least back four generations, compile them into typed family group sheets and submit them to the Church. Lots of people did just that and all that data was added to the IGI. With that came the problem of a wide range of good to very poor citations to back up the family trees that were being entered. For a long time the IGI has been both appreciated by serious genealogists and professionals and viewed with quiet skepticism.
FamilySearch’s Solution to the IGI
On the New Look FamilySearch that problem has been quietly solved. The "Historical Records" option, which is the default for searches, provides access to the part of the IGI created by the Extraction Program. In other words it is data with a known source. Certainly there may still be problems in the transcription of the originals but by and large it is solid, verified data that can be double checked by going back to the available originals. A note on page 11 of "Adjusting to the New Version of www.familysearch.org" (a downloadable pdf file available by clicking on the "Changes at FamilySearch.org") simply states: "The patron-submitted records are temporarily unavailable." Don’t expect those patron submitted files to show up as "historical records" any time soon. The New Look FamilySearch has quietly and without fanfare solved the major quality problem with the IGI. As noted, access is still available while the old site is maintained but there has been a quiet and very important improvement in quality.
Bill Atkinson - Bill Atkinson, with an Masters degree and 40 years of teaching adults and teenagers, shares his passion for history, science and ...
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