FFHS-NEWS FamilySearch Announces Plans to Publish Free Indexes to All Available U.S. Censuses

[News from the Federation of Family History Societies]

FamilySearch and Ancestry.com Team to Publish New Images and Enhanced
Indexes to the U.S. Censuses 
New 1900 Census Images Now Available on Ancestry.com; Volunteer Indexers
Sought to Improve the 1920 U.S. Census Index
 
SALT LAKE CITY-Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, have announced that they will
exchange records and resources to make more historical records available
online. The first project is a joint initiative to significantly enhance the
online U.S. Federal Census Collection (1790 to 1930). The original census
records are among the holdings of the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA).
 
FamilySearch is digitally converting master microfilm copies of the original
U.S. Federal Censuses from 1790 through 1930 and, under this agreement, will
give these improved images to Ancestry.com. All census images and indexes
will be available on Ancestry.com for subscribers. As projects are
completed, images will be available for free in NARA reading rooms and
FamilySearch's 4,500 Family History Centers.
 
Ancestry.com, which currently offers indexes and images to the entire
publicly available U.S. Federal Census Collection, will give FamilySearch
copies of its existing census indexes. Through its online indexing system
and community of volunteer indexers, FamilySearch is already indexing select
censuses. FamilySearch will merge the Ancestry.com indexes with the new
FamilySearch indexes to create enhanced census indexes, which will be added
to both sites. Indexes to the enhanced censuses will be free on Ancestry.com
for a limited time as they are completed. Indexes will also be available for
free on FamilySearch.org. 
 
The first census exchanged is the 1900 U.S. Census. FamilySearch completed a
1900 index in addition to Ancestry.com's original. In the new index,
FamilySearch added several new fields of searchable data, such as birth
month and birth year, so individuals can search for ancestors more easily.
The two indexes will be merged into an enhanced index, available on both
sites. The new 1900 census images are now available on Ancestry.com. The
enhanced 1900 index will be available for free for a limited time at
Ancestry.com and ongoing at FamilySearch.org. 
 
Ancestry.com will also provide FamilySearch its original 1920 U.S. Census
index. Using the Ancestry.com index as a first transcription, FamilySearch
will create a new second index with added fields and arbitrate any
discrepancies between the two indexes. The 1920 project is currently in
progress. Individuals interested in helping create the improved index can
volunteer at FamilySearch.org. Once completed, the enhanced 1920 index will
be available on both sites and will link back to images on Ancestry.com.
 
The 1850 through 1870 (partial) and 1880 and 1900 U.S. Censuses can be
searched currently at FamilySearch.org; all publicly available U.S. Censuses
are already available on Ancestry.com.
 
About Ancestry.com
With 26,000 searchable databases and titles and nearly 3 million active
users, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history
information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier
resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions
of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to
build their own unique family trees. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations
Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties,
including http://www.myfamily.com/, http://www.rootsweb.com/,
http://www.genealogy.com/ and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations
Network properties receive nearly 8.5 million unique visitors worldwide. (C
comScore Media Metrix, March 2008). To easily begin researching your family
history, visit http://www.ancestry.com/. 
 
About FamilySearch
FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest
repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at
FamilySearch.org <http://www.familysearch.org>  or through the Family
History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history
centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual
Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other
countries.
 

Maggie Loughran 
Joint Administrator, Federation of Family History Societies 
*   <mailto:admin at ffhs.org.uk> admin at ffhs.org.uk 
 <http://www.ffhs.org.uk/> www.ffhs.org.uk 
 
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