Published: May 19, 2007 04:06 pm         

Genealogy: New Records Access program will expand FamilySearch’s capabilities

FamilySearch recently announced the creation of a new program called Records Access, which is designed to allow FamilySearch to join with archives and records repositories around the world with the goal of digitizing, indexing and making their historical records and archives available to the public.

The Records Access program would allow the custodians of archives to use the technology and resources of Family Search, the world’s largest repository of genealogical resources, to create digital images of their archives. In return, the archival custodian would create indexes for these digital images and then publish both the images and the indexes on its Web site.

A copy of the index would be made available for free on FamilySearch.org, which when searched, would send viewers back to the archives’ Web site to view the original digitized document.

“Records custodians worldwide are experiencing growing pressure to provide access to their records online while maintaining control and ownership.

At the same time, Web sites that provide digitizing and publishing services are struggling with the staggering costs. The new Record Access program takes advantage of FamilySearch’s resources and creates an economical and effective forum where records custodians and genealogy Web sites can work together to accomplish their respective objectives,” says Wayne Metcalfe, director of records services for FamilySearch.

The Records Access program offers the following benefits to archives and records custodians:

1) to digitally preserve and publish the archives’ records online;

2) to increase access to the archives’ records while allowing the archives to maintain control and ownership of the records;

3) to increase patronage and traffic to the archives’ Web site, and;

4) offering the archives the experience, support and resources of FamilySearch. After their records are digitized and placed online, the archive will be able to provide public access to the records for free or a fee.

Records custodians and archives wanting more information on this program should contact Wayne Metcalfe at metcalfewj@gensocietyofutah.org. Genealogy Web service providers wanting more information should contact Dave Harding at hardingdp@ldschurch.org.

The exciting first project for the Records Access program is going to involve the digitizing and indexing of the United States Revolutionary War pension records housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

FamilySearch (which will digitize the images), Footnote.com (which will create an electronic index of the records), and the National Archives Record and Administration (which will provide the historic records), are teaming to accomplish this end. These pension records will be made available online to the public.

Query

• I’m searching for information on family of Maria Carolina Johanna Jahnke, born in 1845 in Prussia. She arrived in Danville, Vermilion County, Ill., before July 1881. She was the daughter of Johan Jahnke and Caroline Sengbusch. Her siblings were August, Carl, Friedrica, Maria, Wilamina and Ernst Jahnke. She married Jean George Leffert on April 30, 1885, in Danville, Ill. Her children were Gus Jahnke, born July 1881 in Danville, and William Leffert, born April 1886 in Danville. This family has been my brick wall for a long time. If you have any information, please reply to Nancy Ladewig, 831 Spruce St., Deerfield, IL 60015, e-mail Nlladewig@aol.com.