Ancestry.com is Again Available at the Family History Library

The Generations Network has again granted patrons at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, as well as the 13 largest Family History Centers, access to Ancestry.com at no charge. Following is a copy of the official news release. I posted this last month on GenealogyBlog, but it just dawned on me that we need it on here too.

FamilySearch and The Generations Network Agreement Give Patrons Access to More than 24,000 Ancestry.com Databases and Titles Provo, UT – December 19, 2007 – FamilySearch and The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com, today announced an agreement that provides free access of Ancestry.com to patrons of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the 13 largest regional family history centers effective today. With this new agreement, full access will be provided to more than 24,000 Ancestry.com databases and titles and 5 billion names in family history records. In addition to the Family History Library, the following 13 regional family history centers have been licensed to receive access to Ancestry.com:

• Mesa, Arizona
• Los Angeles, California
• Oakland, California
• Orange, California
• Sacramento, California
• San Diego, California
• Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Pocatello, Idaho
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Logan, Utah
• Ogden, Utah
• St. George, Utah
• Hyde Park, London, England

“We’re excited for our patrons to receive online access to an expanded collection of family history records on Ancestry.com,” said Don Anderson, director of FamilySearch Support. “Ancestry.com’s indexes and digital images of census, immigration, vital, military and other records, combined with the excellent resources of FamilySearch, will increase the likelihood of success for patrons researching their family history.” The Generations Network and FamilySearch hope to expand access to other family history centers in the future. FamilySearch patrons at the designated facilities will have access to Ancestry.com’s completely indexed U.S. Federal Census Collection, 1790-1930, and more than 100 million names in passenger lists from 1820-1960, among other U.S. and international record collections. Throughout the past year, Ancestry.com has added indexes to Scotland censuses from 1841-1901, created the largest online collection of military and African American records, and reached more than 4 million user-submitted family trees. Free access is also available at Brigham Young University Provo, Idaho, and Hawaii campuses, and LDS Business College patrons through a separate agreement with The Generations Network. “FamilySearch’s Family History Library in Salt Lake City is one of the most important physical centers for family history research in the world, and we are happy that patrons to the Library and these major regional centers will have access to Ancestry.com,” said Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com. “We’ve enjoyed a ten-year working relationship with FamilySearch, and we look forward to continued collaboration on a number of family history projects.”

About Ancestry.com – Visit us at www.ancestry.com With 24,000 searchable databases and titles and more than 2.5 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. The site is home to the only complete online U.S. Federal Census collection, 1790-1930, as well as the world’s largest online collection of U.S. ship passenger list records featuring more than 100 million names, 1820-1960. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including www.myfamily.com, www.rootsweb.com, www.genealogy.com and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive 8.7 million unique visitors worldwide and more than 416 million page views a month (© comScore Media Metrix, October 2007).

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 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.

Downtown Rising

The Crossroads Mall block in downtown Salt Lake City has been torn down - to the greatest degree. Billions of dollars are being spent to make the block directly across the street from Temple Square a major tourist and shopping mecca. Downtownrising is a website online where you can get up-to-date information on the construction progress. The Crossroads Block map [.PDF] is as of January 21, 2008 (that's tomorrow!).

Christmas in Salt Lake City

There's no better time to visit the Family History Library than during the Christmas season in Salt Lake City. The city is decorated - and Temple Square is absolutely beautiful. Bill Balter leads researchers attending the Salt Lake Christmas Tour on Temple Square photographing expeditions. Folks always go home with some fantastic Christmas pictures. Even with all the construction going on in downtown Salt Lake City, you wouldn't know it on Temple Square. I take pictures every year, including a few from the roof of the Plaza.

This picture shows the Assembly Hall in the foreground, with the Joseph Smith Building directly behind it. In the left foreground is the Tabernacle, with the Temple behind it - and behind that you can see the church office building disappearing into the fog. On the right is South Temple, and the Beneficial Tower.

Let's Make it 100 in 2008!

The 2007 Salt Lake Christmas Tour was a huge success, with 80 folks from all over the United States attending. I'd like to bump that to 100 for the 2008 tour (December 7-13). In past years, we've had as many as 115, so I know we can do it!

The picture was taken from the roof of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel during the 2007 Tour. Note that the top of the church office building disappears into the fog. Oh, how I love Salt Lake City at Christmas!

Attendees of previous tours can help us reach the 2008 goal of 100 by referring their genealogy friends and local society members. Click here for details.

Blogging: A new opportunity for our "family."

Our Salt Lake Genealogy Tour is growing up... we now have our own blog, thanks to Illya. Why all "the bluster about blogging," to quote Alan Mann? He quotes Wikipedia: "A blog is a website in which items are posted... that are important means of communication..." (Want to read Alan Mann's article entoto? Click to www.alanmann.com/articles/)

Our "Tour Family" blog will surely foster communication within the "family" and will highlight and spotlight our wonderful tour to one and all. I hope all you "family" will visit the blog regularly... stay tuned for tips on the easiest way to accomplish this.

For now, Donna (aka Mother Hen)

Upcoming Tour - December 7 to 13, 2008

Do You Want to Make Gigantic Leaps in Locating Your Ancestors?

Do you have brick-wall problems in your genealogy research?

If so - plan on joining with us at the 24th annual Salt Lake Christmas Tour to the Family History Library this December.

Why December? Early December is an ideal time to come to the Family History Library. The library isn't crowded, as it is at other times of the year. The festivities in Salt Lake City are underway and the Christmas Tour Family is waiting with open arms for you to join them.

By joining us in Salt Lake City on a Salt Lake Christmas Tour, you will be in the right place - at the right time - to locate more ancestors than you may have ever found before.

Details and Registration Form (PDF)

If you're not sure about joining us, check out the benefits of the Salt Lake Christmas Tour!

Bring-a-Friend

This option is for those who want to bring a spouse or friend that will not be participating in the Tour. You and your guest will share a hotel room, your guest will be able to participate in the breakfasts and other social activities.