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NEW Family Search Workbook  &  NEW Danish Guide First of Many to Follow 16 October 2001. 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — The Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced today the release of two new research products that will help family history enthusiasts succeed in their quest to learn about their ancestors. A new introductory workbook, How Do I Start My Family History?, and a new line of research guides, Finding Records of Your Ancestors, feature easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, colorful graphics and tear-out worksheets.

How Do I Start My Family History? is a free workbook designed to help those just beginning to gather and organize their family's genealogy. It replaces the library's popular booklet Where Do I Start? Users will find simple instructions, examples and 8.5-by-11-inch removable pedigree and family group worksheets to help them capture what they already know about their families.

Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Part A: Denmark, 1834 to 1900 is the first in a new series of publications that represents a new direction for the library. The guides simplify the research process to increase the probability of success. They are designed for those who have already gathered some information from their home and family, organized what they have on pedigree and family group forms like those found in How Do I Start My Family History? and are ready to search public records.

People generally perceive family history research as time consuming, complex and difficult. Veteran researchers usually credit someone for personally helping them a time or two in the beginning. The goal of the new guides, Finding Records of Your Ancestors, is to take the guesswork out of genealogical research. Publications coordinator NaDine Timothy explains: "In the past we have taken an encyclopedia-type approach by listing every single record that is available. Now we are trying to simplify the process and give users a specific, proven strategy to use." Timothy adds: "One thing that has frustrated many family history enthusiasts is the need to master quickly a whole new set of skills and concepts to be successful. They feel overwhelmed by what they don't know, and that can stifle their desire to learn more about their ancestors. The new guides will give them key information to compensate for that research skill deficit and enable them to have success."

Finding Records of Your Ancestors guides are geared toward people who have little genealogical experience and may not have time to do extensive research. In an inviting workbook style, Part A: Denmark colorfully outlines the steps and tools needed to find one's Danish ancestors. Users will learn where to start, how to find and use Danish records, and what unique elements to look for in the records. The 8.5-by-11-inch booklets are more visual and user friendly than other family history how-to publications.

"We wanted to take beginners by the hand and walk them through the research process," says Kay Merkley, instructional designer for the Finding Records of Your Ancestors series. "It's not an easy process at first, but these guides provide a strategy not available before on how to go from one record to another. The guides provide expert advice every step of the way."

The guide for Denmark is divided into two parts. Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Part A: Denmark, 1834 to 1900 covers the period from 1834 to 1900. Part B: Denmark, available in 2002, will cover additional time periods and research strategies. Another planned publication will help researchers read Danish records.

The guide explains different types of records in Denmark and instructs the user on when and how to use specific records. A real-life case study allows readers to see for themselves how the research process works. Expert search tips, including tips on how to use the Family History Library catalog, are included. Also included are maps, historical time lines, and background on Danish naming customs. Beyond outlining a strategy for getting started, the guide offers instructions on more advanced research, including addresses and Web sites for more information.

When tested last year with family history novices interested in Danish research, all test participants commented that the new guide made the genealogy research process much easier to understand and apply. Class participant Marilyn Moore said: "I'm excited about this information. It gives me a solid method to follow as I begin to learn about Danish records."

Additional guides in the Finding Records of Your Ancestors series will be published in 2002. Research guides are being prepared for the British Isles, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (for German language records). Additional guides will follow, including research assistance for African-Americans, American Indians and Pacific Islanders.

Both publications announced today are available at Church distribution centers worldwide and can be ordered by calling toll free 1-800-537-5971 or on the Internet at www.familysearch.org. How Do I Start My Family History? is free (item number 32916). Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Part A: Denmark is $3.25 (item number 36577). Please use the correct item numbers when placing your order.

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NEW Scandinavian Vital Records Online & CDs "Vital Records Index: Scandinavia records can be searched online. This Vital Records Index for Scandinavia contains information from birth, christening, and marriage records from selected localities in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Scandinavian church records in this collection contain, in total, approximately 3.6 million birth or christening records and one million marriage records. (updated: October 31, 2001)"

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The Pedigree Resource File contains over 35 million names online (discs 1-32). "The Pedigree Resource File is a new database of records that have been submitted by individuals through FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service. This online index includes individual records with events, parent information, and submitter information.

The compact disc version (discs 1-25) of the Pedigree Resource File contains more family information. This family information is organized in family groups and pedigrees and may include notes and sources. Discs may be purchased in sets which contain five discs and an index. Each disc has about 1.1 million names. You can print many types of charts and reports and also export GEDCOM files from the database." (updated: October 31, 2001)

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CenturyOldMaps.com
submitted by Pat Richley, Instructor DearMYRTLE@aol.com 

I've been communicating for nearly a year with Bill O'Toole, the man behind this fantastic project. His idea was to provide old maps from the German Encyclopedia - Meyers Konversations - Lexicon from 1885 to 1890. They have been "digitally restored" and then laminated. I have quite a few to show off at the meeting, as well as order forms if you wish to obtain a map through the mail.  

At the easy-to-navigate secure order processing web site, you'll find the catalog is divided into:

• United States

• Germany, German States & Cities

• European Countries & Cities

• Countries of Africa

• Countries of Asia

• Australia

• South America

Bill sent me quite a few of his excellent maps to review, including:

• Germany 1000

• Germany 1648

• Saxony Kingdoms, 1888

• Oldenburg-City in Lower Saxony 1888

• Hungarian Kingdom

• Saxony Province including part of Hannover 1888

• Saxon Dukedoms, principalities and fortresses 1888

I found these to be quite detailed, colorful, and intriguing to several recent visitors to "DearMYRTLE's computer room." I can't imaging having a display at your next family reunion without including several of Bill's vintage maps. You can use a grease pencil to spotlight exact ancestral locations. This is definitely one of the BEST OF THE INTERNET FOR GENEALOGISTS web sites! Bravo Bill!

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Ancestry.com's THIRD Subscription Database Collection
submitted by Pat Richley, Instructor DearMYRTLE@aol.com 

I've always advocated joining Ancestry.com to have full access to the fee-based genealogy databases they are so well known for providing. To date we've discussed the BASIC subscription and the US Census Subscription. Folks. Ancestry reminds us that  "Seventy percent of Americans can trace their family history back to the United Kingdom or Ireland" so they've added a THIRD database collection titled UK/Ireland. Here's their chart for pricing! Current subscribers were offered a special option via e-mail to subscribe at $29.95 for the first year.

"Just a few of the hundreds of exclusive databases in the UKI collection include:

--United Kingdom, Ireland Parish, and Probate Records. 15 million baptism, marriage, probate, and burial names from historical parish registers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland from 1538-1837.

--EXCLUSIVE! Pallot Marriage and Baptism Index. 4 million records noting the parish of an individual's marriage or baptism, participant names, and dates. Original record images will soon be available to UK/Ireland subscribers.

--Irish Immigrants: New York Port Arrival Records. Six hundred thousand names of Irish who immigrated during the potato famine of 1846-51 featuring passenger lists and other immigration documents.

--One new database will be added each workday, making your subscription even more valuable."

Experimenting on my own, I found these databases just for ENGLAND (directly quoting the website!) Some appear to be available prior to this time, but are now moved to this collection. Also note that the Ancestry World Tree is the free mega-database of GEDCOM files archived by users of www.ancestry.com.

Vital & Church Records 
Bedfordshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Berkshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Buckinghamshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Cambridgeshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Cornwall, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Derbyshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Devon, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Dorset, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Durham, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1900 - NEW! 
Essex, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Gene Pool Individual Records 
Gene Pool Individual Records - Births 
Gene Pool Individual Records - Deaths 
Gene Pool Individual Records - Marriages 
Gloucestershire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Hampshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Herefordshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Hertfordshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Huntingdonshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Kent, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Lancashire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Leicestershire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Lincolnshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
London, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Middlesex, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Norfolk, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Northamptonshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Nottinghamshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Oxfordshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Pallot's Baptism Index for England: 1780 - 1837 - NEW! 
Pallot's Marriage Index for England: 1780 - 1837 - NEW! 
Rutland, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Shropshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Somerset, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Staffordshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Surrey, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Sussex, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Warwickshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Westmorland, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 
Wiltshire, England: Parish and Probate Records - NEW! 

Biography & History 
Colonial Families in the Southern States 
Colonial Families in the U.S. 
Early Immigrants to Virginia from the 1500s and 1600s 
Encyclopedic History of the LDS Church 
History of the Settlement of Upper Canada 
LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 
Loyalists and Their Times, Vol. 1 
Loyalists and Their Times, Vol. 2 
Old United Empire Loyalists List 
Sons of the Utah Pioneers-Knight's History of England, Vol. 1-8 
Who's Who in the World, 1910-11 

Compiled Genealogy 
Ancestry World Tree 
Database User Comments - NEW! 

Military Records 
Indian Army Quarterly List for 1 January 1912 

Reference & Finding Aids 
England Topographical Dictionary 

Immigration & Naturalization Records 
American Emigrant Ministers, 1690-1811 
Irish Immigrants: New York Port Arrival Records, 1846-1851 - NEW! 
Persons of Quality Original Lists 

Court, Land, Probate Records 
Australian Convict Index, 1788-1868 
English Origins of American Colonists 
United Empire Loyalists, Part I 

Directories 
Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 
U.K. and U.S. Directories, 1680-1830 

Notice that you may elect to search by County as the following shot denotes:

Looks like Ancestry.com has come up with a real support tool for UK and Irish researchers. Hmmm, one new database per day?  They did it with the US, so I think they're good for it with this collection! THANKS Ancestry.com!

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Upcoming Events 

7 Nov 2001 - Manasota Genealogical Society, 10am-Noon, Manatee Central Library. Mark Smith, Archivist, Sarasota County.  He will talk about preserving our ancestors’ documents -- how to go about it, what not to do, and how to restore and preserve from future damage. He has asked that we bring some articles for him to help us with, though he does not do appraisals.  He will have some marvelous handouts.

8 Nov 2001 - The Villages Genealogical Society (Florida) will host Henry Z. "Hank" Jones, author of Psychic Roots, for an all-day seminar on Thursday, November 8, 2001. The event will be held in The Villages, Florida located just 45 miles north of Orlando on Hwy. 27/441. More in formation is available at: http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/genie3/new_index.html 

9-10 Nov 2001 – Florida State Genealogical Society Conference, Orlando, Florida. George G. Morgan, guest speaker. Genealogy Orienteering: Using Maps to Find the RIGHT Place, Bits about Obits, Bring 'Em Back to Life: Developing an Ancestor Profile, Planning a VERY Successful Genealogy Trip. http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/confrnce.htm 

13 Nov – Dec 4 2001, Intermediate Genealogy Classes Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30am by Cindy Russell. Covers basic probate, military & pension records, and land and deed records. Contact MCC Open Campus at 752-5203.

14 Nov 2001 - Obituary Workshop - Historical Records Library. 1:30-3:30pm. Continuing the work on the 1977 Bradenton Herald obituary project. They also just located about 4,000 pre-1977 obits on cards in the fireplace of the HRL!  They need to be filed as well. THANKS for your support!

1 Dec 2001 – Manasota PAF Users Group, 9:30am to 11:15am, 26th Street library in Bradenton.

5 Dec 2001 - Manasota Genealogical Society, 10am-Noon, Manatee Central Library. SILENT AUCTION & Edward Jordan of Venetian Arts. Copying and restoration of heirloom and contemporary photographics, treasured family portraits, documents and letters, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Airbrush and Brush Oil portraits. Stressing preserving, restoring, keeping what we have before they fade into oblivion, using computer enhancements. Bring some pictures to ask about.                                       

The ideas expressed in this publication are merely the opinions of the contributors. The writers, editors, publishers, and the Users Group are in no way responsible or liable for any damages resulting from articles, opinions, statements, advertising, representations or warranties expressed or implied in this publication nor do we endorse or recommend any products or services mentioned or illustrated herein.

The Manasota PAF Users Group is a non-profit educational organization in the State of Florida. Copyright 1999-2001. All Rights Reserved. dearmyrtle@aol.com 

Personal Ancestral File is the registered trademark of the Corporation of the President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Master Genealogist is the registered trademark of Wholly Genes, Inc. Family Tree Maker is the registered trademark of Mattel.