What's New At Family Search?

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Blog Post August Updates


What's New at FamilySearch

Find out about all of the new improvements, additions, or other changes that are being made on FamilySearch.org to make it a more valuable resource for your family history needs.

RootsTech London 2019 Conference Announced

August 28, 2018 By FamilySearch

RootsTech has announced that the highly popular family history conference is expanding its international borders, beginning with the United Kingdom in 2019. RootsTech will host RootsTech London 2019 from 24–26 October, 2019 at the ExCeL London Convention Centre. For more info go to RootsTech.org/london. Full Story

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Complete Archive of Ellis Island Records—Now Online for Free

August 13, 2018 By FamilySearch

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are famous landmarks in U.S. history. The Statue of Liberty, located on Liberty Island, is a symbol of freedom. Ellis Island opened the gates to millions as the home of the Ellis Island Immigration Station—and millions of passenger arrival records for U.S. immigrants came with it. Now, a complete collection of Ellis Island passenger lists is available online and searchable for free at FamilySearch. Full Story

Filed Under: Records and Research, What's New at FamilySearch12 Comments

Add Multiple Pictures in FamilySearch Memories—Share Your Family Stories!

August 9, 2018 By Leslie Albrecht Huber

Memories is a tool in FamilySearch that allows you to preserve and share your family’s most important moments by adding family photos, documents, audio clips and stories. You can then organize and tag them, attaching them to individuals on your family tree. This turns these treasured moments into heirlooms that can be passed down in your family and easily accessed by even distant family members. Full Story

Filed Under: What's New at FamilySearch 4 Comments

Bob Taylor's Webinar Is Ready To View~Pre-Rootstech Developments

My Photo-Happy Spring!

The Family History Guide


Approaching Rootstech all the big companies prepare to launch new and exciting things to wow the crowds. That is one thing I missed this year as I was busy working in our booth for The Family History Guide.  So I am just about at the point where I can take some time to do that via the Rootstech page found at www.rootstech.org   

A lot of the announcements are made during the keynote sessions in the morning and a lot come in the individual classes. For example, I would have loved to listen to Ron Tanner share the big changes for FamilySearch, but I was teaching at the same time.  Bummer.  But I am going back to see if it got recorded so I can to watch it.  If I can't watch it then I'll check Ron's Twitter account for updates.  or Ill check the FS Blog or on Facebook I should be able to find some things too.  It is just not the same as seeing him present his message in person. 

As far as the Family History Guide goes, a lot of changes were made to enhance our features before Rootstech for the same reasons. Just the other day on March 21, 2018, Bob Taylor presented a wonderful Webinar through the BYU Family History Library's Youtube Channel.  There were 20 different enhancements he shared.  It is fun being in on the meetings and having a say in what we did.  I love the way the company is so collaborative.  It is all about doing what is best for the user.  Egos are left at the front door and everyone works as a team. It is refreshing.  


I hope you will take the time to watch this as it will amaze you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-CTvp1N5Jk

Family History Guide Goes To RootsTech 2018

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The Family History Guide

The Family History Guide Blog

The Family History Guide Association is delighted to participate in Rootstech 2018! In addition to having a booth in the Expo Hall all four days, our vice-president and executive director, Bob Ives, will be presenting Introduction to The Family History Guide on Friday, March 2nd at 3 pm.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Attendees will be able to successfully navigate the free The Family History Guide website (www.thefhguide.com) to get an introduction to family history, and to accelerate their learning and progress with FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast. Objectives that will be covered in the class include: • Understand how The Family History Guide helps make genealogy learning and research easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable • Learn how to find and navigate the features available in The Family History Guide • Find online resources for beginners in family history or beginners in computer skills • Understand the unique learning structure of The Family History Guide, based on Projects, Goals, Choices, and links to learning resources • Explore the four Learning Paths of The Family History Guide: FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast • Learn how to quickly and easily find resources for doing research • Learn how to track family history learning progress through the Tracker system and Exercises • Get a brief introduction to family history activities for families, singles, youth, and children.Difficulty: Beginner

Room: Ballroom J

Session Number: RT9938

Pass: RootsTech

Categories: Methodology

The Family History Guide Association will have a booth in the Giant

Rootstech Expo Hall 

We will join hundreds of exhibitors from around the globe in the Expo Hall all four days of the conference! We will have interactive games, “hands-on” help for learning to do family history using the Family History Guide, and mini-classes throughout the event.

From the Rootstech website:

RootsTech is excited to add a theme to the annual conference: Connect. Belong. We love this concept as it encompasses what family history adds to our lives. We understand that the journey of connecting and belonging is different for everyone, and while each of our experiences and journeys is unique, family history connects us in many different ways and helps us feel a sense of belonging.

Rootstech Keynote Speaker-LeVar Burton 2017

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The Family History Guide

The Family History Guide Blog

You'll probably be hearing a lot of buzz about Rootstech in the next few months. As the genealogy worldwide community begins to think about it and prepare to come and gather together in Salt Lake City, I noticed that all the social media platforms are talking about it. Facebook, Twitter, bloggers...it's everywhere. There is something so electrifying about being together and sharing a common interest with others that can't be duplicated. The staff of The Family History Guide is so excited to meet you there in the Expo Hall!

One of the things that is really great is that each day begins with a keynote session. This will be my 5th year and I have heard some totally amazing speakers, from all walks of life, talk about their stories. One stands out for me beyond them all. Le Var Burton's presentation this year.

Le Var Burton, was the young man who played Kunte Kinte in the adaptation of Alex Haley's book, "Roots" published in 1976. The grass did not grow under the feet of television producers as the mini-series was released in 1977. The book and then the series have been credited by some to have been the catalysts that awakened the desire in many people to pursue their own roots for the first time.

During Rootstech last year this talk was put up on the Internet immediately but removed within hours. People have wanted to see it again and share it, but were unable to until now. It is back so enjoy it. It will touch your heart and I don't think there was a dry eye in the room when this was enjoyed live.

https://www.rootstech.org/video/levar-burton

RootsTech General Session 2017: LeVar Burton

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ROOTSTECH.ORG

Your Big Chance To Give The Family History Guide A Shout Out!

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The Guide

The Blog

This article is written by Bob Taylor, CEO of The Family History Guide.

"In case you haven’t heard, RootsTech 2018 is changing the landscape for their popular Innovators program. This time, instead of a contest for cash prizes, it will be a Showcase to spotlight the best and brightest technology companies in family history. You can read more about it here.

So the first order of business is voting for the favorite, and this time the votes are cast by the public. (See “Voting” below for details on how to participate.)

In case you haven’t heard, RootsTech 2018 is changing the landscape for their popular Innovators program. This time, instead of a contest for cash prizes, it will be a Showcase to spotlight the best and brightest technology companies in family history. You can read more about it here.

So the first order of business is voting for the favorite, and this time the votes are cast by the public. (See “Voting” below for details on how to participate.)

This brings back an interesting memory! Let’s flash back to Feb. 2016, when I presented The Family History Guide at the RootsTech Innovator Showdown. We were vying to reach the finals round of the competition, and things were going along smoothly until the panel of judges asked me how The Family History Guide would make money. When I responded that we wanted to keep the site free of ads and fees, and that the main source of income would be through donations, that did not go over well – the Showdown competition needed to find a strong money-maker in the market. (The bright spot, however, was the fact that this presentation opened the doors to a continuing, working partnership with FamilySearch … not a bad prize at all!)

Now we flash forward to RootsTech 2018, where it will be a showcase instead of a showdown, and RootsTech will be looking for the companies that are changing the family history landscape. On that basis, it’s seems to be a brand new day.." 

So if you are a fan of The Family History Guide, now’s your chance to let your voice be heard. Visit the new Innovation web page on our site for quick instructions on how to vote. We’ll keep you in the loop on the latest happenings – thanks for your support!"

Voting:  Please Vote For The Family History Guide At Rootstech Innovators Show Case before the Deadline of November 15, 2017.  Thank you!

See Bob Taylor's post in the context of The Family History Guide's new company blog here.

I include any of his posts from the company blog with Bob's permission!