Mid July wanderings

Summer at the Lake in PA.,  taken by Bob Woolley

This photograph exemplifies the beauty and serenity of a lazy summer day. Likewise indexing, to me, is an example of the beauty of providing a service to others, to  our Lord and to our ancestors. A service that has resulted in over three billion searchable records at FamilySearch that help others find their ancestors.  How beautiful is that? How do you feel when you finally find a record on-line that supports your family records? That is only possible because someone took the time to help create a computer searchable index.

I am so very thankful for all of you who are indexing and arbitrating in our Stake. Your contributions are beyond words of mere thanks!! Keep up the good work and help someone else learn how to index too.

Writing a Life Sketch in Family Tree

Have you consider writing a life sketch for your ancestors in FamilySearch Tree? You might want to view these guidelines before you start and maybe you will find the answer as to why you would even consider doing such a thing.  Go to this link to see a one page handout that will be of great help:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzjwCDHaQdS_SGZOb0FDMGl2SW8/edit

       
Several reasons why I would want to do this are listed below for your evaluation:

• Life sketches lend stability to the record.
• It is a brief, about 1,500 words,  thus a sketch - avoid personal pronouns
• Include facts that will help other researchers
• Calls attention to the problem of other people merging or editing your information
• Everyone can see it at the top of the profile

Accidents Happen!

Have you ever added someone to your tree by mistake and you don't know how to get them out of your tree?  I have and it wasn't funny. It took awhile till I figured out how to delete him or unlink him from the parents. I found a great short video that will show you how to handle situations like this. Click on the link below and go watch this video, or visit with you Ward Family History Consultant for help.

https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/manual-separation-process-for-separating-incorrectly-combined-records/974

June 2015 Stake Indexing Report

Happy 4th of July 

June Stake Indexing Report
YTD CUM 230,012

Ward                                    Total Names

• Clinton                                             552
• Edmond First                                   267
• Edmond Fourth                               3728 
• Edmond Second                              2499
• Okc Fifth                                         1103
• Okc First                                          3394
• Okc Fourth Branch                              13
• Okc Seventh                                     3312
• Okc Third                                         1399
• Quail Creek                                        350
• Village                                                739
• Woodward Branch                                34

 YOUTH  

• Edmond Fourth                                     227
• Okc Third                                                31

Freedmen's Bureau Project

You may have seen in your list of Indexing projects an increase in the Freedmen Bureau batches. You may wonder how that affects you, maybe your family roots don't fall into this category, but these records extend to just about anyone who lived or worked in the south in the years following the civil war.

It includes anyone who needed help after the Civil War. These records reflect the massive effort of the federal government to assist the newly freed slaves and anyone impacted by the war. They provide a look at the legal system and how it worked, or didn't work in those days.

Various records included in this project are: work contracts, marriage records, birth records, school records, wills, food and clothing rationing lists, property settlements, etc.

 More importantly for the black community it was the first time that the names of the children and parents were recorded. The first vital records for this community. These records reflect a massive effort to stabilize the south following the Civil War, and you may even find your ancestors listed there.

Go to the link listed below to hear the Announcement made on June 19th, 2015, 150 years since the day of emancipation,  in Los Angeles, by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and NARA. 

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/historic-freedmen-records-released?cid=HP_FR_6-19-2015_dCN_fCNWS_xLIDyL2-1_

Ever wonder how indexing can help you overcome the world? Watch this short video and see what changes can come into your life through indexing. The Spirit touches each indexers life with power and purpose. Learn to recognize that spirit through indexing.

Just click on the link below to view.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-06-01-redeeming-the-dead-redeemed-me?lang=eng