Grand Canyon taken by Bob Wilcox September 2012

CATCH THE VISION

New Indexing Challenge for the Stake in the month of 

NOVEMBER

As as Stake, we have been asked by our Stake Presidency to index and or Arbitrate 225,000 names. This is not an impossible goal.  There are currently 440 members in our Stake who have signed up to do indexing. If every one would index in November, we would only have to do 511 names each. That is not an overwhelming amount. If you haven't indexed recently, please consider helping us make this goal. Help is always available.

You will be hearing more about this in your Wards and Branches.

Top 5 Indexers and Top 5 Arbitrators

Last year we had a very nice appreciation evening with an awards program for our 10 ten Indexers. This year we decided to do expand that a little by choosing the top 5 Indexers and the top 5 Arbitrators. If you win in one group you can't qualify for the second group. We hope that this will give those who only index a chance to be recognized. Along with that we will also be including the top 5 Youth Indexers.

This Night of Appreciation will take place in February 2013. A date has not been chosen yet, but you will be notified if you are one of those who qualify.

ARBITRATORS

This is the week that Familysearch asked all arbitrators to help by arbitrating the WWI Draft Cards. Between September 16 and September 23 the goal was to arbitrate 4 million records. I noticed on the Familysearch blog, that the states of Tennessee and West Virginia were especially in need of help. I tried Tennessee WWI Draft cards and the hardest part was figuring out how to spell the names of towns in Austria Hungary or Russia. I used Google to try and find them. Be sure you read the field helps on the Country of birth and Nation of Citizenship. As there are 3 different kinds of Draft Cards with different ways to get the results that are required.

September Indexing Update

Stake Days of Thanksgiving Indexing Challenge

The Stake Presidency have made a few changes to our Annual Days of Thanksgiving Temple Trek this year. They have requested that, as a Stake we index 225,000 names in the month of November. 

That means each Ward and Branch in the Stake will have to index 25,000 names that month.  I know that may sound like a lot for some of the Wards and Branches, but many of you are already doing that amount and more.  It is a very good goal, but it means that each Ward and Branch will have to really get busy in November to accomplish their 25,000 names. It can be done. If you have 25 indexers in your Ward, each one  would only have to index and/or arbitrate 1000 names in the month. That is a good goal and I think we can all do that. I also encourage the Youth of the Stake and the University Ward to pick up the Challenge and see who can do the most.

Along with this Indexing Challenge, they are requesting that the Stake make every effort to attend the Temple Sessions as often as possible through-out the whole month, not just on a specific day.

So prepare you family names to go to the Temple in November and make it a family affair.

Immigration & Naturalization Indexing Tips

If you have switched from the 1940 Census records to the Immigration & Naturalization records you may have seen the notice that was sent out by Family Search when you log into the home page on How to index the Place of Birth or Nationality .  These two data items are listed separately on the upper left side of the record.  ALWAYS select Place of Birth if given, only select Nationality if Place of Birth is missing.  Also in addition to the info given in the notice from Family Search, it has come to my attention and I verified this with the Help Service at 1-866-406-1830 in SLC, you should type what you see.  Let me give you some examples of what you might see and how you should index it:

• Place of birth might say: Canton, Ohio    You index: Canton Ohio   Do not change it to USA or United States and omit the comma.
• Place of birth might be   blank    Nationality might say: Italian  You index: Italian  not Italy
• Place of birth might say: Grt. Brit     You Index: Grt Brit   do no expand abbreviations even if you are sure of what they are, omit the period aft Grt. 

These rules are different from how we have put in place names before, so please read the field helps if you are not sure. These records have been pretty easy to work on, once you know how the data should be entered.

Family Search Training

Do you feel like you need some help with the changes in Family Search and Family Search Tree?  I know that I do.  Well mark these dates on your calendar and sign up to go to the Oklahoma History Center at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, by the State Capitol. I will add the website below.

 Our own Donna Waddle of OKC 5th Ward will be teaching the classes. they will be  specifically; Family Search for Beginners, and a class  in Family Search for Advanced users. The cost is $10.00 and you get a lunch with that.  Our Family History Center is reaching out to the community helping us to become a Divine Destination in Family History Research. Here are the dates:

Wednesday, September 26th Class for FamilySearch Beginners

Wednesday 24th, class for FamilySearch Advanced users

To go to the website for the Oklahoma History Center to learn more about these classes and other free programs and research facilities they offer click on the following link: The Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, OK

August 2012 Stake Indexing Reports

Summer is Almost Over In Oklahoma

August 2012 Indexing Report

Oklahoma City Stake

With the end of the 1940 US Census project we are seeing a decline in the number of names indexed in our Stake. Total number of names for our Stake this month was 52,883.

 There are many other projects out there that are interesting and easy to do . Please consider trying the  US Community Projects for Immigration and Naturalization. These records include ship passenger lists for all the US Ports that brought immigrants into this country. Some of them are typed, some are very short. You might also look at the U S  Michigan death records, or the WWI registration cards. As with any new project please read the Project Information and Field Helps before you start.

Stake Total as of Aug 31

873,894 

This includes total names Indexed and total names Arbitrated

(Our 2012 Goal is 1 Million + names)

Did you Know?

That out of 35 Stakes in North Texas, Oklahoma, SW Missouri and Easter Arkansas

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Stake is ranked at # 3 when it comes to indexing. 

This news comes from the area Family Newsletter that is published each month by our Area Family History Advisor, Brother Kirk Hathaway. Plano,TX Stake  is rated # 1 with 1,008,869 names as of August 10th. 

If you would like to receive this newsletter let me know and I will forward it to you via email.

August Indexing Report by Wards

Ward                         Total Names Index & Arbitrated

Clinton                        102

Edmond First              6554

Edmond Second          1367

OKC Fifth                 15500

OKC First                   2600

OKC Third                12,600

University                    145

Quail Creek                5308

Village                        685

Woodward                  7355

Youth OKC First            487 

Youth Village               180

Two New Links to more Family History Research sites.

I found two new interesting and exciting websites that will help you with your family history research. The first one is a blog page presented by an Attorney who is also a certified genealogist. If you would like to learn more about various records and the information they contain, or about copyright laws concerning genealogy I suggest you read her blog. The hotlink is listed below, just click on it and it will take you to her site.

The second interesting site is at Ancestry.com. They have a time machine that will present a video of your life as if you lived in the 1940's. Just put in some basic information and your name will appear in the video. It brings history to life.  Click on the Time Machine link below.

Legal Genealogist Blog Page                         Ancestry Time Machine

Stake Indexing Statistics for July 2012

1940 CENSUS ARE 99% COMPLETED

but did you know that it will be a few weeks till all records can be viewed on FamilySearch?

• Family Search is doing a quality check of all records before releasing them to the public
• Each record that had a blank line added, will be verified
• Each location for line 17 - 19 will be double checked; especially those for children under 5, or those with "same House" or Same Place".

A big Thank You to all of you who worked on the 1940 Census records. Even if you only did one name, your work is greatly appreciated. 

What Can We Do Next??? 

Join in the community projects on immigration and naturalization.

The next interesting project at Family Search involves the immigration and naturalization records for every port in the United States from 1860 - 1989. These can be found under "Community Projects" in the drop down lists of current projects. Try the California records first as they are on a beginning level. Each batch has 20 records and I have found all of the cards to be typed. There are few data items required and the records are like the WWI or WWII draft card project. Please read the project information and field Helps First.

Some Interesting notes about Immigration was posted in a Newsletter I recieved from Family Search and they incluced these facts: 

• 1875 Our Nation passed the first immigration law
• 1900 1 in 7 travelers died in trans atlantic voyages
• 1907  1,285,349 Europenas entered the county
• 1930 More people emigrated out of the county than came into it
• 1986  Since 1986 Congress passed seven amnesties for illegal immigrants

Try your hand at these records, they are fun and easy to do. 

 Stake Indexing Statistics for July 2012

 The Stake Cummulative for the Year is now:

821,271 names

 

The Monthly total for each Ward 

Ward                                      Indexed       Arbitrated

Clinton                          2520              1484

Edmond First                        6194               6600

Edmond Second                      840               6581

Okc Fifth                               2562             15092

Okc First                                8243             18292

Okc Third                              5520             16239

University                                  40

Quail Creek                           6351             12813

Village                                    2729

Woodward                             4441              8825

Oklahoma City Youth Indexers

WARD                                      INDEXED

 

Youth Edmond First                 320

Youth Edmond Second              92

Youth OKC First                      122

Youth Village                            152

Oklahoma Musem of Art - blown glass exhibit

 

 Oklahoma History-Research Center Book Sale

If you love old books about genealogy, history, education, or old maps and pictures and other genealogy treasures, then you won't want to miss the sale at the Oklahoma History Research Center this week-end. Some of these books are out of print copies as well. Admission to the Research Center is free.

Sale begins on Wednesday Aug 1, 2012 and goes through Friday Aug 3,2012. The hours are 10-4 pm on Wed and Thurs. 10-3pm on Friday.

The Oklahoma History Center is located off of Lincoln Avenue, across from the State Capital.

June 2012 Stake Indexing Report

Happy Fourth Of July !

July 2nd, 5 Million Names Challenge

Family Search extended to the World-wide Indexing community, the challenge to index and or arbitrate 5 million names on July 2nd, in one day. In April 2012 we came very close to the mark with 4.92 million names indexed and arbitrated. Well, I am here to report that we did not make the 5 million name challenge. Instead we, as a world-wide indexing and arbitrating community were able to complete, in one day,  

10 MILLION names!! 

 Unbelievable, incredible, and truly a FANTASTIC Job.A big thank you to all of you in the Oklahoma City Stake for helping Family Search reach such a remarkable level of achievement.  At this rate it is predicted that by August we will have finished all of the 1940 census records. Great Work, it is greatly appreciated.

June Indexing  Report for the Stake

 (we just keep paddling along)

YTD  Stake total = 710,650

June Report by Ward 

Ward                                                          Indexed          Arbitrated

Clinton                                                        3440              3305
Edmond First                                              3970             11706
Edmond Second                                           280               6012
Okc Fifth                                                    3175             21840
Okc First                                                    7581             13457
Okc Fourth Branch                                            1
Okc Third                                                   7200              2000
Quail Creek                                               11496             6920
Village                                                         2375      
Woodward Branch                                      3641            12926
Contributors that moved                                  44                 160

Youth by Ward                                             Indexed        

Edmond First                                                    920
Okc Fifth                                                              1
Okc First                                                        1002
Okc Fourth Branch                                           120
Village                                                              320  

 New at Family Search

Did you know that Family Search is now providing a way for you to talk to a "Research Assistant" live when you have a problem with your family history research. So far, help is only available in a few states but they hope to expand that as more volunteers sign up to become a research assistant. Two of those states are Ohio and Pennsylvania. At the current time this is a Pilot Project and it is designed to offer help to the researcher in finding places to locate records.

Arbitrators

If you are interested in getting some training or need help with your arbitrating, please feel free to call me ( 405-367-7159) or email me (lgmgilbert2@yahoo.com) and I will be more than happy to set up a class or do some one-on-one training with you at the Family History Center located in the Stake Center. Remember that Arbitrators have the final word on the names indexed and must be willing to read all the instructions and field helps to get it right. If you go to the Family Search blog page you can read a lot of comments about the job we are doing at arbitrating. Some of it is not very good, but most of it is. So keep up the good work and arbitrator records that you index, it helps.

May2012 Stake Indexing Stats

Nauvoo Temple - Stake Youth trip in July

The May Indexing was the best we have ever done as a Stake. The efforts this month are a big credit to each of you for your hard work and devotion so that  those people can now have their Temple work prepared. As you well know this  work is directed and inspired by the Spirit of Elijah see (Malachi 4: 5-6)You are all angels in the service of the Lord.

 

154,307 Names in May

574,944 Cumulative Names in 2012

 Contributions by each Ward or Branch: 

Ward                                                             # Indexed          # Arbitrated

Clinton                                                          6922                    2600

Edmond 1st                                                   7264                    7160

Edmond 2nd                                                  2105                  13600

OKC 5th                                                       3142                  20560

OKC 1st                                                       7407                  17417

OKC 4th Branch                                            441                     3320

OKC 3rd                                                      8017                    2920

University                                                        210                          0

Quail Creek *                                               14100                  12991

Village                                                             847                          0

Woodward Branch                                        5040                   14470

Youth Edmond 1st                                         1800

Youth OKC 5th                                               120

Youth OKC 1st                                               800

Youth OKC 4th Branch                                 1045

                        Ice Cream Socials

Congratulations to the Edmond First Ward for passing their  Magic number of 14,085 names. They did a total of 14,424 names which means they will be having an Ice Cream Social. All dates for the Ice Cream Socials are pending an update from the Stake Presidency.

Let you know as soon as I know. We are looking forward to coming to your Ward for this activity to show our appreciation to all.  Wondering what your Ward/Branch's magic number is?  Just read my Blog for April and you will find it. Or email me and I can tell you.

These really are my great aunts, photo taken in the 1940's in Philadelphia ,PA            

1940 Census Record on Family Search Update

There are now 14 states available to research on Familysearch thanks to all of the World wide Indexers.

The newest ones released are: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Vermont

 May Indexing is Fantastic !

Just to update you on our progress in May. As a Stake Indexing team we have already indexed over 1/2 MILLION names for this year.  There are now 409 registered indexers.96 of them are actively indexing.

Is that exciting or what??

Thank you all for your wonderful work and spirit in       doing this great work.

                                                     
Something New is happening in our Stake with indexing !  We are changing all of the Ward Indexing Specialist to be GROUP ADMINISTRATORS..  This will be a tremendous help to me with sending out reports each month to the Bishop's and High Priest Group Leaders.  There will be a training session at the Stake Center on June 2 at 9:00 am. I will send an email to remind you.

Taken from Ernest Hemingway's Balcony in Key West, FL

I spoke in the Clinton Ward last Sunday  about indexing/family history, and the wonderful tool it can be to open new doors to people who are investigating the Church. Everyone likes to talk about their families and news about Family History work is something we can all share with them. 

1940 Census updates and tips

Check those Place names in Column 17. Same House means they lived in the same house on April 1, 1935. Same Place means that they lived in the same area, not necessarily in the house they are in when the census was taken.  After you enter Same House, or Same Place  you should use "Ctl B" to enter a blank in the next two data fields, even if something is written in for the county name, or state name. 

ARBITRATORS: Be careful with the New York Census records. You should look at how the indexers put  in the above information. Both indexers could have done the same thing and arbitration will not show up as a mistake. See my message on the indexing page about handling those records. 

 

New and Interesting Newspaper Research Site

There is a new Site out there that may be of interest to you in your research. It is called Chronicling America Historic, American Newspapers and covers newspapers that have been digitized and put on-line for you to see. It covers American Newspapers from 1836-1990 and tells you how to find newspapers dating back to 1690 - today. This project is part of the Library of Congress collections.   Check it out at this link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov