Changes

The Mormons have an extensive program to film vast numbers of old records which are an aid to genealogy. For example, they film records of churches of all denominations, ancient land tax records, military records, shipping lists, census records and so on. Most records are available to all people, regardless of religion, although a few are restricted to LDS church members. Previously, the filming was available in the form of microfilms, . However this format is no longer generally available, and most microfilmshave now all been digitised, (with a few exceptions), are currently undergoing the process of digitisation. Records although this does NOT mean that all are available to all people, regardless of religionview online. Some records are available to view for free on your home computer, however some records are only available to view at a [[FamilySearch Centres|FamilySearch Centre]], or perhaps at a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, while some records are not available to view online at all, for contractual, or privacy reasons.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or LDS, now has a website [https://familysearch.org '''FamilySearch''']. Records may be found mainly in three sections of the website under the category Search, subcategories Records (also called Historical Records), Genealogies, and Family Tree. In addition, as microfilms become digitised, details of these records digitised microfilms may be located through the Catalogue Search, refer below.

The FamilySearch website previously described the transcribed records for India as "Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records" for births and baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The current description is "Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City". They in fact appear to be based on the '''India Office [[Church records|church records]] at the British Library , including the N/5 [[Princely states|Indian States]] records'''.<ref>Clark, Noel. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200930001538/https://mlarchives.rootsweb.com/listindexes/emails?listname=&thread=1662558 Notation against burial index record] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 13 October 2010, archived.</ref> , although FamilySearch has never confirmed this source. However, it appears that the records from the [[LDS Microfilms for Church Records outside of the usual Presidencies#Madras Ecclesiastical Returns - Omissions and Corrections 1777-1884|Madras Ecclesiastical Returns - Omissions and Corrections 1777-1884]] are '''not''' included.<ref>Email to User:Maureene dated 20 July 2011 indicates two brothers, Joseph Thorpe, 18, who died 23 Dec 1853 and was buried in the "Old Cemetery" at Guntoor, Hyderabad Residency and George Benjamin Thorpe, 23, who died 29 Jun 1858 at Jaulnah , who appear in the Omissions Film for Madras Burial (“film B265”) are '''not''' included in the Family Search data.</ref> Also '''not''' included are the N/11 [[Registrar marriages|Registrar Marriages]] series.

Note that the FamilySearch transcribed databases are also available on the pay site Ancestry, (world wide subscription) under the titles "India, Select Marriages 1792-1948"; "India, Select Marriages, 1792-1948"; "India, Select Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948". These records are transcriptions without images.The privacy restrictions appear to be the same as the FamilySearch restrictions.

As mentioned above, the set of records which [apparently] comprises the FamilySearch transcribed India databases (being India Office [[Church records|church records]] at the British Library) are now also available on [[Findmypast]], as searchable records with images.

To find out details of digitised microfilms which , have been digitised, use the '''[https://familysearch.org/catalog-search FamilySearch Library catalogue]''', or reach the same link from the FS Home Page/Search/Catalog. Additionally there is now a Catalogue link on each Location page (introduced 2018/03). Those digitised records which have been digitised are viewable online in some way contain a camera icon. Some digitised microfilms of Church registers in India are available to view on your home computer. However, if the microfilmed record originated at the British Library, the digitised microfilm must be viewed at a [[FamilySearch Centres|FamilySearch Centre]], or possibly at a Family Search Affiliate Library - check the details in the Catalogue entry for the microfilm number, but make sure you are previously signed in, as different information can be displayed depending on your sign in status. There is an alternative way of locating some (but not all) digitised microfilms, through FS Home Page/Search/Images. [https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/ Explore Historical Images] enables a Search by Place, or the Advanced Search includes more options including DGS number, (described below) but '''not''' by a person's name. The records available are those that may be viewed on home computers without any restriction, so excludes any records originating from the British Library.

'''Note: Microfilm ordering ceased September 2017. Most digitised microfilms of records from the British Library are currently available for viewing on a FamilySearch computer at a FamilySearch Centre, or possibly at a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Some microfilms of Church registers filmed in India are available to be viewed on your home computer. Access the microfilms though the FamilySearch catalogue (ensure you are signed it to FS, or results could vary), and click on the camera icon for those records which have been digitised. Note however, at 2019/03, there may be problems with the access of both catalogue information, and the databases, see [[FamilySearch Centres]] for more details. Please take this into account when reading the Fibiwiki pages below.'''

When a microfilm has been digitised it is also, in addition to the microfilm number, allocated a DGS number, referred to as a Digital Folder number. The latter number appears to becoming the main reference number for a record set. (The URL for a record set has the format (at 20202021/0812) <nowiki>https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007251509</nowiki> where the last number is the DGS number, from [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/4092149 catalogue entry]. The format including an image number (example image 45) is <nowiki>https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007251509?i=44</nowiki>, where the last number is one less than the actual image number).

Should you wish to suggest to a church, or other repository, that they enquire whether FamilySearch is able to digitise their records, you should advise the church to use link [https://www.familysearch.org/archivesen/contactinfo/ archive Archives Department Information] provides details, and gives an email of <nowiki>archives@familysearch.org</nowiki> as "Contact Us] " applicable for Records Custodians and Archives. "FamilySearch field representatives can help you determine the best approach to gatherarchives, preservechurches, and share your valuable records and data"other record custodians. Note Family Search has priorities.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190713032311/https://media.familysearch.org/familysearchsfamilysearch-strategy-to-help-preserve-the-worlds-archives/ "FamilySearch’s Strategy to Help Preserve the World's Archives"] 20 April 2018. familysearch.org, now archived. <br>Raymond, Robert. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200802145027/https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/how-can-i-request-a-record-be-digitized-many-are-still-film-only #reply_19755564 How can I request a record be digitized? (many are still film only)] ''FamilySearch Feedback Forum'' . If necessary, scroll down to post dated 13 September 2018, archived. </ref>

*[https://edgewww.fscdnfamilysearch.org/assetsen/img/FamilySearchfamily-donationhistory-guidelineslibrary/donations-Revisedpage#literary-04292016-55aeebad1fb45bdf05de2f103dd7b4f0.pdf Gifts, donations Literary Donations, and Loans] of genealogical records and family histories to FamilySearch. Email: <nowiki>bookdonations@] familysearch.org</nowiki> .

**[https://www.rootstechfamilysearch.org/video-archive2?lang=eng [Videos<nowiki>]<rootstech/nowiki>: Past Sessions of RootsTech from 2015for 2022 and 2021] to 2020 (at time of posting2022 April). [https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/rtc2021/search Videos for 2021], via FamilySearch website. [https://www.rootstech.org Rootstech.org]Prior years are no longer available, due to the belief the sessions were out of date on the technology being taught. Rootstech is the FamilySearch annual conference.