Sunday, March 16, 2025

Best of the Genea-Blogs - Week of 9 to 15 March 2025

 Scores of genealogy and family history bloggers write hundreds of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.


My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for most daily blog prompts or meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.

Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week: 

*  Experimental Full-Text Search on Family Search – What Can You Discover? by Mercedes Brons on Who Are You Made Of?






*  AI and Occupations by Marcia Crawford Philbrick on Heartland Genealogy.








Here are pick posts by other geneabloggers this week:

*  Friday’s Family History Finds by Linda Stufflebean on Empty Branches on the Family Tree.

*  This week’s crème de la crème — March 15, 2025 by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte.

*  GenStack [15 March 2025] by Robin Stewart on Genealogy Matters.

Readers are encouraged to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blogs to your Favorites, Feedly, another RSS feed, or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.

Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I currently am reading posts from over 900 genealogy bloggers using Feedly, but I still miss quite a few it seems.

Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.

             ==========================================================

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver


Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.

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"My Roots and Branches" -- A Family History Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence

I've used FREE Artificial Intelligence tools to create biographies, poems and songs about my ancestors lives, genealogy research, and family history in the recent past. Today, I want to share a poem and a song about my genealogy research.


(image created by ChatGPT4)

I requested ChatGPT4, Grok, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity (all FREE AI tools) to create a poem and song lyrics about my genealogy research.

1)  Here is the information I used for a Prompt for the poem and the song lyrics:  Please write a poem and song lyrics about my genealogy research, including mentions of building a family tree, finding photographs, obtaining vital records, visiting cemeteries, searching for records, doing a DNA test, using AI to help research, writing stories and books, etc. 

2)  I chose the poem created by Claude Sonnet 3.7 today.  Here are the stanzas:

My Roots and Branches


Through yellowed pages and faded ink,
I trace the paths my ancestors walked.
name a thread in time's tapestry,
Each date a landmark on memory's map.

My family tree grows branch by branch,
Names etched in careful calligraphy,
Generations blooming like spring leaves,
Their stories waiting to be discovered.

Photographs in dusty albums speak—
A stern-faced couple on wedding day,
A child in Sunday best, eyes bright with wonder,
Fragments of lives that shaped my own.

Birth certificates, marriage licenses,
Death records held in county archives,
Each document a puzzle piece
the mosaic of who I am.

I walk among weathered gravestones,
Tracing names with gentle fingertips,
Speaking softly to those long gone,
"I've found you. You're remembered now."

Ship manifests and census rolls,
Military records and land deeds,
Each search revealing breadcrumbs
Along the trail of forgotten lives.

DNA spirals like ancient code,
Revealing cousins across continents,
Unexpected branches on my tree,
Connections transcending time and space.

AI companions scan what I cannot,
Deciphering handwriting centuries old,
Translating languages long forgotten,
Bridging gaps where records failed.

I gather these treasures like precious gems,
narratives from fragments found,
Writing books that children's children will read,
So no one who came before is truly gone.

For in this search I've found not just names,
But courage, heartbreak, love, and pride.
The whispers of ancestors guide my pen
As I become the keeper of their light.
3) Here is the AI created song and lyrics for "My Roots and Branches" (with song lyrics created on Claude sonnet 3.7 used as custom lyrics on Suno.com), using a folk ballad style in a moderate tempo:   

My Roots and Branches


Verse 1
Through dusty records and faded ink
I search for names I've never known
Each document a missing link
To lives that made my own
Old photographs in sepia tone
Tell stories time almost erased
I'm mapping out where I belong
As family lines are traced.

Verse 2
Cemetery stones stand silent watch
Over those who came before
I trace their names with gentle touch
And promise to search more
Birth certificates, marriage vows
Census records tell their tales
Each discovery somehow 
Lifts the ancestor's veil.

Chorus
Roots and branches, blood and bone
Stories waiting to be told
Roots and branches, not alone
Hearts of courage, hearts of gold
I'm finding pieces of myself
 In faces from long ago
Roots and branches, time unfolds 
In the family tree we grow.

Verse 3
DNA spirals ancient code
Connecting strangers into kin
Unexpected paths are shown
Where did I end, where did they begin?
Digital archives light the way
AI helps decipher clues
Technologies of today 
Bring yesterday's news.

Chorus
Roots and branches, blood and bone
Stories waiting to be told
Roots and branches, not alone
Hearts of courage, hearts of gold
I'm finding pieces of myself 
In faces from long ago
Roots and branches, time unfolds 
In the family tree we grow.

Bridge
And when I'm gone, my children's children
Will have these stories that I've penned
The chain remains unbroken
As generations blend
Their triumphs and their sorrows
Their journeys and their dreams
Echo in tomorrow
Through our shared family genes.

Verse 4
So I'll keep building branch by branch
This legacy of love and time
Honor each life with every chance
Make their memories mine
For in their courage I find strength
In their struggles, I find heart
Their wisdom guides me all the length
Of my own humble part.

Chorus
Roots and branches, blood and bone
Stories waiting to be told
Roots and branches, not alone
Hearts of courage, hearts of gold
I'm finding pieces of myself 
In faces from long ago
Roots and branches, time unfolds 
In the family tree we grow.

Outro
Roots and branches, blood and bone
In their footsteps, I am home.
The AI tools do this so much better than I could, and weaves the poem and song along a story theme that is true and heartfelt. Each tool provides a different poem and song from the same prompt --I love fishing in all of the AI streams!! Frankly, doing the poems and song are the most genealogy fun I have every week!

4)  These stories, told in verse and song, are part of my genealogy and family research.  My hope is that they will be passed down to my grandchildren and their descendants to highlight the importance of sharing stories, memories, admiration, and love of our ancestors. I will add them to my Google Drive and to my YouTube channel and my FOREVER account.

==============================================

My blog posts with the AI-created poems and songs to date are on this AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver


Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Saturday, March 15, 2025

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your Favorite Legacy Family Tree Webinars

  Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!


Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  Legacy Family Tree Webinars provides free and/or subscription education to genealogists every week.  What were your favorite webinars over, say, the past 3 months?

2) Tell us about your favorite Family Tree Webinars in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

I have a paid subscription to Legacy Family Tree Webinars, so I can watch any of the over 2,350 webinars at any time, and download the handouts if they are available.  It's my favorite genealogy society!

The webinars in the past three months that I have enjoyed and learned from include:
==============================================


Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Ask (Diana Elder's "Genealogy Locality Guide Builder") AI: "Please Create a Locality Guide For Cheyenne County, Kansas"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT4, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta, CoPilot, GenSpark, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise (or verbose) format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

1)  I read about Diana Elder's Genealogy Locality Guide Builder custom prompt for ChatGPT4, and I wanted to try it out.  She presented Efficient Locality Research with AI: Discovering New Avenues of Exploration at RootsTech 2025.

I knew that my 2nd great-grandfather Devier J. Smith (1839-1894) had a ranch in Cheyenne County, Kansas, and that my great-grandparents, Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) and Abbey Ardelle "Della" Smith (1862-1944) had land there and were married in Wano, Cheyenne County, Kansas in 1887.  The FamilySearch Research Wiki page for Cheyenne County, Kansas has basic information about the county, but lists no specific online record collections, but does link to state collections.  I also knew that the FamilySearch Library has few actual county records (e.g., vital records, court records, deeds, probate, etc.) in their catalog for Cheyenne County, Kansas (see   https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/catalog/results?q.place=Cheyenne%2C%20Kansas%2C%20United%20States).

2)  Here is my prompt for Diana's custom prompt:  "Please create a locality guide for Cheyenne County, Kansas."

The free ChatGPT4 response was (after I asked for more detail, and edited for readability):

Cheyenne County, Kansas Genealogy Locality Guide

Background

Cheyenne County, located in the northwestern corner of Kansas, was officially established on March 20, 1873. It was named after the Cheyenne Native American tribe, who historically lived in the region. The county seat and largest city is St. Francis.

The county has a strong agricultural heritage, with early settlers primarily engaging in cattle ranching and wheat farming. Over time, the arrival of railroads facilitated the growth of small towns such as Bird City, Wheeler, and Jaqua.

Key Facts:

  • Established: 1873
  • County Seat: St. Francis
  • Land Area: 1,021 square miles
  • Population (2020 Census): 2,616
  • Borders: Nebraska (North), Colorado (West)

For historical records and local history, visit the Kansas Historical Society (kshs.org).

Online Research Guides & Digital Archives

Here are some essential online resources for researching genealogy in Cheyenne County:

  • Kansas Historical Society (kshs.org) – Digital archives, historical records, and maps.
  • Kansas State Library (kslib.info) – Access to newspapers, genealogical resources, and census records.
  • Kansas Genealogical Society (ksgenweb.org) – County records, cemetery listings, and family histories.
  • Cheyenne County GenWeb Project (usgenweb.org) – A volunteer-run resource with digitized records, maps, and family histories.
  • FamilySearch Kansas Genealogy (familysearch.org) – Birth, marriage, death, and probate records for the county.

Geography and Maps

Cheyenne County is located in the High Plains region, featuring rolling prairies and fertile farmland. It has very little water coverage but is home to small creeks such as Cherry Creek and the Republican River, which played a crucial role in early settlement.

Key Geographic Features:

  • Republican River: A major waterway for early settlers.
  • Arikaree Breaks: A rugged terrain area with historical significance.
  • Western border: Shares a boundary with Colorado, influencing migration patterns.
  • Where to Find Maps:
  • Kansas Historical Society – Historical Maps Collection
  • David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Database (glorecords.blm.gov)

Timeline of Major Events

  • 1854: Kansas Territory is established.
  • 1861: Kansas becomes the 34th state in the U.S.
  • 1873: Cheyenne County officially formed.
  • 1879: First permanent settlers arrive.
  • 1886: Wano chosen as the county seat.
  • 1889: St. Francis becomes the official county seat after disputes.
  • 1880s-1890s: Railroads expand, leading to economic growth.
  • 1930s: The Dust Bowl severely impacts agriculture.
  • 1950s-Present: Population declines due to urban migration.

History & Settlement

Cheyenne County was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho. The land was later opened for homesteading in the late 19th century, attracting settlers from the Midwest, Germany, and Sweden.

Key Towns & Settlements:

  • St. Francis – Current county seat; historical businesses and newspapers.
  • Bird City – Founded in 1885, known for its strong farming community.
  • Wheeler – A now-smaller town that was historically a railroad stop.
  • Jaqua – A ghost town with remnants of early pioneer life.

Settlers came mainly via wagon trains and railroads, bringing with them German Lutheran, Swedish, and English traditions that are still evident today.

Migration Routes & Transportation

Early Trails & Migration Routes:

  • Overland Trail – Used by early pioneers heading west.
  • Pony Express Route – Passed through parts of Kansas.
  • Union Pacific Railroad – Helped settlers establish permanent communities.

Modern Travel Routes:

  • U.S. Route 36 – A major highway running east-west through the county.
  • Kansas Highway 27 – Runs north-south, connecting Cheyenne County to Nebraska and Colorado.

Law & Government

Cheyenne County operates under a three-member County Commission system. The Cheyenne County Courthouse in St. Francis holds vital land, court, and probate records dating back to the county’s formation.

Where to Find Government Records:

  • Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office – Marriage, probate, and court records.
  • Cheyenne County Register of Deeds – Land and property transactions.
  • Kansas State Archives – Older government records.

Libraries & Archives

Local Resources:

  • Cheyenne County Library (St. Francis) – Holds local history books and newspapers.
  • Kansas State Historical Society – A central repository for Kansas historical records.
  • Denver Public Library Western History Collection – Some records for Kansas frontier settlers.

Newspapers for Research:

  • The St. Francis Herald (since 1885) – Available on microfilm.
  • Kansas Historical Society’s Newspaper Archive – Online digitized newspapers.

Genealogical Societies & Publications

  • Northwest Kansas Genealogical Society
  • Kansas State Genealogical Society
  • "Cheyenne County History Book" – A compilation of family and pioneer histories.

Record Loss & Research Challenges

Fortunately, Cheyenne County has no known major courthouse disasters. However, older church and school records may be missing due to closures.

Local History & Reference Books

  • "Standard Atlas of Cheyenne County, Kansas" (1907) – Early maps and biographies.
  • "History of Northwest Kansas" – Covers settlement and development of the region.

Record Collections for Genealogy

  • Cemetery Records – Available at Find a Grave and BillionGraves.
  • Church Records – Stored at local parishes or Kansas Historical Society.
  • Land & Property Records – Found at the Cheyenne County Register of Deeds.
  • Probate & Court Records – Available through the Cheyenne County Courthouse.
  • Birth, Marriage & Death Records – Can be ordered from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.

Conclusion

Cheyenne County, Kansas, offers rich genealogical resources for those researching their family history. Whether exploring pioneer ancestors, migration routes, or land records, researchers can find valuable documents through local libraries, government offices, and online archives.

For further research, I recommend visiting:

  • 📌 Kansas Historical Society – www.kshs.org
  • 📌 Kansas Genealogical Society – www.ksgenweb.org
  • 📌 FamilySearch Kansas Records – www.familysearch.org

Would you like help with specific family records or guidance on how to use these resources? 😊

At the top of the response were four map thumbnails that I could click on and see:

3)  My next prompt was:  "My great-grandparents were married in Wano, Kansas in 1887.  Can you provide information on Wano?"

The ChatGPT response was:

That’s a fascinating piece of family history! Wano, Kansas was the original county seat of Cheyenne County before St. Francis took over in 1889. Here’s what I found about Wano and how it might relate to your great-grandparents' marriage in 1887.

History of Wano, Kansas

Early Settlement & Development

  • Founded: Around the early 1880s.
  • Original County Seat: Chosen as the first county seat of Cheyenne County in 1886.
  • Named After: Possibly derived from a Native American term, though origins are uncertain.

Population: In the 1880s, Wano had a few hundred residents and served as an important trading post.

Economic Activity: Farming, ranching, and local businesses were the main sources of income.

During the 1880s, the town of St. Francis was growing rapidly, and a county seat battle ensued. In 1889, a county-wide vote moved the county seat from Wano to St. Francis, leading to Wano's decline.

Wano's Decline

After losing its county seat status, many residents and businesses moved to St. Francis.  By the early 20th century, Wano was virtually abandoned.  Today, Wano no longer exists as a separate town but is part of St. Francis. 

Your Great-Grandparents' Marriage in Wano (1887)

Since Wano was still the county seat in 1887, it was likely where:

  • Marriage licenses were issued
  • County records were kept

Where to Find Their Marriage Record:

  • Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office (St. Francis, KS). Holds historical marriage records from the county’s early years. Contact: (785) 332-8800
  • Kansas State Archives (kshs.org). Houses early marriage records and documents from the period.
  • FamilySearch Kansas Marriage Index (familysearch.org). Online searchable marriage records from Kansas counties.

Does Anything Remain of Wano Today?

Physically, Wano no longer exists as a separate town, but traces of it remain in:

  • Street names in St. Francis (there was once a "Wano Street").
  • Local history books and newspapers that reference Wano’s early days.
  • Old maps of Cheyenne County (before 1890) that still show Wano.
  • If you're ever in St. Francis, visiting the Cheyenne County Museum might provide more insight! 😊

Would you like me to help locate an official marriage record for your great-grandparents?

4)  Since ChatGPT4 offered, I asked:  "Yes, please find an official marriage record for Henry Austin Carringer and Abbey Ardelle 'Della' Smith."

The ChatGPT4 response was:

​Henry Austin Carringer and Abbey Ardelle "Della" Smith were married on September 11, 1887, in Wano, Cheyenne County, Kansas. Their marriage was officiated by Reverend Emanuel Richards of the Community Congregational Church. ​

Sources Confirming the Marriage:

  • Marriage Certificate: The original marriage certificate states: "This certifies that on the 11th day of September in the year 1887, Mr. Henry A. Carringer and Miss Della A. Smith were united by me in the Bond of Marriage at Wano, Kansas."​
  • Witness: A.E. Boring
  • Officiant: Rev. Emanuel Richards, Minister of Congregational Church
  • Source:  GeneaMusings:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-friday-henry-austin.html

Family Bibles:

D.J. and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer Family Bible: Records the marriage of Henry A. Carringer and Della A. Smith on September 11, 1887, at Wano, Kansas, officiated by Rev. Emanuel Richards. ​

Devier J. Smith Family Bible: Notes the marriage of Abbey Ardell, daughter of D.J. & A.A. Smith, on September 11, 1887. ​

Accessing the Marriage Record:

  • The original marriage certificate is privately held by genealogist Randall J. Seaver in Chula Vista, California. ​

Additional Resources:

If you're seeking an official copy of the marriage record, consider contacting the Cheyenne County Clerk’s Office in St. Francis, Kansas, as they maintain historical marriage records from that period.

The last prompt also had a list of sources that included the above and several other web sources that pertained to the marriage license, based on my earlier blog posts.

5)  It is obvious that I am the only genealogist researching for my great-grandparents, since I'm one of only three great-grandchildren descended from them.  I have the marriage license on the wall of my hallway in my home and have written extensively about them.

6)  This custom prompt for ChatGPT4 by Diana Elder is excellent.  I've seen other examples for counties with many more resources. The locality guides for well researched counties often go for 20 to 30 pages or more using this custom prompt.  The custom prompt searches the Internet for selected articles and records.  Brava, Diana!  

This "use case" is an excellent example of how Artificial Intelligence can be used to create a research and finding aid at your desk and in a minute of time.  To do this online, or in-person at libraries or archives away from home, would have taken months of time.  This is a better locality guide than I have ever attempted.

                      ==============================================

My blog posts, and those of other genealogists, using Artificial Intelligence tools are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/ask-diana-elders-genealogy-locality.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Added and Updated FamilySearch Historical Record Collections - Week of 8 to 14 March 2025

  Each week, genealogy record collections are added and updated to FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list.

As of  14 March 2025, there are 3,418 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase  of 0 from last week):

The added, deleted, new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch:

--- Collections Deleted ---

*  Ireland, Dog License Registrations, 1810-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000212); 7,358,408 indexed records with 138,913 record images, DELETED

--- Collections Added ---

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Capital Federal, Census, 1855 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469065); 260,720 indexed records with 7,630 record images (was 132,765 records with 7,630 images), UPDATED 09-Mar-2025
Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974197); 173,145 indexed records with 102,368 record images (was 173,119 records with 102,368 images), UPDATED 11-Mar-2025
Arizona, Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1855-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3740251); 405,387 indexed records with 404,735 record images (was 362,065 records with 361,510 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,851,453 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,844,663 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 1,450,285 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 1,448,964 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025

Brazil, Foreigner Files, 1653-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000160); 1,633,081 indexed records with 2,182,065 record images (was 1,625,180 records with 2,124,711 images), UPDATED 08-Mar-2025
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1820-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 971,201 indexed records with 404,123 record images (was 971,056 records with 404,050 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 641,280 indexed records with 185,644 record images (was 639,760 records with 185,215 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Chile, Cemetery Records, 1701-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1428897); 5,796,417 indexed records with 3,675,058 record images (was 5,769,065 records with 3,675,058 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 30,674,044 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 29,510,669 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Colorado, United States Naturalization Records, 1877-1952 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000180); 57,079 indexed records with 50,760 record images (was 57,075 records with 50,756 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 7,353,172 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 7,027,777 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 09-Mar-2025
Costa Rica, Civil Registration, 1823-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1925429); 6,211,271 indexed records with 404,718 record images (was 6,209,998 records with 404,718 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 271,105 indexed records with 251,461 record images (was 271,083 records with 251,447 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Ghana, Census, 2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000267); 380,319 indexed records with 94,593 record images (was 380,319 records with 94,593 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 237,482 indexed records with 44,096 record images (was 237,381 records with 42,165 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Honduras, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1978 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823595); 1,878,155 indexed records with 425,330 record images (was 1,878,124 records with 425,330 images), UPDATED 08-Mar-2025
Hungary, Civil Registration, 1895-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 13,361,254 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 13,360,982 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Indiana, Marriages, 1811-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1410397); 5,339,303 indexed records with 1,259,299 record images (was 5,336,117 records with 1,259,299 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 9,060,370 indexed records with 320,372 record images (was 8,869,525 records with 300,659 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025

Italy, Caltanissetta, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1986780); 403,003 indexed records with 470,099 record images (was 403,003 records with 470,099 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Caserta, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2718545); 582,376 indexed records with 4,543,698 record images (was 582,376 records with 4,543,698 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Chieti, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2419833); 328,460 indexed records with 3,714,370 record images (was 328,460 records with 3,714,370 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Enna, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1866-1944 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068343); 240,184 indexed records with 837,356 record images (was 240,184 records with 837,356 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Lecce, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1901-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2310702); Browse 3,307,040 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 3,307,040 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Italy, Mantova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1496-1906 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1934580); 377,343 indexed records with 855,316 record images (was 377,208 records with 855,316 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Matera, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2819382); Browse 1,323,614 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 1,323,614 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Italy, Messina, Patti, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1823-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1946858); 4,605 indexed records with 891,170 record images (was 4,605 records with 891,170 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Netherlands, Noord-Holland, Civil Registration, 1739-1951 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2020117); 1,981,263 indexed records with 6,635,049 record images (was 1,981,263 records with 6,635,049 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
North Carolina, Military Discharge Records, 1915-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4163858); 9,410 indexed records with 3,626 record images (was 4,786 records with 2,556 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025

Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661306); Index only (1,037,638 records), no images (was 995,764 records with 0 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987615); 1,897,449 indexed records with 1,097,134 record images (was 1,895,116 records with 1,097,134 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Oregon, Naturalization Records, 1859-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279955); 81,150 indexed records with 63,469 record images (was 80,934 records with 63,294 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Peru, Arequipa, Catholic Church Records, 1660-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4447275); 261,706 indexed records with 486,225 record images (was 239,346 records with 465,320 images), UPDATED 10-Mar-2025
Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1852584); 4,787,513 indexed records with 20,274,621 record images (was 4,720,425 records with 20,274,621 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025

Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,339,813 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,339,805 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 12-Mar-2025
Puerto Rico, San Juan, Cemetery Records, 1888-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4376727); 182,814 indexed records with 85,536 record images (was 182,749 records with 85,360 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025
Spain, Gerona, Municipal Records, 1566-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2015355); 1,410,785 indexed records with 390,067 record images (was 1,372,171 records with 390,067 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Uruguay, Civil Registration, 1879-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,947,588 records), no images (was 1,871,819 records with 0 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025
Venezuela, Civil Registration, 1843-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,493,080 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,414,621 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 13-Mar-2025

Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1908-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 1,025,477 indexed records with 194,031 record images (was 998,952 records with 183,639 images), UPDATED 14-Mar-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Civil Registration, 1861-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000041); 1 indexed records with 106,778 record images (was 1 records with 106,712 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 1,042,337 record images (was 1 records with 1,042,211 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 208,854 record images (was 1 records with 208,848 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 137,673 record images (was 1 records with 136,964 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Sergipe, Civil Registration, 1866-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4470324); 1 indexed records with 142,164 record images (was 1 records with 142,162 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024

Colombia, Archivo Distrital de Bogota, Obituary Books, 1900-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000257); 172,322 indexed records with 28,224 record images (was 172,322 records with 27,550 images), last updated 03-Jan-2025
Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3238391); 305,750 indexed records with 680,067 record images (was 305,750 records with 676,523 images), last updated 07-Nov-2024
England and Wales, Census, 1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1921547); 36,354,828 indexed records with 8,516,806 record images (was 36,354,828 records with 8,516,802 images), last updated 01-Aug-2019
France, Marne, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316511); 144,863 indexed records with 2,756 record images (was 144,863 records with 240 images), last updated 28-Oct-2024
France, Vosges, Parish and Civil Registration, 1522-1956 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000301); 2,984,513 indexed records with 860,977 record images (was 2,984,513 records with 806,625 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025

Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1804-1877 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1395660); 733,778 indexed records with 1,768 record images (was 733,778 records with 1,266 images), last updated 07-Nov-2024
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 506,590 indexed records with 392,007 record images (was 506,590 records with 391,934 images), last updated 03-Mar-2025
Illinois, District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3158878); 1,646,670 indexed records with 1,240,215 record images (was 1,646,670 records with 1,240,124 images), last updated 02-Feb-2025
New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1865-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3662227); 12,308,209 indexed records with 127,769 record images (was 12,308,209 records with 120,309 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754697); 64,961,936 indexed records with 952,512 record images (was 64,961,936 records with 952,229 images), last updated 20-Dec-2024

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 52,785,233 indexed records with 52,637,039 record images (was 52,785,233 records with 52,636,958 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,197,667 record images (was 1 records with 28,197,666 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

Kansas, Military Discharges, ca. 1862 - ca. 1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4121697); 21,123 indexed records with 15,743 record images (was 21,123 records with 16,376 images), last updated 03-Feb-2025
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 988,273 indexed records with 348,413 record images (was 988,273 records with 348,416 images), last updated 04-Mar-2025
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Missionary Registers (Worldwide), 1860-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2517343); 49,025 indexed records with 41,948 record images (was 49,025 records with 49,025 images), last updated 22-Jan-2024
Utah, Obituaries from Utah Newspapers, 1850-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2302011); 554,507 indexed records with 103,426 record images (was 554,507 records with 106,946 images), last updated 10-Aug-2024

--- Collections with new records ---

--- Collections with records removed ---

California, Birth Index, 1905-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001879); Index only (24,589,420 records), no images (was 24,589,421 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Mar-2012
England Marriages, 1538–1973 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473015); Index only (11,774,857 records), no images (was 11,801,038 records with 0 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014); Index only (45,633,928 records), no images (was 45,730,552 records with 0 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025
England, Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473016); Index only (14,511,339 records), no images (was 14,518,428 records with 0 images), last updated 28-Jan-2025
Ireland, Petty Sessions Court Registers, 1828-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2487287); 850,935 indexed records with 1 record images (was 21,832,352 records with 1 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Papua New Guinea, Birth Records, 1888-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3757740); 78,503 indexed records with 47,912 record images (was 78,504 records with 47,912 images), last updated 03-Mar-2025

United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,605,787 records), no images (was 875,605,788 records with 0 images), last updated 24-Jan-2025
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,872,539 records), no images (was 413,872,541 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024
Wisconsin, State Census, 1855 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1443825); 133,164 indexed records with 2,501 record images (was 133,383 records with 2,501 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Zimbabwe Death Notices, 1904-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1838530); Browse 328,546 Images only, no index (was 12,349 records with 328,546 images), last updated 17-Nov-2024
Zimbabwe, Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837900); Browse 74,045 Images only, no index (was 320,653 records with 74,045 images), last updated 17-Nov-2024

=====================================

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Marshall notes that there are:

*  1 removed entries
*  0 added entries 
*  41198 updated entries
*  32 entries with more or fewer images and/or records
The FamilySearch website says there are 3418 total entries on the list (signed in). Marshall's list says there are 3417 (without signing in).  They are not in-sync.

In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to 
 https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

Each of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link). It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

==========================================

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Copyright (c) 2025 Randall J. Seaver

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