Saturday, December 12, 2020

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your Santa Claus Memories

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!


(Photo courtesy of footnoteMaven)

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

1) Answer these questions:

a) Did you ever send a letter to Santa Claus?
b) Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list?"
c) Do you still believe in Santa Claus?
d) When did you find out "the truth" about Santa Claus?

2)  Tell us your answers in a blog post of your own, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook post.  Be sure to leave a comment on this post with a link to your answers.

Here's mine:

a) Did you ever send a letter to Santa Claus?

I don't think I ever did send a letter.

b) Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list?"

We visited Santa Claus every year down at the Marston's Department Store in downtown San Diego where my grandfather worked for 55 years. I think we "made a list" sometimes, especially as we got older and the wanted gifts became more complex. My recollection of visiting Santa is one of awe - this really big fat person in a red suit with a long white beard, who flies around the world in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, who goes down chimneys to leave gifts for children, all in one night - I knew the story and didn't question it for a long time (being a pretty smart kid, I guess).


c) Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

They say that in the first part of your life, you BELIEVE IN Santa Claus. In the second part of your life, you DON'T BELIEVE IN in Santa Claus. In the third part of your life, you ARE Santa Claus, and in the last part of your life, you LOOK LIKE Santa Claus. In my case, I have all four of these attributes ... still.

The magic of Santa Claus in a child's eyes is priceless. Everybody eventually FIGURES OUT that SC is a figment of imagination - why do we fool our children like that? I love giving gifts to my wife, children and grandchildren, especially secret gifts. I've had a beard for 42 years, been practicing my "ho-ho-ho's" forever, but am working on reducing the belly. I still believe ... irrational, isn't it? 

I love going to the shopping center, and sitting on a bench near Santa's little hut and watching the little ones go up and talk to Santa. Three years ago, one little boy waved at me on the escalator the other day - he knew! I've thought about being a "store Santa," but doubt if I ever will.  I even had an offer two years ago to be a "store Santa" - a guy in line at the Padres game invited me to join them!  Then there's my 6-year old grandson, Charlie, who calls me "Grandpa Ho-Ho-Ho."

d) When did you find out "the truth" about Santa Claus?

We lived on the second story of a two-story house at 2119 30th Street in San Diego from the time I was 4 until I left home in 1968 at age 24. The house did not have a fireplace, so my brother Stan and I could never figure out how Santa Claus could bring the presents under the tree. Did he come in the window? Did Dad leave a key or leave the door unlocked?

My maternal grandparents, Lyle and Emily Carringer (“Gram and Gramps”), built a beautiful home on Point Loma in 1951, and Christmas Eves were spent there for many years – and it had a fireplace! Our stockings were hung there in hopes that Saint Nick would fill them to the brim. Before bedtime, my grandmother would lead us in Christmas carols while we lay in bed – it was a wonderful way to fall asleep, and is one of my most cherished memories of her (my eyes tear up every time I think of this! they just did again).

Santa was always good to us, probably because, in retrospect, we were usually pretty good boys – mischievous but not criminal, loud but not abusive, whirlwinds but not destructive. We usually received toys that were all the rage of the day, plus the usual boring clothes, and fruit, candy and small toys in our stockings. The most memorable gifts were the "good" toys, of course. BB guns and Davy Crockett coonskin caps in 1954, Flexible Flyers (sleds on wheels) and a baby brother in 1955, bicycles in 1956.

Of course, Santa Claus isn’t mysterious forever. The Point Loma house had a two car garage that my grandparents had filled with generations of stuff – it was a wonderful place to hide, explore and search. We found the bicycles in the garage before Christmas in 1956, but didn’t tell anybody else. Sure enough, on Christmas morning they appeared by the fireplace and Christmas tree marked “from Santa Claus.” Aha! So, now we knew, but being rather smart astronauts we didn’t tell the folks – why kill the golden goose?

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


Copyright (c) 2020, 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.

Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 5 to 11 December 2020

 The following record collections were listed on the Recently Added and Updated List on Ancestry.com during the period from  5 tp 11 December 2020: 



The ADDED and Updated record collections are:

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/11/2020

Australia and New Zealand, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/11/2020

Liverpool, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1970; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/11/2020

UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/11/2020

Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/11/2020

Berkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1965; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/11/2020


Edinburgh, Scotland, Electoral Registers, 1832-1966; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/11/2020


Belfort, Alsace, France, Censuses 1836-1911; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/10/2020

Anglesey, Wales, Electoral Registers, 1832-1977; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Fife, Scotland, Electoral Registers, 1914-1966; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Pembrokeshire, Wales, Electoral Registers, 1740-1978; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Rhône, Census, 1836-1911; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/10/2020

Cambridgeshire, England, Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books, 1722-1966; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Sweden, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Norway, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Mexico, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Germany, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Italy, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Brazil, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/10/2020

North Dakota, Red River Valley Genealogical Society, Pioneer Files, 1880-1953; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/10/2020

North Dakota, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1872-2017; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/10/2020

Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/9/2020

1875 Norway Census; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/9/2020

The Boston Jewish Advocate Wedding Announcements, 1905-2007; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/9/2020

1870 Norway Census; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/9/2020

U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/8/2020

Shawano and Oconto Counties, Wisconsin, U.S., Indexes and Records, 1850-2007; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/7/2020

South Carolina, U.S., Births, 1915-1917; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/7/2020

Poweshiek County, Iowa, U.S., Probate, School, and Court Records, 1850-1954; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/7/2020


Gove County, Kansas, U.S., Enumeration Books and List of Residents, 1909-1950; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/7/2020

Utah, U.S., Select Marriages, 1887-1966; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/7/2020

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

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at    http://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there were 11 NEW collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 32,887 collections available as of 11 December, an increase of  13 from last week.   

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

Disclosure:  I have a complimentary all-access subscription from Ancestry.com, for which I am thankful.  Ancestry.com has provided material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.


Copyright (c) 2020, 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.

Added and Updated FamilySearch.org Record Collections - Week of 5 to 11 December 2020

 I am trying to keep up with the new and updated record collections at FamilySearch   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list) every week.

As of 11 December 2020, there are 2,933 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 3 from last week):

New and updated collections this week from Marshall are:

--- Collections Added ---

*  Norway Census, 1900     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3744863); 2,260,720 indexed records with 2,260,720 record images, ADDED 09-Dec-2020
*  Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate, Diocese of Mainz, Catholic Church Records, 1540-1952     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4127803); 639,322 indexed records with 639,322 record images, ADDED 08-Dec-2020
*  Portugal, Faro, Civil Registration, 1880-1920   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4122681); 10 indexed records with 10 record images, ADDED 02-Dec-2020

--- Collections Updated ---

Brazil, Bahia, Civil Registration, 1877-1976    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3694028); 159,031 indexed records with 150,078 record images (was 159,010 records with 150,063 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2020
Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477669); 1,627,671 indexed records with 521,595 record images (was 1,591,973 records with 511,564 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration, 1588-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138481); 544,231 indexed records with 3,208,709 record images (was 516,706 records with 3,208,709 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2020
France, Haute-Garonne, Toulouse, Civil Registration, 1792-1893  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2358735); 525,253 indexed records with 118,246 record images (was 514,174 records with 118,246 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 323,753 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 317,073 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020

Hungary Civil Registration, 1895-1980   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 1,398,271 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 1,385,974 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 264,536 indexed records with 111,150 record images (was 243,386 records with 101,731 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1925428); 133,528 indexed records with 16,188 record images (was 132,764 records with 16,188 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
South Africa, Civil Death Registration, 1955-1966       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3732506); 637,287 indexed records with 636,933 record images (was 604,850 records with 604,502 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Mexico, Colima, Catholic Church Records, 1707-1969      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1508604); 57,390 indexed records with 228,566 record images (was 58,075 records with 228,566 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2020

Peru, Prelature of Yauyos-Cañete-Huarochirí, Catholic Church Records, 1665-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3460240); 222,915 indexed records with 102,700 record images (was 216,715 records with 98,348 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
New Jersey, Death Index, 1901-1903; 1916-1929   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2843410); 244,200 indexed records with 2,092 record images (was 241,326 records with 2,073 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Mexico, Sinaloa, Catholic Church Records, 1671-1968     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473206); 48,291 indexed records with 521,512 record images (was 48,291 records with 521,512 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Samoa, Vital Records, 1846-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4016424); 1,047 indexed records with 11,239 record images (was 1,047 records with 10,955 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3734475); 1,371,885 indexed records with 89,848 record images (was 1,369,563 records with 89,796 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Census Lists, 1770-1934       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2780641); 468,003 indexed records with 34,676 record images (was 461,955 records with 32,962 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2020
Mexico, Guanajuato, Catholic Church Records, 1519-1984  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1860831); 1,097,956 indexed records with 4,584,983 record images (was 1,097,956 records with 4,584,983 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1320969); 305,880 indexed records with 336,900 record images (was 305,880 records with 336,900 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
El Salvador Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 3,456 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 0 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Argentina, Salta, Civil Registration, 1880-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006885); 48,348 indexed records with 37,184 record images (was 46,711 records with 35,903 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Ecuador, Cemetery Records, 1862-2019    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3755446); 330,349 indexed records with 315,323 record images (was 292,599 records with 292,075 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 30,047,341 indexed records with 46,885,453 record images (was 30,047,341 records with 46,885,453 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Guatemala, Chimaltenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114423); 426,231 indexed records with 3,075 record images (was 398,586 records with 3,075 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1514-1970    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1615259); 1,927,411 indexed records with 4,263,289 record images (was 1,927,411 records with 4,263,289 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
United States Census, 1920      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1488411); 107,660,169 indexed records with 2,387,416 record images (was 107,660,169 records with 2,387,416 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020

South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1468076); 640,868 indexed records with 355,318 record images (was 616,632 records with 355,318 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Italy, Cuneo, Alba, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1941   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1483030); Browse 373,052 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 373,052 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2020
Mexico, Nuevo León, Catholic Church Records, 1667-1981  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473204); 4,863 indexed records with 447,381 record images (was 2,335 records with 447,381 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2020
Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935451); 172,713 indexed records with 829,309 record images (was 172,493 records with 829,309 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
England, Gloucestershire Non-Conformist Church Records, 1642-1996       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3648679); 71,121 indexed records with 36,724 record images (was 64,903 records with 35,592 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1916081); 1,066,150 indexed records with 366,615 record images (was 907,128 records with 366,615 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2020
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 4,666,941 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 4,666,053 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2020
Texas, Grimes County, Marriage Records, 1951-1966       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3518927); 3,606 indexed records with 2,120 record images (was 3,353 records with 1,917 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Records, 1853-1912  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3940896); 265,177 indexed records with 35,935 record images (was 264,985 records with 35,929 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3418468); 473,472 indexed records with 8,883 record images (was 392,849 records with 7,687 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Germany, Württemberg, Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Catholic Church Records, 1520-1975       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3499252); 7,261,665 indexed records with 895,562 record images (was 6,790,979 records with 842,168 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2020
Finland, Church Census and Pre-Confirmation Books, 1657-1915    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2805467); 33,404,934 indexed records with 486,629 record images (was 33,404,934 records with 486,629 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2020
Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046887); 878,044 indexed records with 1,135,393 record images (was 865,079 records with 1,135,393 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2020
England, Northumberland Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1920        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3648677); 236,680 indexed records with 12,089 record images (was 227,004 records with 11,402 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Guatemala Civil Registration, 1868-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1682771); 2,705,044 indexed records with 2,755,000 record images (was 2,684,681 records with 2,755,000 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Mexico Deaths, 1680-1940        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473013); Index only (254,260 records), no images (was 259,303 records with 0 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration, 1621-1914   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138505); 410,043 indexed records with 3,506,224 record images (was 410,043 records with 3,506,224 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2020
Mexico Baptisms, 1560-1950      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473011); Index only (24,804,743 records), no images (was 25,714,026 records with 0 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661306); Index only (335,885 records), no images (was 329,478 records with 0 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Venezuela Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 203,346 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 202,494 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001287); 6,485,134 indexed records with 2,841,076 record images (was 6,485,134 records with 2,841,076 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Florida Deaths, 1877-1939       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1595003); 471,799 indexed records with 471,267 record images (was 471,799 records with 471,266 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Poland, Lublin Roman Catholic Church Books, 1784-1964   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1867931); 341,338 indexed records with 395,682 record images (was 341,338 records with 395,682 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2020
Guatemala, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1977   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1614809); 63,952 indexed records with 1,160,338 record images (was 18,535 records with 1,160,338 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2020
Utah, Cemetery Abstracts        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2576051); 126,589 indexed records with 4,698 record images (was 125,183 records with 4,695 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2020

Texas, Indexes and Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Del Rio, 1906-1953      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2141027); 322,356 indexed records with 206,054 record images (was 259,415 records with 206,054 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
South Dakota, County Naturalization Records, 1865-1972  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2078640); 41,327 indexed records with 124,277 record images (was 0 records with 124,277 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2020
Puerto Rico, Civil Registration, 1805-2001      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1682798); 5,071,449 indexed records with 4,581,756 record images (was 5,069,729 records with 4,581,756 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Maine, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040046); 32,923 indexed records with 207,883 record images (was 0 records with 207,883 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2020
Utah, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census Records, 1914-1960     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3438701); 378,655 indexed records with 100,233 record images (was 378,655 records with 100,233 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2020

Brazil, Civil Registration, 1860-2006   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 149,105 indexed records with 66,294 record images (was 142,142 records with 63,323 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2860782); 35,411,512 indexed records with 4,830,472 record images (was 35,411,512 records with 4,830,472 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
France, Saône-et-Loire, Parish and Civil Registration, 1530-1892        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2840171); 7,205,664 indexed records with 1,968,043 record images (was 7,205,496 records with 1,968,010 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Papua New Guinea, Birth Records, 1888-2004      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3757740); 50,028 indexed records with 42,088 record images (was 43,582 records with 36,468 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
California, Los Angeles, Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery/Crematory Records, 1884-2002 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3583819); 198,023 indexed records with 123,586 record images (was 182,848 records with 108,834 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Micronesia, Civil Registration, 1883-1983       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2761211); 67,042 indexed records with 66,983 record images (was 63,265 records with 63,209 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Austria, Vienna, Jewish Registers of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1784-1911   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2028320); 242,532 indexed records with 206,316 record images (was 242,551 records with 206,316 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2020
Peru, Piura, Civil Registration, 1874-1996      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3733437); 1,232,633 indexed records with 1,222,237 record images (was 1,172,646 records with 1,162,749 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
England, Herefordshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1898  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3155913); 1,185,969 indexed records with 95,058 record images (was 1,173,785 records with 94,292 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Mexico, Querétaro, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1970   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1881200); 5,235 indexed records with 1,380,077 record images (was 84,010 records with 1,380,077 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-1996   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 1,681,873 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 1,681,873 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Texas, Laredo Arrival Manifests, 1903-1955      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2038112); 440,796 indexed records with 1,322,540 record images (was 301,048 records with 1,322,540 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2020
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 413,749 indexed records with 1,038,133 record images (was 412,527 records with 1,038,133 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1943    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2134304); 37,040 indexed records with 2,733 record images (was 37,040 records with 2,733 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Maine, Washington County Courthouse Records, 1785-1950  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1930294); 11,355 indexed records with 99,893 record images (was 0 records with 99,893 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2020

Massachusetts, Boston Tax Records, 1822-1918    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2125599); 983,535 indexed records with 586,834 record images (was 623,482 records with 586,834 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2020
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1478678); 238,667 indexed records with 45,728 record images (was 231,170 records with 45,728 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Micronesia, Death Records, 1970-1986    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3744864); 5,255 indexed records with 5,233 record images (was 4,840 records with 4,834 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
England, Essex Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1971 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3584542); 82,796 indexed records with 9,596 record images (was 82,573 records with 9,574 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2020
Costa Rica, Cemetery Records, 1958-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4122683); 13,451 indexed records with 13,358 record images (was 9,442 records with 9,377 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

Michigan, Saginaw County, Biographical Card File, ca. 1830-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3733440); 1,941 indexed records with 14,550 record images (was 1,941 records with 14,219 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Vital Records, 1868-1976   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3511741); 176,776 indexed records with 173,586 record images (was 171,433 records with 168,346 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1950-2015        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 121,251 indexed records with 11,019 record images (was 107,934 records with 9,965 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020
Mexico Marriages, 1570-1950     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473012); Index only (4,214,102 records), no images (was 4,282,036 records with 0 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2020

--- Collections with new images ---

Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691993); 3,652,934 indexed records with 154,420 record images (was 3,652,934 records with 153,405 images), last updated 19-Nov-2020
Alaska Naturalization Records, 1884-1991        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2513103); 81,550 indexed records with 71,885 record images (was 81,550 records with 71,828 images), last updated 26-Jun-2020
Spain, Aragón, Electoral Censuses, 1890-1934    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2304578); 4,972,408 indexed records with 52,851 record images (was 4,972,408 records with 35,919 images), last updated 04-Jun-2019
Arizona, Nogales, Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals, 1905-1952      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3041280); 502,795 indexed records with 496,137 record images (was 502,795 records with 495,863 images), last updated 21-Apr-2020
Hungary Reformed Church Christenings, 1624-1895 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1858355); 6,076,320 indexed records with 312,704 record images (was 6,076,320 records with 312,387 images), last updated 01-May-2012

Australia, Victoria, Inward Passenger Lists, 1839-1923  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2778600); 883,350 indexed records with 5,619 record images (was 883,350 records with 5,578 images), last updated 30-Jul-2019
Colombia, Bogotá, Burial Permits, 1960-1991     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3212241); 178,686 indexed records with 212,744 record images (was 178,686 records with 212,690 images), last updated 29-May-2020
Louisiana Tombstone Inscriptions, 1812-1970     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3041284); 76,332 indexed records with 20 record images (was 76,332 records with 19 images), last updated 14-Feb-2020
Alabama State Census, 1866      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1915987); 243,781 indexed records with 17 record images (was 243,781 records with 7 images), last updated 12-Dec-2011
Germany, Rhineland, Diocese of Trier, Catholic Church Records, 1704-1957        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790268); 2,967,130 indexed records with 307,298 record images (was 2,967,130 records with 293,176 images), last updated 03-Nov-2020

France, Rhône, Military Registration Cards, 1865-1932   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3007175); 246,139 indexed records with 245,525 record images (was 246,139 records with 245,445 images), last updated 04-Nov-2020
New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2803479); 4,749,222 indexed records with 84,805 record images (was 4,749,222 records with 84,749 images), last updated 20-Aug-2019
United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2761958); 6,031,182 indexed records with 325,093 record images (was 6,031,182 records with 298,764 images), last updated 20-Feb-2020
Louisiana, New Orleans Index to Passenger Lists, 1853-1952      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443949); 439,472 indexed records with 435,372 record images (was 439,472 records with 435,100 images), last updated 27-Aug-2020
South Africa, Orange Free State, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1832-1989        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3040532); 639,973 indexed records with 82,306 record images (was 639,973 records with 80,813 images), last updated 09-Oct-2020

North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2848682); 7,926,454 indexed records with 160,650 record images (was 7,926,454 records with 160,631 images), last updated 05-Oct-2020

--- Collections with images removed ---

South Africa, Cape Province, Cemetery Records, 1886-2010        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790463); 817,273 indexed records with 41,887 record images (was 817,273 records with 41,889 images), last updated 05-Nov-2019
Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1307888); 1,875,674 indexed records with 1,851,193 record images (was 1,875,674 records with 1,853,064 images), last updated 30-Nov-2020
Arizona, Yavapai County, Pioneers' Home Resident Ledger and Index, 1911-2000    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3031544); 2,848 indexed records with 5 record images (was 2,848 records with 406 images), last updated 09-Apr-2020
United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3754697); 3,869,490 indexed records with 24,146 record images (was 3,869,490 records with 24,182 images), last updated 02-Nov-2020
Texas, El Paso, Applications for Non-Resident Aliens Border Crossing Identification Cards, 1945-1952    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3155856); 141,806 indexed records with 140,579 record images (was 141,806 records with 140,613 images), last updated 09-Apr-2020

United States, Compiled Military Service Records Of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served With The U.S. Colored Troops, 1861-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3518724); 931,845 indexed records with 758,377 record images (was 931,845 records with 758,769 images), last updated 25-Aug-2020
United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2579610); 469,168 indexed records with 64,643 record images (was 469,168 records with 69,358 images), last updated 03-Oct-2020
Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417491); 1,681,910 indexed records with 1,680,444 record images (was 1,681,910 records with 1,680,451 images), last updated 16-Jan-2020
Texas, Voter Records, 1867-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3163398); 155,840 indexed records with 4,045 record images (was 155,840 records with 4,048 images), last updated 14-Oct-2020
Connecticut, Military Census Questionnaires, 1917       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741249); 393,620 indexed records with 522,009 record images (was 393,620 records with 522,094 images), last updated 06-Aug-2020

Washington, Native American, Census Records, 1880-1952  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790178); 140,781 indexed records with 8,297 record images (was 140,781 records with 8,300 images), last updated 09-Apr-2019

--- Collections with new records ---

Venezuela, Catholic Church Records, 1577-1995   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1951777); 2,004,049 indexed records with 1,899,876 record images (was 1,799,018 records with 1,899,876 images), last updated 02-Dec-2020
Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1955  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 57,036 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 43,229 records with 238,265 images), last updated 02-Dec-2020

--- Collections with records removed ---

United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,610,544 records), no images (was 875,610,547 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Aug-2020
Hungary, Catholic Church Records, 1636-1895     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1743180); 18,304,230 indexed records with 1,114,955 record images (was 18,304,231 records with 1,114,955 images), last updated 12-Feb-2020

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

My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, provides this list to me from a program he wrote that compares the current FamlySearch record collections list to the previous week's list.  

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 one 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) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

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