Saturday, January 4, 2025

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your Genealogy Goals for 2025

 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)  What are your genealogy goals for 2025?  Consider genealogy research, education, organizing, service, writing, and whatever else you care to share.

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

Here's mine:

Many of these are continuations from my 2024 goals - I don't seem to ever completely finish a task!

1)  Write weekly "52 Ancestors" and/or "52 Relatives" genealogical sketches, and add them to my Ancestry Member Tree profiles and to the FamilySearch Family Tree life stories.

2)  Write weekly "Amanuensis Monday," "Treasure Chest Thursday," and "Seavers in the News" posts for persons in my database, and add the record transcriptions and source citations to profiles in my family tree.

3)  Research descendants of my 4th great-grandparents, mainly to support finding lines to my DNA matches.  Write 6-generation reports for lines that are nearly complete.

4)  Search Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, Findmypast and American Ancestors for new information to add relationships, events, names, dates, places, sources, images and notes to the profiles in my RootsMagic family tree.  

5)  Create PDF ancestry reports for ancestral families of myself and my second great-grandparents, plus descendant reports for key surname groups, using genealogy software and put them on Scribd (I last did this in 2012).   

6)  NEW:  Continue to explore ways to use existing and new Artificial intelligence tools to enhance my genealogy and family history research, including improving my knowledge base, shortening research time, and sharing family stories.  

7)  NEW:  Continue to convert current place names to historical place names as required, and to upgrade the Person Notes and sources in my RootsMagic family tree.

8)  Work on the photograph collections on the computer, and do enhancement and colorization using MyHeritage and Ancestry photo tools as necessary.  Share not-seen-before photos on "Wordless Wednesday" blog posts.  Add more family photos to my RootsMagic family tree and FamilySearch Family Tree profiles.

9)  Chase more autosomal DNA matches to find common ancestors when possible using AncestryDNA ThruLines and ProTools, MyHeritage ToFRs, and using my "skeleton tree" on Ancestry.  

10)  Make more photograph slide shows for myself, Linda, my parents, and my grandparents, including photographs and records to tell their stories.  Narrate Zoom videos of the slide shows and share them on my YouTube channel with my family members.

11)  Serve the Chula Vista Genealogical Society on the Board of Directors as newsletter editor and Research/DNA chair, organize and present monthly Research Group and DNA Interest Group meetings on Zoom, and attend and contribute to the in-person education group meetings.

12)  Watch more Family Tree Webinars and YouTube videos, attend CVGS, SDGS and WAGS program Zoom meetings, and attend RootsTech 2025 virtually, in order to keep up-to-date with research techniques, and new genealogy industry features.

Only 12 goals, and they are all achievable if I find the time to do them over the next 12 months.  I hope for a B grade at best, but I will try!

Notice I didn't put clearing out the paper from the genealogy cave, attending a conference in-person, or some other impossible at this time goal.

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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
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Ask AI: "What are the future trends in AI-driven tools for genealogy research and family history?"

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

1)  I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with information about the future of AI tools in genealogy research and family history.  I asked a similar question in September 2024 in Another Artificial Intelligence Agent - GenSpark: I Asked "What is the future of genealogy and family history research?" 

(image created by Grok AI)

Here is my prompt:   "You are an expert genealogist and AI guru. What are the future trends in AI-driven tools for genealogy research and family history?"

I wondered if there would be more information with today's question.  I tried GenSpark again:

2)  The GenSpark response was (based on 61 web sources):

Future Trends in AI-Driven Tools for Genealogy Research and Family History

The landscape of genealogy research is rapidly evolving, particularly with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Here are some key trends shaping the future of AI-driven tools in this field:

Enhanced Data Analysis and Organization

AI tools are increasingly capable of analyzing vast amounts of genealogical data, including historical records, DNA sequences, and family trees. These tools can identify patterns and relationships that may not be immediately apparent to researchers. For instance, AI algorithms can streamline the process of DNA triangulation, helping users identify common ancestors within complex family networks more efficiently[1-2].

Improved Record Transcription and Searchability

One of the most significant advancements is in the area of record transcription. AI technologies, such as machine learning and optical character recognition (OCR), are being used to transcribe handwritten documents and historical records automatically. This capability not only saves time but also increases the accessibility of previously unsearchable records, allowing genealogists to uncover vital information more easily[3-4].

Personalized Research Assistance

AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming more prevalent in genealogy research. These tools can provide personalized assistance, guiding users through their research processes, suggesting relevant records, and even helping to organize findings. This trend is expected to enhance user experience by making genealogy research more interactive and user-friendly[5-6].

Integration of AI with Existing Genealogy Platforms

Major genealogy platforms are increasingly integrating AI features to enhance their services. For example, MyHeritage and Ancestry.com are utilizing AI to offer smart hints and suggestions based on user-uploaded data. This integration allows for a more seamless research experience, as users can receive real-time insights and recommendations tailored to their specific family history[7-8].

Predictive Analytics for Family History

AI's predictive capabilities are also being explored in genealogy. By analyzing existing data, AI can help predict familial relationships and suggest potential connections that researchers may not have considered. This trend could significantly expand the scope of genealogical research, enabling users to explore new avenues in their family history[9-10].

Ethical Considerations and Data Privacy

As AI tools become more sophisticated, ethical considerations regarding data privacy and the use of personal information are gaining attention. Future developments in AI-driven genealogy tools will likely need to address these concerns, ensuring that user data is handled responsibly and transparently[11-12].

In summary, the future of AI in genealogy research promises to enhance data analysis, improve record accessibility, and provide personalized assistance, all while navigating the complexities of ethical data use. These advancements will likely make family history research more efficient and engaging for users worldwide.

AI is also being utilized to make records and family information more accessible globally, which is a significant trend in genealogy research. This accessibility is crucial for researchers who may not have the means to access physical archives or who are located in different parts of the world1. Furthermore, AI technologies are being developed to assist in the identification of historical context and geographical data related to family histories, enriching the research experience by providing users with a deeper understanding of their ancestors' lives and environments[2].

Additionally, the use of AI in genealogy is expected to evolve towards more collaborative platforms where users can share findings and insights, creating a community-driven approach to family history research. This could lead to enhanced data sharing and collective problem-solving among genealogists[3].

Moreover, advancements in AI are likely to include more sophisticated algorithms that can analyze genetic data alongside traditional genealogical records, providing a more comprehensive view of family connections and ancestry[4].

The GenSpark response also included a Mind-Map diagram:

Each of the items on the right side of the diagram has a + link that will expand the Mind Map for that particular item on the diagram.  I expanded the +link for "Personalized assistance."  The diagram expanded to show that portion of the mind map:

Again, there are + links for each item on the right-hand side of the Mind Map. I expanded the link for "Richer storytelling experience" and the diagram expanded again to show (enlarging that portion of the Mind Map):


If readers want to work with this, the original response and the Mind Map are on this link.  The response may vary from what I've shown in this post.  

3)  The text response had 12 cited sources.  They were:
  1. https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/ai-developments-genealogy
  2. https://education.myheritage.com/article/ai-genealogy-harnessing-the-power-of-artificial-intelligence-for-family-history-research/
  3. https://www.legacytree.com/blog/using-ai-for-genealogy-research
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-revolutionizes-genealogy-discovering-family-history-pillai/
  5. https://www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com/blog/ai-and-family-history-creating-a-perfect-ancestor-biography-using-chatgpt
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1knyzfkZ0
  7. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/artificial-intelligence-and-genealogy-new-beginnings-in-2024/
  8. https://aigenealogyinsights.com/2025/01/01/the-2025-ai-genealogy-do-over
  9. #9 was risky
  10. #10 was the same as #1
  11. https://www.webpilot.ai/writeDetail/f8de76ad-3f1b-45c4-a943-a98f09f06e0b?lang=en-US
  12. https://evidentiasoftware.com/future-of-genealogy-software/
4)  I find this impressive, and wonder what the other Chatbots can produce?  Can they make a Mind Map?  [I asked free ChatGPT4 to create a mind map with the same prompt and it did, but only to the second level, and it wasn't interactive.  Free Grok AI produced a textual list to two levels].  

GenSpark AI seems to create a Mind Map for any prompt,  However, the Mind Maps are really just a visual representation with one-line summaries of each bullet point in a feature description, aren't they?  Being able to expand each bullet point is very useful, I think!

All of the noted sources are for features that are either in use or are planned for the near future with web articles or videos for reference.  Can they describe features that are futuristic and have not been invented yet?  

5)  I wonder if the subscription AI sites do better and provide more details, or more insight.  

6)  What do you think the future of genealogy is with Artificial Intelligence?  What tasks would you like AI assistants to perform for you? 

We all have learned and know that Genealogy Education is a lifelong learning experience.  I hope I'm still around to experience the genealogy future.  The present is keeping me relatively young (I'm only 81) with lots of free time to wonder and explore and learn and share.  

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See all of my Artificial Intelligence-related posts at https://www.geneamusings.com/p/artificial-intelligence-posts.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.

Added and Updated FamilySearch Historical Record Collections - Week of 28 December 2024 to 3 January 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 3 January 2025, there are 3,416 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 2 from last week):

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

--- Collections Added   ---

*  Brazil, Goiás, Catholic Church Records, 1985-1989       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000039); 1 indexed records with 1,965 record images, ADDED 26-Nov-2024
*  Denmark, Ã…rhus, Municipal Census, 1918  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3748257); 69,475 indexed records with 4,854 record images, ADDED 15-Jun-2024
*  South Carolina, Naturalization Records, 1885-1955       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000228); 8,034 indexed records with 5,640 record images, ADDED 28-Dec-2024

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1961      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974197); 146,474 indexed records with 102,368 record images (was 141,782 records with 102,368 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Australia, Victoria, Wills, Probate and Administration Files, 1841-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2207846); 309,138 indexed records with 3,998,555 record images (was 306,828 records with 3,998,555 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 863,387 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 856,081 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Bolivia, Catholic Church Records, 1566-2020     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,573,657 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,564,809 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 1,241,897 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 1,233,481 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025

Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1820-2021     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 966,944 indexed records with 402,008 record images (was 966,414 records with 401,748 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-2013     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 627,569 indexed records with 181,505 record images (was 619,207 records with 179,319 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1810-2022        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,835,618 indexed records with 929,159 record images (was 1,834,451 records with 925,762 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
California, San Francisco, Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1385518); 133,633 indexed records with 193,721 record images (was 118,725 records with 193,721 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Identity Cards, 1884-2019    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000100); 6,422,929 indexed records with 9,883,301 record images (was 6,380,119 records with 9,840,671 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025

El Salvador, Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 2,744,521 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 2,722,356 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
France, Calvados, Census, 1856  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279960); 98,326 indexed records with 3,599 record images (was 98,021 records with 5,845 images), UPDATED 30-Dec-2024
France, Guadeloupe, Church Records, 1639-1830   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316498); 15,345 indexed records with 2,597 record images (was 14,845 records with 2,500 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 244,661 indexed records with 229,514 record images (was 241,934 records with 226,056 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Guadeloupe, Civil Registration Records, 1792-1872       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4293709); 4,310 indexed records with 1,293 record images (was 4,149 records with 1,236 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025

Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1874-2008     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,624,679 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,622,225 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 148,373 indexed records with 28,326 record images (was 147,497 records with 28,241 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Honduras, Catholic Church Records, 1633-1978    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823595); 1,841,414 indexed records with 425,330 record images (was 1,834,994 records with 425,330 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Hungary, Civil Registration, 1895-1980  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 13,306,462 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 13,300,519 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Illinois, District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1856-1991  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3158878); 1,377,669 indexed records with 1,239,291 record images (was 698,535 records with 665,959 images), UPDATED 27-Dec-2024

Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 8,111,921 indexed records with 286,953 record images (was 8,052,649 records with 284,811 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Italy, Bari, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1908      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1968511); 604,492 indexed records with 2,870,392 record images (was 604,492 records with 2,870,392 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Italy, Como, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1951      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1939355); Browse 15,667 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 15,667 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Italy, Deaths and Burials, 1806-1910    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708705); Index only (357,477 records), no images (was 355,000 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Italy, Palermo, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1820-1947   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2608509); 1,833 indexed records with 4,331,932 record images (was 1,833 records with 4,331,932 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025

Italy, Reggio Calabria, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1784-1943   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068331); 925,214 indexed records with 2,245,171 record images (was 926,731 records with 2,245,171 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Italy, Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1871-1942       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2141952); 186,697 indexed records with 1,637,660 record images (was 186,697 records with 1,637,660 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Kansas, Naturalization Records, 1856-2003       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4233290); 78,010 indexed records with 76,967 record images (was 78,010 records with 57,196 images), UPDATED 30-Dec-2024
Kentucky, Naturalization Records, 1887-1939     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000236); 15,575 indexed records with 9,820 record images (was 15,571 records with 9,818 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Luxembourg, Census Records, 1843-1900   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2037957); 4,076,895 indexed records with 1,115,931 record images (was 4,046,682 records with 1,115,931 images), UPDATED 31-Dec-2024

Martinique, Church Records, 1662-1847   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316497); 16,023 indexed records with 1,822 record images (was 15,939 records with 1,936 images), UPDATED 31-Dec-2024
Martinique, Civil Registration Records, 1766-1874       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316501); 9,955 indexed records with 2,993 record images (was 9,932 records with 2,945 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 6,196,684 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 6,184,292 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Norway, Oslo, Census, 1912      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4445453); 41,218 indexed records with 7,709 record images (was 41,218 records with 8,608 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661306); Index only (735,602 records), no images (was 720,773 records with 0 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025

Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1556-2023        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 22,156,370 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 22,156,145 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
Philippines Civil Registration (National), 1945-1996    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1852584); 1,274,484 indexed records with 20,274,621 record images (was 1,274,484 records with 20,274,621 images), UPDATED 27-Dec-2024
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,339,186 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,338,693 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Scotland, Civil Registration, 1855-1875, 1881, 1891     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000163); 4,275,563 indexed records with 1,234,529 record images (was 3,125,286 records with 918,755 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
St. Lucia, Church Records, 1751-1793    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4449051); 2,765 indexed records with 579 record images (was 2,667 records with 557 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record of Members (Worldwide), 1836-1970       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3714676); 1,254,250 indexed records with 66,298 record images (was 1,147,862 records with 80,659 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850-1880    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1420441); 1,356,539 indexed records with 8,724 record images (was 521,946 records with 8,724 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2025
United States, New England, Petitions for Naturalization, 1787-1906     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2064580); 812,715 indexed records with 954,378 record images (was 716,287 records with 954,378 images), UPDATED 28-Dec-2024
Uruguay, Civil Registration, 1879-2020  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,610,668 records), no images (was 1,597,911 records with 0 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Venezuela, Civil Registration, 1843-2021        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,242,620 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,232,065 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025

Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1912      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149585); 1,785,083 indexed records with 95,133 record images (was 1,769,060 records with 87,773 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025
Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1908-2019        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 977,993 indexed records with 177,876 record images (was 972,876 records with 176,428 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Alabama, Military Discharges, ca.1819 - ca.1963 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4113740); 30,254 indexed records with 22,109 record images (was 30,254 records with 12,477 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 983,904 record images (was 1 records with 945,687 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 196,162 record images (was 1 records with 194,498 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 132,663 record images (was 1 records with 131,552 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Denmark, Ã…rhus Municipal Census, 1896   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4371875); 37,019 indexed records with 2,972 record images (was 37,019 records with 2,760 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

England, Huntingdonshire, Parish Registers      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2340291); 308,855 indexed records with 14,279 record images (was 308,855 records with 13,900 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Italy, Arcidiocesi di Palermo, Catholic Church Records, 1392-1927       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000127); 1 indexed records with 40,500 record images (was 1 records with 665 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Diocesi di Trapani, Catholic Church Records, 1504-1913   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000375); 1 indexed records with 54,496 record images (was 1 records with 9,211 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Grosseto, Diocesi di Grosseto, Catholic Church Records, 1521-1983        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000381); 1 indexed records with 31,653 record images (was 1 records with 28,796 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Ivrea Diocesi di Ivrea, Catholic Church Records, 1474-1950       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000373); 1 indexed records with 99,988 record images (was 1 records with 64,126 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024

Italy, Potenza, Archdiocese of Potenza, Catholic Church Records, 1572-1900      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000374); 1 indexed records with 33,016 record images (was 1 records with 565 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Terni, Civil Registration, 1861-1921     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046908); 42,581 indexed records with 14,919 record images (was 42,581 records with 14,905 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Italy, Torino, Diocese of Torino, Catholic Church Records, 1801-1899    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000113); 1 indexed records with 270,930 record images (was 1 records with 133,514 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Italy, Vercelli, Archdiocese of Vercelli, Catholic Church Records, 1839-1899    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000274); 1 indexed records with 117,967 record images (was 1 records with 116,465 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024
Missouri, Recruitment Lists of Volunteers for the United States Colored Troops, 1863-1865       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3459909); 17,932 indexed records with 5,787 record images (was 17,932 records with 5,777 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

Peru, Diocese of Huaraz, Catholic Church Records, 1641-2016     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2787829); 1,226,616 indexed records with 284,463 record images (was 1,226,616 records with 284,401 images), last updated 19-Dec-2024
Puerto Rico, San Juan, Cemetery Records, 1888-1988      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4376727); 182,749 indexed records with 77,861 record images (was 182,749 records with 69,872 images), last updated 13-Jun-2024
Sierra Leone, Civil Births and Deaths, 1802-2017        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3245338); 1,099,372 indexed records with 840,626 record images (was 1,099,372 records with 788,935 images), last updated 09-Oct-2024
South Africa, Civil Death Registration, 1953-1967       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3732506); 1,221,606 indexed records with 1,226,793 record images (was 1,221,606 records with 1,226,759 images), last updated 05-Nov-2024
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Marriages, 1870-1931     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2727134); 267,269 indexed records with 265,218 record images (was 267,269 records with 265,167 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

Sri Lanka, Civil Registration, 1768-1990        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2209866); 12,988,701 indexed records with 12,867,173 record images (was 12,988,701 records with 12,828,974 images), last updated 27-Dec-2024
United States, Native American Birth and Death Records, 1885-1940       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2765178); 78,133 indexed records with 5,912 record images (was 78,133 records with 4,960 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2761958); 7,193,829 indexed records with 387,412 record images (was 7,193,829 records with 387,310 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691993); 3,641,119 indexed records with 155,873 record images (was 3,641,119 records with 154,358 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

--- Collections with images removed ---

California, Passenger and Crew Lists at Various Ports, 1907-1957        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477653); 382,893 indexed records with 292,201 record images (was 382,893 records with 292,268 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Colombia, Bogotá, Burial Permits, 1938-1995     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3212241); 231,067 indexed records with 212,774 record images (was 231,067 records with 212,782 images), last updated 05-Nov-2024
Colombia, Diocese of Barranquilla, Catholic Church Records, 1808-2007   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2241457); 220,514 indexed records with 62,984 record images (was 220,514 records with 67,528 images), last updated 06-Nov-2024
England, Cambridge, Parish Registers, 1538-1983         (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3299384); 473,470 indexed records with 32,912 record images (was 473,470 records with 33,092 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
Finland, Passport Registers, 1900-1920  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4139415); 111,359 indexed records with 2,239 record images (was 111,359 records with 2,958 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024

Florida, Military Discharge Records, ca.1837 - ca.1970  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4114268); 10,025 indexed records with 5,695 record images (was 10,025 records with 6,599 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
France, Calvados, Census, 1836  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279958); 1,501 indexed records with 31 record images (was 1,501 records with 52 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Georgia, Military Discharge Records, ca.1864 - ca.1967  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4113736); 172,667 indexed records with 107,663 record images (was 172,667 records with 107,958 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Illinois, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4113738); 19,385 indexed records with 7,859 record images (was 19,385 records with 7,881 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Italy, Biella, Ponderano, Parish of San Lorenzo, Catholic Church Records, 1566-1953     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482795); 1 indexed records with 7,589 record images (was 1 records with 7,963 images), last updated 05-Dec-2024

Louisiana, New Orleans, Slave Manifests of Coastwise Vessels, 1807-1860 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2822773); 115,467 indexed records with 14,627 record images (was 115,467 records with 14,746 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024
United States, Census, 1950     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 52,785,233 indexed records with 52,644,969 record images (was 52,785,233 records with 52,647,219 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3346936); 99,204,702 indexed records with 3,406,152 record images (was 99,204,702 records with 3,410,056 images), last updated 15-Jun-2024
Virginia, Vital Records, 1853-1934      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4231103); 2,064,673 indexed records with 107,471 record images (was 2,064,673 records with 108,048 images), last updated 30-Jul-2024

--- Collections with records removed ---

United States, Public Records, 1970-2009        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,609,780 records), no images (was 875,609,786 records with 0 images), last updated 01-Jun-2024
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,877,616 records), no images (was 413,877,624 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-2024

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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:

*  0 removed entries
*  2 added entries 
*  47 updated entries
*  40 entries with more or fewer images or records

The FamilySearch website says 3416 total entries on the list. Marshall's list says 3416.  

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) 2024 Randall J. Seaver

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Friday, January 3, 2025

FamilySearch 2024 Genealogy Highlights

 I received this information from FamilySearch recently:

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH—Join FamilySearch, the world’s largest nonprofit genealogy organization, in looking back at 2024 to recap some of its most notable highlights. FamilySearch celebrated its 130th anniversary as an organization in 2024, and the 25th anniversary of its popular website, FamilySearch.org. Millions of visitors made fun new ancestor discoveries during the year thanks to advancements in FamilySearch’s artificial intelligence, new historical records collections, and RootsTech by FamilySearch, which continued its global reach in helping individuals make new family connections.

 

FamilySearch enjoyed more than 285 million visits from across the planet in 2024. Patrons frequented FamilySearch’s growing record collections, interactive discovery experiences like Surnames and Ancestors, and helpful articles on the FamilySearch Wiki and Blog.

 

Free Genealogical Records

 

The most popular reason for visiting FamilySearch.org in 2024 was free access to massive amounts of the world’s genealogical records. FamilySearch offers online access to records for more than 170 countries and principalities. More than 2.5 billion new searchable records and images were added in 2024—totaling more than 20.5 billion for the website. FamilySearch began publishing the Africa oral genealogies with searchable indexes for 12 African countries. The country collections receiving the greatest increase on FamilySearch were the USA, Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Portugal, France, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Argentina, Chile, and Ireland. Search the expanded collections now.

 

The Collaborative FamilySearch Family Tree

The world’s largest online family tree grew by more than 150 million people in 2024, totaling 1.67 billion searchable people. Contributors also added 530 million sources to their ancestors in the tree—which helps increase accuracy and collaboration. In addition, three new user features were added to the FamilySearch Family Tree:

  • Merge Analysis Feature simplifies the ability to review and correct merges, and you can better understand the “before and after” of each merge.
  • Portrait Pedigree View Update allows you to view siblings, a single-family line, and multiple family lines at the same time; add relatives quickly without leaving the page; and distinguish living individuals more easily.
  • 3 Star Record Hints introduce a broader range of record considerations for experienced researchers to explore.

                      A close-up of a logoDescription automatically generated

FamilySearch Digital Books Online

The FamilySearch Digital Library added more than 45,000 new books in 2024. Users now have more than 630,000 free historical publications available to search. Digitized books are full-text searchable, making it easy to discover who, or what, you're searching. 

FamilySearch Library and Centers

The FamilySearch Library and its global network of FamilySearch centers and affiliates help expand access to FamilySearch’s vast resources and discovery experiences. They also offer individual search assistance and free access to premium genealogy websites.

FamilySearch added 324 new FamilySearch centers in 2024, totaling more than 6,500 locations worldwide. FamilySearch Help was updated to help family history researchers get more answers to their ancestral questions.

The library offered 85 free webinars this year, including more classes in Spanish and Portuguese. It offers hundreds more on demand in multiple languages. Review the list of classes in the library’s Learning Center.

RootsTech 2024 Quick Facts

RootsTech 2024 inspired and entertained participants from all over the world. Millions more continue to enjoy the free 2024 content online year round and on demand at RootsTech.org.

  • Participants joined from 232 countries and territories.
  • More than 4 million participants attended in person and online.
  • More than 500,000 participants viewed 5.9 million ancestral relationships through a popular, global Relatives at RootsTech experience that will be repeated in 2025.

 RootsTech 2024 Keynotes included:

  • Steve Rockwood, the CEO of FamilySearch International.
  • Kristin Chenoweth, Emmy® and Tony Award®-winning actress and singer.
  • Lynne M. Jackson, author and president and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.
  • Nancy Borowick, world-renowned Sony artisan photographer and humanitarian.
  • Henry Cho, acclaimed comedian, and the first Asian-American to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Katie James, famous Colombian singer and songwriter and guitarist was a virtual keynote.
  • Kirby Heyborne, popular actor, comedian, and narrator, was the RootsTech 2024 emcee and made many appearances on the main stage.

New to RootsTech 2024 were 4 special forum sessions addressing some exciting, innovative developments contributing to new, fun, personal and family discoveries.

  • Innovation and Tech Forum. Seriously cool technological developments from AI to predictive analytics will help make family connections in ways never imagined.
  • Impact Forum. Distinguished researchers delved into the profoundly positive ways that knowing your family history can impact personal resilience and mental health.
  • FamilySearch Tech Forum. FamilySearch tech leaders discussed the latest with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics and the positive impacts they will have on family history.
  • FamilySearch Global Forum. FamilySearch’s global leadership discussed the organization's homeland efforts to make family discoveries accessible to individuals worldwide.

 Other FamilySearch 2024 News

FamilySearch Get Involved: Volunteer Impact

Online volunteers continue to help FamilySearch users make even more fun family discoveries. Volunteers are integral in supporting the FamilySearch Community forums, and also  Get Involved, where they help make millions of images of historical records easily searchable. They improve upon FamilySearch’s artificial intelligence by refining computer-generated indexes from hundreds of millions of record images.

100 million record images of 19th century US land records and deeds were added to the Get Involved Quick Name Review. These are the best pre-census materials available for genealogical research in the US. Other country records were also added in 2024.

If you want to help even more, consider trying out the Get Involved Full Name Review. Like Quick Name Review, you’ll improve upon FamilySearch’s computer-generated indexes. One difference is that Full Name Review has you check whether a person’s full name was indexed, including name prefixes, given names, surnames, and name suffixes.

To see the full list of projects available, and if you want to help "pay it forward" for others, learn more at FamilySearch Get Involved.

 FamilySearch Labs

FamilySearch Labs was introduced in 2024 to engage interested users of FamilySearch’s potential features and improvements. Tens of thousands of users have generously logged in to use and improve features—from the FamilySearch Family Tree to mobile apps to artificial intelligence applications. If you’re the curious type or like to influence future experiences, check out FamilySearch Labs. There are currently several features available to explore: Full-Text SearchFamily Group TreesFind Help with AI SearchTogether by FamilySearch, Family Group TreesFind Help with AI SearchTogether by FamilySearch, and Data Quality Score.

FamilySearch Full-text Search

Artificial Intelligence is changing the world in so many amazing ways. FamilySearch Full-text Search is training its AI to unlock hidden discoveries in millions of its handwritten historical records. Using handwriting recognition and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, FamilySearch can convert an image of text into a machine-readable text format giving users the ability to search the full text of the records. Check it out, and browse the extensive list of collections currently available in the FamilySearch Full-Text Search.

 The 10 Million Names Project

FamilySearch announced its collaboration with American Ancestors on 10 Million Names, an exciting initiative to recover the names and restore information to families of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America. FamilySearch is sharing its artificial intelligence and technology solutions to help identify enslaved persons from its millions of searchable historical records and help 10 Million Names identify, digitize, transcribe, and publish new, previously unavailable collections.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/01/familysearch-2024-genealogy-highlights.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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