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Saturday, December 13, 2025

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Holiday Celebrations and Memories - Part 2

  Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

(Image courtesy of footnoteMaven ca 2008)

Join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. Here's your chance to sit on Genea-Santa's lap (virtually) and tell him about your Christmases past.

Rev up the olde thynking cap and cue up the Mission Impossible music - your mission should you decide to accept it - keeping with the Christmas theme - is:

1)   Today's challenge is to share memories of December holiday gatherings and celebrations with your families (as a child, a young adult, a parent, a grandparent, a great-grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a nibling, a cousin, an in-law)!  

2)  Pick two or three questions from the list in my blog post:  Ask AI Gemini:  "What questions can I write about concerning family gatherings and celebrations during the December holidays?"  This is a new list of questions somewhat different from last year's list.

3)  Tell us about your memories of your holiday gatherings and celebrations in your own blog post, in a comment here, or on your Facebook page.  Be sure to leave a link to your report in a comment on this post.

Here's mine:

Question:  What is one holiday tradition that your family has lost or stopped doing over the generations, and why did it end?

Answer:  For over 30 years, one of the Seaver family traditions was to have a pea-throwing contest into our drink cups.  My father and his three sons, and eventually the wives and children of the three sons, took part.  My grandparents and my mother abstained and looked horrified every year.  We eventually modified it to take out the peas and throw our wadded up napkins into the drink cups or glasses.  It ended because my mother died in 2002, Scott moved away soon after, and our girls got married, and started having children so going to their homes for Christmas dinner took the load off of Linda (who always helped wherever we were) and we were able to see our daughters homes and our grandchildren. 

Question:  If you could travel back in time to observe one specific holiday gathering from your grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ era, which one would it be and why?

Answer:  Only one specific holiday?  I think I would pick Christmas 1926 in Leominster, Massachusetts.  My paternal grandparents probably had all six children present, plus the husband and baby daughter of my Aunt Evelyn.  The children included Marion (age 25), Evelyn (age 23), Ruth (age 19), my father Fred (age 15), Ed (age 13), and Gerry (age 9).  They might have had their uncle Harry and his wife Rose, and GrandAunt Nellie also.  I never met my paternal grandfather, Fred Sr., and only met my paternal grandmother Bess once, in 1959.  Seeing my father and his siblings interacting with each other, and my grandparents dealing with their brood might have been hilarious and educational.  My father at age 15 was probably about 5 foot 10 inches and 140 pounds and boisterous!

With this last one, I think that becomes the Christmas Day story for my AI assistant Claude to create.

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


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 so they may not appear immediately.  

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at 2 comments:

Genealogical Sketch of the Herman Schaffner (1851-1921) and Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) Family of San Francisco

 I am writing genealogical sketches, and then will write AI-assisted biographies, of my wife's ancestors by ancestral couple, not by individual ancestor.  

Here is the genealogical sketch for my wife Linda's maternal great-grandparents Herman Schaffner (1851-1921) and Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) who married in about 1875 in San Francisco, California. 


1)  Herman Schaffner -- Early Life:


Herman Schaffner was born in November 1851 in New York, New York, New York,[1] the only child of Friedrich Nicholas Schaffner (1829-1899) and Susanna Hoffman (1830-about 1854), both of German extraction, who married in about 1850 in New York, Susanna probably died before 1855 there.

Friedrich Schaffner married, secondly, Martha Matilda --?-- (1837-1875) in about 1855, probably in New York. They had five children, half-siblings to Herman:
  • Matilda Schaffner, born October 1857, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Lewellyn Augustus Bradford, about 1876, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 24 June 1928, Alameda, Alameda, California.
  • Frederick N. Schaffner, born August 1862, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, married Margaret Ann Ryan, before 1889, San Francisco, San Francisco, California died 5 April 1907, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • Louis Schaffner was born about 1864 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • Charles Edwin Schaffner, born March 1867, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Louise A. Webber, before 1891, probably Oregon; died 4 September 1916, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
  • Nellie Schaffner, born 31 March 1870, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Norman Richardson Arter, May 1888, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 18 November 1933, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
The Frederick Schaffner family came to San Francisco, California from New York before 1 November 1856, when Frederick (and his wife and children) became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

In the 1870 United States Census, this family resided in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[2] The household included:
  • Fred Schaffner - age 45, male, born Canada
  • Matilda Schaffner - age 35, female, born Ireland
  • Hermann Schaffner - age 18, male, born New York
  • Matilda Schaffner - age 14, female, born California
  • Frederick Schaffner - age 9, male, born California
  • Louis Schaffner - age 5, male, born California
  • Charles Schaffner - age 3, male, born California
  • Nellie Schaffner - age 1, female, born California
Martha Matilda (--?--) Schaffner died 23 January 1875 in Oakland, Alameda, California. Frederick Schaffner married his third wife, Dora Mossmann (1838-1904) on 20 April 1876 in Alameda County, California. They had no children.

2) Mary Ann Paul – Early Life


Mary Ann Paul was born in November 1854 in Massachusetts,[1] the oldest child and first daughter of John Charles Paul (1824-1879) and Maria T. Beamish (1827-1909), both of Irish extraction, who married in 1852 in New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts.

John Charles Paul and Maria T. Beamish had the following children:
  • Mary Ann Paul, born November 1854, Massachusetts; married Herman Schaffner, before 1876, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 16 February 1908, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • Rebecca M. Paul, born November 1856, Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married Charles Henry Small; died 21 October 1914, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • Robert Paul was born about 1859 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He died before 1864 at the age of 5 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
  • Abbie C. Paul was born in September 1861 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. She died on 11 November 1894 at the age of 33 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California
  • Robert Henry Paul was born about 1864 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He died on 14 September 1902 at the age of 38 in Acapulco, Mexico.
  • Thomas E. Paul was born in December 1868 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • John Charles Paul was born about December 1868 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. He died on 22 September 1889 at the age of 20 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
The John Paul family moved from Massachusetts to Chicago, Illinois before November 1856, and then to San Francisco, California before December 1868.

In the 1860 United States Census, the John C. Paul household resided in Chicago Ward 8, Cook County, Illinois. The household included:
  • Jno C. Paul - age 36, male, a cooper, born in Newfoundland
  • Maria Paul - age 35, female, born in Ireland
  • Mary A. Paul - age 6, female, $100 in personal property, born in Mass., attends school.
  • Rebecca M. Paul - age 3, female, born Illinois
  • Robert Paul - age 1, male, born Illinois
  • Julia Taylor - age 16, female, servant, born in Newfoundland
In the 1870 United States Census, the John C. Paul household resided in San Francisco Ward 10, San Francisco County, California.[4] The household included:
  • John C. Paul - age 43, male, white, a car conductor, $450 in personal property, born in England
  • Maria Paul - age 41, female, white, keeping house, born in Ireland
  • Mary Paul - age 15, female, white, attending school, born in Massachusetts
  • Rebecca Paul - age 13, female, white, attending school, born in Massachusetts
  • Abbie C. Paul - age 9, female, white, attending school, born in Illinois
  • Robert Paul - age 5, male, at home, born in Illinois
  • John Paul - age 3, male, white, at home, born California
  • Thomas Paul - age 2, male, white, at home, born California

3) Herman and Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner Married Life


Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul were married in about 1875 in San Francisco, California. Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul had the following children:
  • Paul Frederick Schaffner, born August 1879, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Edna Catherine McKnew, 24 June 1906, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, two children; died 29 May 1934, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • Herman Schaffner, born June 1881, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Henrietta Hollwegs, 6 September 1908, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, one child; died 21 September 1931, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
  • Frederick W. Schaffner, born 15 March 1889, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Violet E. Savery, about 1911, California, one child; died 30 October 1952, San Mateo, California.
In the 1880 United States census, the Herman Schaffner and son Paul Schaffner resided at 773 Acheson Street in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California with widow Maria Paul and her children.[3] Note that Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner is enumerated with her maiden surname. The household included:
  • Maria Paul - white, female, age 51, widowed, keeping house, born Ireland, parents born Ireland/Ireland
  • Mary Ann Paul - white, female, age 25, daughter, married, without occupation, born Massachusetts, parents born NewFound/Ireland
  • Rebecca Paul - white, female, age 23, daughter, married, without occupation, born Illinois, parents born NewFound/Ireland
  • Abby Paul - white, female, age 19, daughter, single, without occupation, born Illinois, parents born NewFound/Ireland
  • Robert Paul - white, male, age 14, son, single, telegraph boy, born California, parents born NewFound/Ireland
  • John C. Paul - white, male, age 12, son, single, at school, born California, parents born NewFound/Ireland
  • Thos. E. Paul - white, male, age 12, son, single, at school, born California, parents born NewFound/Ireland
  • Paul F. Schaffner - white, male, age 9/12, Aug, grandson, single, at home, born California, parents born New York/Massachusetts
  • Herman Schaffner - white, male, age 28, son-in-law, married, book binder, born New York, parents born Austria.
In the 1900 United States census, the Herman "Shaftner" family resided at 1014 Castro Street in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[1] The household included:
  • H. Shaftner - head, white, male, born Nov 1851, age 48, married, for 25 years, born New York, parents born Germany/Germany, Grand Secretary
  • Mary Shaftner - wife, white, female, born Nov 1854, age 45, married, for 25 years, 3 children born, 3 living, born Massachusetts, parents born Canada/Ireland
  • Paul Shaftner - son, white, male, born Aug 1878, age 21, single, born California, parents born New York/Ireland, stenographer
  • Herman Shaftner - son, white, male, born June 1881, age 18, single, born California, parents born New York/Ireland, stenographer
  • Fredie Shaftner - son, white, male, born Mar 1888, age 12, single, born California, parents born New York/Ireland, at school
In the 1910 United States census, this family resided at 1134 Castro Street in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[5] The household included:
  • Herman Schaffner - head, male, white, age 58, widowed, born New York, parents born Germany/Germany, a secretary, works for Fraternal Knights of Pythias, owns home free of mortgage
  • Paul F. Schaffner - son, male, white, age 31, first marriage, married 4 years, born California, parents born New York/Massachusetts, a clerk, works for oil company
  • Edna Schaffner - daughter-in-law, female, white, age 26, first marriage, married 4 years, 1 child born, 1 living, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
  • Frederick Schaffner - son, male, white, age 21, single, born California, parents born New York/Massachusetts, a clerk, works for dried fruit company
  • Muriel E. Schaffner - granddaughter, female, white, age 1-1/12, single, born California, parents born California/California
Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner died 16 February 1908 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[6] She was inurned in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo County, California.[7]

The obituary published in the San Francisco Call newspaper dated 19 February 1908 says:[8]
"SCHAFFNER -- Entered into rest, in this city, February 18, 1908, Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner, idolized wife of Herman Schaffner, loving mother of Paul F. Schaffner, Herman Schaffner Jr., and Fred Schaffner, and beloved sister of Mrs. R.M. Small, a native of New Bedford, Mass.

"The funeral will take place today (Wednesday), February 19, at 1 o'clock p.m., from her late residence, 1014 Castro street between Twenty-third and Elizabeth. Interment Woodlawn cemetery, by electric funeral car from Thirtieth street and San Jose avenue."

4) Herman’s Later Life


Herman Schaffner married, secondly, to Mary Jane McWhirter on 29 February 1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[9]. Mary Jane McWhirter was born about 1853 in United States. She died on 20 December 1912 at the age of 59 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Herman Schaffner married thirdly, to Fredericka Hartman on 30 August 1916 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[10] Fredericka Hartman was born about 1858 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. She died after 1921, probably in San Francisco.

Herman died on 8 December 1921 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[11] He was inurned in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo County, California.[12]

An obituary for Herman Schaffner was published on Page 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper dated 9 December 1921 (accessed on www.genealogybank.com).[13] The obituary reads:
"PROMINENT PYTHIAN DIES AT AGE 71

"Herman Schaffner Was 35 Years Sealkeeper

"Herman Schaffner, for the past thirty-five years grand keeper, of the records and seals of the domain of California, Knights of Pythias, died here yesterday following a short illness. He was a native of New York and 71 years of age.
"Schaffner came to San Francisco thirty-five years ago and was elected to his position shortly after his arrival. He was past imperial prince of the dramatic order of the Knights of Khorasan, and past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He resided at 1134 Castro Street and is survived by his widow and two sons, Fred W. Schaffner, teller at the Humboldt Savings Bank and Paul F. Schaffner, manager of the Valvoline Company in San Francisco.

"Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Druids Temple, 44 Page Street, under the auspices of the grand lodge, Knights of Pythias."
Another obituary was published in The Hanford Sentinel (of San Francisco) newspaper dated Friday, December 9, 1921:
"Herman Schaffner, for the past thirty-five years grand keeper of records and seals of the Domain of California, Knights of Pythias, died Thursday of an illness of four months in San Francisco.

"Judge M. L. Short, a past grand chancellor of the Pythian order, received a telegram last night from Grand Chancellor Stanley Brown, announcing the death of the grand keeper of records and seals with whom the jurist had enjoyed a long and intimate acquaintance. Mr. Schaffner was a member of Golden West Lodge, No. 145, K. of P. He was well known to all who attended grand lodge sessions from Hanford lodge.

"Schaffner was 71 years old and one of the most prominent Knights of Pythias in the United States. He was past imperial prince of the Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorasan, and past grand master of the Knights of Pythias, says the San Francisco Chronicle.
"Born in New York, November 11, 1851, Schaffner came to San Francisco with his parents when he was 11 years old.

"During the early years of his life he worked as a book ruler in the printers' craft and was ruler in the National Guard affairs. He served in various ranks of that organization until he raised himself to adjutant.

"Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon under the auspices of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias.

"Schaffner lived with his wife and two sons at 1134 Castro Street, San Francisco. The sons are Paul and Fred Schaffner."

5) Sources

1. 1900 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, San Francisco city; ED 132, Sheet 13B, Lines 57-61, H. Shaftner household; online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 103.

2. 1870 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, Ward 2, Page 197 (stamped), dwelling #1024, family #1024, Frederick Schaffner household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 79.

3. 1880 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, San Francisco, ED 99, Page 458A, dwelling #79, family #88, Maria Paul household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 75.

4. 1870 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, population schedule, San Francisco Ward 10, Page 247B, dwelling #624, family #911, John C. Paul household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 June 2017); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 83.

5. 1910 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, population schedule, 34th Assembly District, Enumeration District 107, Page 2B, Dwelling #34, Family #37, Herman Schaffner household, online database and digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 98.

6. "California Death Index, 1905-1939," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), San Francisco County, Mary A. Schaffner entry, 16 February1908.

7. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/252173219/mary_ann-schaffner : accessed December 11, 2025), memorial page for Mary Ann Paul Schaffner (1855–16 Feb 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 252173219, citing Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA; Maintained by ColmaKitty (contributor 51383026).

8. "DIED," death notice, San Francisco [Calif.] Call Bulletin newspaper, 19 February 1908, page 13, column 3, Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner death notice; imaged, GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com).

9. "San Francisco Chronicle," online database, SFGenealogy (https://www.SFGenealogy.com), citing original documents at San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, Calif., Schaffner/McWhirter Marriage Notice, 1 March 1912, page 17.

10. "California, San Francisco, County Records, 1824-1997," indexed records with digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), Marriages > Marriage Certificates, Vol. 22, 1916, image 289 of 510, Herman Schaffner and Fredericka Armstrong entry, 30 August 1916.

11. "California Death Index, 1905-1939." online database, FamilySearch (https://www.FamilySearch.org), San Francisco County, Herman Schaffner entry, 8 December 1921.

12. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/263046343/herman-schaffner : accessed December 11, 2025), memorial page for Herman Schaffner (11 Nov 1851–8 Dec 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 263046343, citing Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA; Maintained by C D Bird (contributor 49157592).

13. "Deaths," San Francisco [CA] Chronicle newspaper, imaged, GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com), 9 December 1921, page 7, Herman Schaffner obituary.

6)  Relationship

Herman Schaffner (1851-1921) and Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) are the maternal great-grandparents of my wife, Linda (Leland) Seaver (1942-still living), through her grandfather Paul Frederick Schaffner (1879-1934) who married Edna Catherine McKnew (1884-1974) in 1906 in San Francisco, California, and their daughter, Edna May (Schaffner) Leland (1913-1979) who married Leo S. Leland in 1937.

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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  

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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Ask AI: Describe Torger Sjursen's Life At Age 15 in Deerfield, Wisconsin in 1865

 After developing the AI-assisted ABC Biography of Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933) and Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig (1853-1911) Family of Norway, Wisconsin, Montana and California, I wondered what life was like for Torger Sjursen at age 15 in 1865 in Deerfield, Wisconsin.


(AI NotebookLM image of Torger Sjursen life in about 1865)

I asked Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 and here is the story about Torger Sjursen's life in 1865 at age 15:

Young Torger: Life at Fifteen in 1865 Deerfield

The World of Torger Sjursen in Civil War-Era Wisconsin

Family Life

In 1865, fifteen-year-old Torger Sjursen lived with his family in Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. His household was bustling with activity and Norwegian voices. His father, Sjur Torgersen (then about 61 years old), had successfully established the family in America after their arrival nine years earlier. His mother, Brithe "Brita" Olsdatter (age 47), managed the household and kept Norwegian traditions alive in their American home.

Torger's younger brother Ole (age 13) was his closest companion, and they likely shared many chores and adventures together. Young Mathias had tragically died in 1856, just after the family's arrival in Wisconsin—a loss that surely shaped the family's early years in America. His sisters Ingeborg Isabel (age 9) and Anna Mathea (age 6) were still young children, and Torger, as the eldest son, would have been expected to help look after them and set an example.

The family lived among other Norwegian immigrants in Deerfield, creating a tight-knit community where Norwegian was spoken as commonly as English. The Sjursen household (they hadn't yet changed their name to Leland) was part of a settlement that included relatives and old acquaintances from Voss, Norway, providing a sense of continuity with the old country.

Work and Daily Responsibilities

At fifteen, Torger was on the cusp of manhood by 1860s standards. As the eldest son of a farming family, his days were filled with demanding physical labor. He would have risen before dawn, particularly during the growing season, to help his father with the endless tasks of frontier farming.

His work likely included:

  • Plowing and planting fields in spring

  • Tending to livestock—feeding cattle, milking cows, gathering eggs

  • Splitting wood for the cooking stove and heating

  • Maintaining fences and farm buildings

  • Harvesting crops in late summer and fall

  • Helping prepare and store food for the long Wisconsin winters

By age fifteen, Torger was probably learning carpentry skills from his father or from other men in the community. These skills would later become his primary trade, suggesting he showed aptitude and interest in working with wood and tools even as a teenager. He may have helped build barns, repair wagons, or construct additions to neighbors' homes.

The year 1865 was significant in American history -- the Civil War was ending that April with Lee's surrender at Appomattox. While Torger was too young to have been drafted, the war's impact would have been felt even in rural Wisconsin through news of casualties, returning soldiers, and the economic effects of the conflict. Some of his older neighbors and acquaintances may have served, bringing stories and wounds home to Deerfield.

Education

Torger's formal education was likely limited and practical. Having arrived in America at age six speaking only Norwegian, he would have learned English primarily through immersion with other children and from whatever schooling was available in rural Dane County.

One-room schoolhouses were common in Wisconsin during this period, but attendance was irregular, especially for farm children who were needed for seasonal work. Torger probably attended school during the winter months when farm work was lighter, learning basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. By fifteen, he may have already completed whatever formal education was available to him, as many boys left school by their early teens to work full-time.

His education would have been bilingual by necessity -- Norwegian at home and in church, English in public settings and for conducting business. This bilingualism was typical of first-generation immigrant children who served as bridges between their parents' old-world culture and their own American future.

Entertainment and Social Life

Life wasn't all work for young Torger. The Norwegian immigrant community in Deerfield provided rich social and cultural opportunities:

Church and Community Gatherings: The Norwegian Lutheran church was the center of social life. Sunday services, conducted in Norwegian, offered not just spiritual sustenance but also opportunities to see friends, hear news, and socialize. Church socials, holiday celebrations (especially Norwegian Christmas traditions), and confirmation classes would have been highlights of the social calendar.

Music and Storytelling: Norwegian folk songs, fiddle music, and storytelling were important parts of immigrant culture. Long winter evenings would have been spent around the fire with family and neighbors, sharing tales from the old country and creating new stories about life in America.

Outdoor Activities: Wisconsin's lakes, streams, and forests provided endless opportunities for recreation. Torger and his brother Ole likely:

  • Fished in local streams and lakes

  • Hunted small game to supplement the family's food supply

  • Swam in warm weather

  • Ice skated in winter

  • Explored the surrounding countryside

Community Work Events: "Barn raisings" and other communal work projects doubled as social events. Families would gather to help a neighbor build a barn or harvest crops, with the work followed by shared meals and socializing. These events allowed young people to interact under the watchful eyes of their parents and community.

Norwegian Traditions: The family would have celebrated traditional Norwegian holidays and observed customs from the old country. St. Hans (Midsummer), Christmas (with Norwegian treats like lefse and lutefisk), and other festivals helped maintain cultural identity while adapting to American life.

Simple Pleasures: Card games, checkers, and other simple pastimes would have filled leisure hours. Young men might engage in friendly competitions -- feats of strength, wrestling, or contests of skill with tools or farm implements.

Coming of Age

At fifteen in 1865, Torger stood at a threshold. In just eleven years, he would become an American citizen and marry Anna Natvig. But in 1865, he was still a boy becoming a man -- working alongside his father, learning the skills that would support his future family, navigating between Norwegian and American identities, and dreaming of his own future in this land his parents had chosen.

The hardships were real -- the loss of his brother Mathias, the brutal Wisconsin winters, the endless labor of frontier farming. But so were the opportunities -- land, freedom, community, and the chance to build something entirely his own. Young Torger was learning the resilience, work ethic, and practical skills that would carry him through 82 years of life, from Norwegian immigrant boy to American patriarch.

His teenage years in Deerfield were the foundation upon which he would build his entire American life—the place where he learned what it meant to be both Norwegian and American, to work with his hands, to be part of a community, and to persevere through whatever challenges life might bring.

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

3)  The Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is below. 


4) I have no easy way to double-check these responses from Claude. I don't have many book resources for these subjects and this locality, but there are published books available for this time period and general location. The families mentioned are my wife's ancestral families and I have significant information about their lives from the available records, but know nothing about their daily lives.

5)  After I read these types of social history summaries, I wish that I could be a time traveler for one day to visit the Sjursen family in Wisconsin in 1865 and witness their daily lives.  I'm glad that the general lifestyles and occupations are known from historical records and eyewitness accounts.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page.  Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my 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.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Friday, December 12, 2025

Added and Updated FamilySearch Record Collections - Week of 6 to 12 December 2025

Each week, I try to keep track of the number of Full-Text Search collections (indexed, searchable) and the Images collections (browsable but not searchable) -- see Sections 1) and 2) below.

Also, genealogy historical record collections (often name-indexed) are added, removed, and/or updated on FamilySearch and listed on the Historical Record Collection list at   https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list --  See Section 3.

1)  There are now 6,607 searchable image collections on FamilySearch Full-Text Search this week, an increase of 93 from last week. There are over 1.620 BILLION "results" in the collections. There are 870 collections from the United States, 146 for Canada, and 226 for England. It is not possible to see which collections are new.  

2)  There are now 24,666 browsable (but not indexed or transcribed) image collections on FamilySearch Images this week, a decrease of 46 from last week. There are over 5.876 BILLION images in these collections.  There are 2,105 collections from the United States, 6,973 from Europe and 224 from Canada.  It is not possible to see which collections are new. 

3)  As of 12 December 2025, there are 3,430 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 24 from last week) on the Signed In screen (and 3,430 on the Signed Out screen).

 The added, deleted, and updated collections this week from FamilySearch (from a list supplied by Marshall Clow):

--- Collections Deleted ---

--- Collections Added ---

Italy, Caltanissetta, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1803-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000544); 27,557 indexed records with 10,464 record images, ADDED 18-Oct-2025
Italy, Lucca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000550); 18,654 indexed records with 8,705 record images, ADDED 18-Oct-2025
Italy, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1825-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000552); 126,310 indexed records with 46,650 record images, ADDED 30-Oct-2025
Peru, Apurímac, Civil Registration, 1909-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4166195); Index only (127 records), no images, ADDED 23-May-2025
Peru, Arequipa, Catholic Church Records, 1660-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4447275); Index only (75,884 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025

Peru, Arequipa, Civil Registration, 1860-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2224533); Index only (2,584 records), no images, ADDED 29-Nov-2025
Peru, Baptisms, 1556-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1508603); Index only (1,562,587 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Cajamarca, Civil Registration, 1938-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046777); Index only (22 records), no images, ADDED 17-Apr-2025
Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1556-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); Index only (3,409,289 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Cusco, Civil Registration, 1889-1997 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987564); Index only (78,144 records), no images, ADDED 24-Oct-2025

Peru, Deaths, 1750-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520548); Index only (18,487 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Diocese of Huacho, Catholic Church Records, 1560-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2727735); Index only (172,455 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Diocese of Huaraz, Catholic Church Records, 1641-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2787829); Index only (181,572 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Huánuco, Catholic Church Records, 1660-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4439346); Index only (18,431 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Junín, Civil Registration, 1881-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114428); Index only (354 records), no images, ADDED 29-Nov-2025

Peru, Lambayeque, Civil Registration, 1873-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2023286); Index only (168 records), no images, ADDED 12-Apr-2025
Peru, Lima, Civil Registration, 1683-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1430936); Index only (101 records), no images, ADDED 29-Nov-2025
Peru, Marriages, 1600-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520547); Index only (111,168 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Municipal Census, 1831-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274799); Index only (162,245 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Piura, Civil Registration, 1874-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3733437); Index only (598 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025

Peru, Prelature of Yauyos-Cañete-Huarochirí, Catholic Church Records, 1665-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3460240); Index only (112,318 records), no images, ADDED 30-Nov-2025
Peru, Puno, Civil Registration, 1890-2005 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1979428); Index only (13 records), no images, ADDED 24-Oct-2025
Peru, San Martín, Civil Registration, 1850-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2306525); Index only (17 records), no images, ADDED 29-Nov-2025
Philippines, Bicol, Church Records, 1738-1989 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000336); 5,703 indexed records with 2,825 record images, ADDED 09-Dec-2025

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1972912); 2,757,113 indexed records with 978,396 record images (was 2,757,177 records with 978,396 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, Chaco, Civil Registration, 1889-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450393); 205,767 indexed records with 204,898 record images (was 205,764 records with 204,898 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, Corrientes, Catholic Church Records, 1734-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974183); 247,702 indexed records with 207,943 record images (was 247,093 records with 207,943 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2025
Argentina, Corrientes, Civil Registration, 1880-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2821282); 757,116 indexed records with 753,273 record images (was 756,911 records with 753,273 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, Entre Ríos, Catholic Church Records, 1764-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974185); 541,870 indexed records with 235,772 record images (was 544,337 records with 235,772 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025

Argentina, Entre Ríos, Civil Registration, 1833-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006904); 798,525 indexed records with 549,008 record images (was 796,689 records with 549,008 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, Jujuy, Catholic Church Records, 1662-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974186); 170,519 indexed records with 69,981 record images (was 172,531 records with 69,981 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, La Rioja, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974188); 72,317 indexed records with 74,259 record images (was 70,662 records with 74,259 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, Salta, Civil Registration, 1880-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3006885); 596,924 indexed records with 537,699 record images (was 596,257 records with 537,699 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974197); 172,116 indexed records with 102,368 record images (was 173,202 records with 102,368 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025

Brazil, Bahía, Catholic Church Records, 1598-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177272); 1,645,046 indexed records with 368,634 record images (was 1,641,159 records with 368,634 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Baptisms, 1688-1935 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500708); Index only (2,375,769 records), no images (was 2,384,349 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Ceará, Catholic Church Records, 1725-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2175764); 1,100,623 indexed records with 774,950 record images (was 1,243,823 records with 774,950 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1799-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2137269); 2,157,443 indexed records with 150,972 record images (was 2,321,688 records with 150,972 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2025
Brazil, Foreigner Files, 1653-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000160); 134,341 indexed records with 2,207,771 record images (was 133,998 records with 2,207,771 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2025

Brazil, Maranhão, Catholic Church Records, 1673-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177273); 63,312 indexed records with 41,812 record images (was 72,704 records with 41,812 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Marriages, 1730-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500709); Index only (312,380 records), no images (was 314,946 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Catholic Church Records, 1706-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177275); 2,128,638 indexed records with 930,569 record images (was 2,139,711 records with 930,569 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Paraná, Catholic Church Records, 1704-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177282); 545,709 indexed records with 138,743 record images (was 545,709 records with 138,743 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 2,039,544 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 2,076,045 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025

Brazil, Paraíba, Civil Registration, 1879-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2015754); 1,448,650 indexed records with 852,268 record images (was 1,475,568 records with 852,268 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Pernambuco, Catholic Church Records, 1762-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177293); 1,611,037 indexed records with 578,073 record images (was 1,726,905 records with 578,073 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Pernambuco, Civil Registration, 1804-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016195); 1,337,400 indexed records with 5,387,756 record images (was 1,337,400 records with 5,387,756 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Piauí, Civil Registration, 1875-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001150); 373,629 indexed records with 1,295,575 record images (was 373,253 records with 1,295,575 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte, Catholic Church Records, 1755-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177294); 1,651,386 indexed records with 54,182 record images (was 1,678,988 records with 54,182 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025

Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Miscellaneous Records, 1748-1998 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1985805); Browse 2,919,774 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,919,774 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Catholic Church Records, 1616-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1719212); 2,265,756 indexed records with 368,464 record images (was 2,269,532 records with 368,464 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1804-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582573); 6,273,672 indexed records with 5,100,470 record images (was 6,279,750 records with 5,100,470 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177296); 618,754 indexed records with 166,596 record images (was 624,242 records with 166,596 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 394,143 indexed records with 1,037,638 record images (was 406,713 records with 1,037,638 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025

Brazil, Sergipe, Catholic Church Records, 1785-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177298); 879,619 indexed records with 273,847 record images (was 877,010 records with 273,847 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Catholic Church Records, 1640-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177299); 3,826,753 indexed records with 1,610,067 record images (was 3,879,689 records with 1,610,067 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Brazil, São Paulo, Civil Registration, 1925-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2765317); 4,521,275 indexed records with 21,090,537 record images (was 4,518,691 records with 21,090,537 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 8,673,302 indexed records with 1,129,390 record images (was 8,732,376 records with 1,129,390 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Chile, Cemetery Records, 1701-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1428897); 5,486,775 indexed records with 3,675,058 record images (was 5,518,922 records with 3,675,058 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

Chile, Civil Registration, 1880-1933 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1630787); 4,609,955 indexed records with 1,623,199 record images (was 4,609,955 records with 1,623,199 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 27,327,347 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 27,321,881 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Colombia, Civil Registration, 1553-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469480); 755,050 indexed records with 893,276 record images (was 755,050 records with 893,276 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Colombia, Diocese of Barranquilla, Catholic Church Records, 1808-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2241457); 168,056 indexed records with 67,531 record images (was 168,053 records with 67,528 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Colombia, Migration Records, 1885-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000159); 6,536,038 indexed records with 6,310,393 record images (was 6,536,039 records with 6,310,393 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

Costa Rica, Civil Registration, 1823-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1925429); 6,164,963 indexed records with 404,718 record images (was 6,164,960 records with 404,718 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2025
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 6,974,037 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 6,328,639 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2025
Dominican Republic, Civil Registration, 1744-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1619814); 6,998,359 indexed records with 3,416,801 record images (was 4,319,200 records with 3,416,801 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Dominican Republic, Immigration Records, 1925-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000147); 67,344 indexed records with 205,309 record images (was 66,487 records with 205,118 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Dominican Republic, Miscellaneous Records, 1921-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2069829); 180,777 indexed records with 760,173 record images (was 175,581 records with 760,173 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

Ecuador, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1923402); 3,774,012 indexed records with 1,454,787 record images (was 3,770,683 records with 1,454,787 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Ecuador, Cemetery Records, 1862-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3755446); 992,024 indexed records with 360,962 record images (was 991,459 records with 356,896 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Find a Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 260,453,667 indexed records with 68,320,102 record images (was 260,518,646 records with 200,601,783 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Baja Verapaz, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2106095); 311,210 indexed records with 24,503 record images (was 311,203 records with 24,503 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Baptisms, 1730-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520627); Index only (333,904 records), no images (was 337,223 records with 0 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

Guatemala, Catholic Church Records, 1581-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1614809); 4,834,714 indexed records with 1,160,338 record images (was 4,991,140 records with 1,160,338 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Chimaltenango, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114423); 791,184 indexed records with 3,075 record images (was 791,130 records with 3,075 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 484,700 indexed records with 395,803 record images (was 484,694 records with 395,803 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1833-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1682771); 2,613,162 indexed records with 2,755,000 record images (was 2,613,162 records with 2,755,000 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Guatemala, El Progreso, Civil Registration, 1877-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451040); 244,986 indexed records with 103,502 record images (was 244,983 records with 103,502 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025

Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1874-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,245,072 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,244,528 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Civil Registration, 1796-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451045); 950,402 indexed records with 17,993 record images (was 950,315 records with 17,993 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Izabal, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443319); 404,556 indexed records with 9,848 record images (was 404,272 records with 9,848 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Jalapa, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2426084); 282,678 indexed records with 42,552 record images (was 282,669 records with 42,552 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Jutiapa, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274798); 532,559 indexed records with 36,732 record images (was 532,524 records with 36,732 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

Guatemala, Quiché, Civil Registration, 1877-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274794); 1,003,047 indexed records with 70,397 record images (was 1,003,019 records with 70,397 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274791); 335,054 indexed records with 63 record images (was 335,045 records with 63 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, San Marcos, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274790); 1,074,014 indexed records with 16,730 record images (was 1,074,006 records with 16,730 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Santa Rosa, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274788); 430,893 indexed records with 97,101 record images (was 430,867 records with 97,101 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Guatemala, Suchitepéquez, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274785); 685,513 indexed records with 1,312 record images (was 685,489 records with 1,312 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

Guatemala, Zacapa, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2284386); 270,087 indexed records with 18,271 record images (was 270,077 records with 18,271 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025
Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 5,757,814 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 4,839,050 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2025
Italy, Napoli, Calvizzano, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046907); 9,326 indexed records with 4,044 record images (was 7,416 records with 3,387 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2025
Italy, Napoli, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1809-1866 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937990); 5,334,578 indexed records with 12,795,172 record images (was 5,113,220 records with 12,795,172 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2025
Italy, Napoli, Portici, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046899); 15,171 indexed records with 48,547 record images (was 6,448 records with 48,547 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2025

Italy, Napoli, San Giorgio a Cremano, Civil Registration (Comune), 1809-1929 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046901); 6,328 indexed records with 19,324 record images (was 4,358 records with 19,324 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2025
Italy, Napoli, Torre Annunziata, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1900-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947578); 143,727 indexed records with 41,398 record images (was 114,540 records with 41,398 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2025
Italy, Padova, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1621-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2120751); 155,614 indexed records with 601,344 record images (was 156,146 records with 601,344 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2025
Italy, Ragusa, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1900-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2068330); 307,775 indexed records with 1,460,681 record images (was 7,104 records with 1,460,681 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2025
Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 5,662,716 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 5,662,716 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2025

New Jersey, State Census, 1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2061544); 2,785,397 indexed records with 58,660 record images (was 2,785,398 records with 58,660 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2025
Philippines, Eastern Visayas, Church Records, 1716-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000329); 121,106 indexed records with 192,597 record images (was 108,876 records with 188,460 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2025
Philippines, Ilocos, Church Records, 1718-2007 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000330); 9,555 indexed records with 34,989 record images (was 1,984 records with 17,070 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2025
Philippines, Western Visayas, Church Records, 1712-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000338); 60,056 indexed records with 58,504 record images (was 20,382 records with 12,493 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2025
Sweden, Household Examination Books, 1874-1931 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790465); 46,977,151 indexed records with 87,177 record images (was 46,977,151 records with 87,177 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2025

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census Records (Worldwide), 1914-1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3438701); 3,267,429 indexed records with 2,304,594 record images (was 3,267,429 records with 2,315,996 images), UPDATED 09-Dec-2025
Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691993); 1,911,888 indexed records with 143,013 record images (was 1,886,019 records with 157,673 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2025
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Mérida, Catholic Church Records, 1654-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417520); 1,376,825 indexed records with 1,157,611 record images (was 1,376,628 records with 1,157,611 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Valencia, Catholic Church Records, 1760, 1905-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2076861); 1,412,675 indexed records with 665,914 record images (was 1,406,773 records with 665,914 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025
Venezuela, Catholic Church Records, 1577-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1951777); 17,397,795 indexed records with 1,899,876 record images (was 17,373,814 records with 1,899,876 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2025

--- Collections with new images ---

Argentina, Military Records, 1911-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000280); 1 indexed records with 2,926,824 record images (was 1 records with 2,926,821 images), last updated 31-Oct-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Civil Registration, 1876-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469403); 1 indexed records with 454,022 record images (was 1 records with 454,019 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
Brazil, Maranhão, Civil Registration, 1827-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469402); 1 indexed records with 905,708 record images (was 1 records with 905,699 images), last updated 07-Jun-2024
England and Wales, Census, 1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1921547); 36,354,828 indexed records with 8,700,952 record images (was 36,354,828 records with 8,573,331 images), last updated 01-Aug-2019
England, Manchester, Miscellaneous Records, 1700-1916 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075052); 10,600,413 indexed records with 15,918,117 record images (was 10,600,413 records with 15,859,755 images), last updated 22-Sep-2025

Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1804-1877 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1395660); 732,740 indexed records with 733,890 record images (was 732,740 records with 733,889 images), last updated 02-Dec-2025
Ireland, Census, 1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2854327); 4,385,217 indexed records with 989,553 record images (was 4,385,217 records with 989,144 images), last updated 26-Dec-2018
New York, State Census, 1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937454); 9,742,867 indexed records with 574,202 record images (was 9,742,867 records with 175,947 images), last updated 30-Nov-2020
New York, State Census, 1925 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1937489); 11,117,922 indexed records with 7,699,854 record images (was 11,117,922 records with 1,285,047 images), last updated 23-Jun-2012
Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3048335); 315,711 indexed records with 8,567 record images (was 315,711 records with 3,948 images), last updated 14-Jun-2024

United States, Census, 1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464515); 157,892,854 indexed records with 52,723,546 record images (was 157,892,854 records with 52,723,196 images), last updated 16-Jun-2024
United States, Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1471019); 2,990,891 indexed records with 2,990,891 record images (was 2,990,891 records with 1,557,596 images), last updated 24-Mar-2016
United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000145); 1 indexed records with 28,203,752 record images (was 1 records with 28,203,751 images), last updated 22-Jul-2024
Wales, Denbighshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1419318); 685,838 indexed records with 718,943 record images (was 685,838 records with 718,267 images), last updated 23-Sep-2025
Wales, Flintshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1426674); 495,063 indexed records with 518,340 record images (was 495,063 records with 163,083 images), last updated 23-Sep-2025

Wales, Monmouthshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075051); 271,143 indexed records with 432,420 record images (was 271,143 records with 49,566 images), last updated 22-Sep-2025
West Virginia, Deaths, 1804-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417434); 2,220,736 indexed records with 2,374,607 record images (was 2,220,736 records with 2,368,342 images), last updated 17-Nov-2023

--- Collections with images removed ---

Argentina, Córdoba, Censuses, 1778-1874 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4475260); 420,226 indexed records with 8,173 record images (was 420,226 records with 12,746 images), last updated 05-Dec-2025
Germany, Prussia, East Prussia, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1551-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4110912); 4,705,840 indexed records with 874,059 record images (was 4,705,840 records with 874,353 images), last updated 03-Dec-2025
Italy, Cosenza, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1654-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3005073); 3,563,180 indexed records with 3,296,657 record images (was 3,563,180 records with 3,306,036 images), last updated 04-Dec-2025
West Virginia, Marriages, 1780-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408729); 1,470,589 indexed records with 34,819 record images (was 1,470,589 records with 1,504,135 images), last updated 22-Jun-2022

--- Collections with new records ---

Argentina, Marriages, 1722-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1520572); Index only (104,182 records), no images (was 103,996 records with 0 images), last updated 04-Dec-2025
Argentina, Mendoza, Catholic Church Records, 1665-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974189); 341,870 indexed records with 144,042 record images (was 340,440 records with 144,042 images), last updated 13-Jun-2024
Brazil, Bahia, Passenger Lists, 1855-1964 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928179); 653,345 indexed records with 38,990 record images (was 631,443 records with 38,990 images), last updated 22-Jun-2025
Italy, Venezia, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1817 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928858); 341,672 indexed records with 254,674 record images (was 0 records with 254,674 images), last updated 24-Nov-2025

--- Collections with records removed ---

Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1810-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,497,044 indexed records with 933,552 record images (was 1,512,176 records with 933,552 images), last updated 05-Dec-2025
United States, Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,600,984 records), no images (was 875,600,987 records with 0 images), last updated 04-Dec-2025
United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000290); Index only (413,859,547 records), no images (was 413,859,570 records with 0 images), last updated 22-Jun-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:

  • 0 removed entries
  • 24  added entries 
  • 85 updated entries
  • 21 entries with more or fewer images 
  • 7 entries with more or fewer records

The FamilySearch website says there are 3,430 total entries on the list (after signing in). Marshall's list says there are 3,430 (after signing in).  They are definitely in-sync this week.

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

See previous FamilySearch-related blog posts in     https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FamilySearch

Copyright (c) 2025 Randall J. Seaver

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