Have you ever indexed documents for Family Search?

Question

Have you ever indexed records for Family Search or heard of indexing for them?  I have been doing this since 2015 and it is 1) a great way to give back to my genealogy community and 2) A way to help get records indexed faster--many hands make light and quicker work. 3) Especially since microfilm will soon no longer be available through LDS.

Indexing is as simple 1) having a free account with Family Search and then 2) downloading the application where you will later download one batch of documents to index at a time.  There are lots of easy to follow instructions and someone standing by at Family Search if you call for help.  Once you finish a batch of documents, you press the send button and at least one other person will check your work.  You can see how well you did too after your work has been checked. There are multiple levels of records from beginner level 1 to Advanced level 5.  Something for everyone.

I tend to index the French and French Canadian records because I can. They are always looking for people who can index in other languages and people who can read the older and harder to decipher documents.

If you want more information on indexing Here is the link: Family Search Indexing.

As Family Search races against the clock to get all of their records from microfilm indexed and uploaded, I highly recommend helping in the effort. Not to mention, the more records available for free online means more sources for WikiTree.  And,  indexing is a lot of fun!

Comments

The site requires that you have an account to even view the video about the project.  I would really be interested in this, but have never been able to log in to the account I set up several years ago. I phoned the help line and found I had 2 accounts (eager beaver) so they eliminated one. But I still cannot use an account.  Any advice?

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Kristina, they were not able to help you figure out how to use an account when you called?  I called the other day about changing some information and the lady I talked to was very very knowledgeable.  Maybe you should try calling again and don't let them off the phone until you are in the system--even if it means talking to another person if the first person can't help you!

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You are correct, I should try calling again.  The person I talked to was also very helpful and I thought the issue was solved. I use the searches but don't have my tree there so it hasn't been a problem until I wanted to check out the project.

I will try again.

Answer 1

I do indexing once a week.  It's my way to pay back for all those free records I get to access.  I started with the 1940 census, and kept going. I highly recommend it.

Comments

That's right--I remember you mentioning that on G2G once before.  My aunt was part of the 1940 census indexing as well.  Thank you :-)

Answer 2

I have done so in the past, but it's been a good while. Perhaps it is time for me to revisit this project.

Comments

I hadn't indexed for awhile until the past month.  I am going to add it into the rotation of my many WikiTree and personal genealogy projects :-)

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Good idea!

Answer 3

Hi Emma,

I was always interested how this was all done and what was the process I reckon if I can find more of that stuff you can find on the wall with 2 hands (Time)  I will see what I can do. For now I'm going to bookmark this and put it on my to-do list

Have a great week!

Comments

I completely understand not having enough time to do everything!  There will always be records to index in the future :-)

Answer 4

I indexed for them before my move. I got tired of all my family names being transcribed incorrectly. So, when the 1940 census records came out to be indexed, I volunteered.

Comments

Very nice :-)

Answer 5

I started doing that several years ago. I helped with the 1940 census. I have worked on a couple of other projects since then and I plan on doing indexing as long as I am able.

Comments

That's great Dale!

Answer 6

Yes, I did some time ago, but the indexing program is not available for my current software, 64 bits Linux.

I also indexed for the Dutch website zoekakten, giving fast access to filmed Dutch records on Familysearch. Howto for zoekakten available on Wikitree.

Comments

They have a new web-based indexing system now.

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Thanks Justin, I did not know. But no Dutch indexing projects currently.

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That's fantastic Jan!  We need access to non U.S. records now more than ever (when I say we, I mean all of us searching our families).  I for one am glad for the work you are doing :-)

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Jan, there is one Dutch-language project for Belgium, time period 1851-1910.

Answer 7

OK, you talked me into it. I indexed one whole batch of 10 records.

Now I have a question for you veteran indexers: Is there any way to go back to my batch after I submitted it, to correct an error?

Background: The Quality Check pointed out that I had left the "year" blank on the form, so I needed to go back and indicate that the year field was blank on the record. I accidentally selected "Record Blank" instead of "Field Blank" (BIG MISTAKE!), and while I was restoring data, the batch got submitted (my cursor must have grazed over the wrong button). Can I call that record back to fix it?

Comments

Unfortunately Ellen, once the batch is submitted, it is out of your hands.  It will probably go back in the pile to be indexed since you marked the whole record blank.  If you are concerned the record will get skipped because of this, you could always email them to let them know.  Otherwise, chock it up as lesson learned and try again :-)

I started indexing naturalization records this week and was half way through before I realized there were two pages for each record.  I had to go back and insert a page after each one I had completed and move information into the correct slots.  But once I figured out the first batch, the next ones were easy peasy.

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Well, only part of the record is blank because I was in the middle of restoring data when the batch went in as "complete."

Where did you find the second pages for those records? I've done two more batches since that first one, and I saw a couple of records that I thought were only the first page of a multi-page record, but I couldn't find the second page. Their help page at https://familysearch.org/ask/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Records-that-span-two-pages-partial-record-on-image-1381815191094&knowledgearticleid=kA230000000ZKIXCA4&lang=en doesn't help -- the next image in the sequence was a different record.

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If only part of the record was blank, then it will get finished by another person.

I discovered there must be a second page on the records because the record numbers were skipping every other number.  So I scrolled the screen for the document around and when I scrolled to the right I found a second page next to the first.  If there is a second page to the record it is usually right next to it in the document viewer or right underneath it.

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I'll try harder next time! These records were accounts of a ship's captain being directed to take his ship to pick up or deliver cargo or prisoners (in wartime). When the record was on one page, the early part of each record had the names, dates, and rank, and when it looked like there was a continuation, that info was on the page I could see, so I don't think I was missing anything I needed to index, but I wanted to read the complete stories!

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Don't sweat it!  Just like WikiTree, there is a learning curve :-)  Every time I index a new batch of documents, I have to figure out the rules of that document.

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Ellen--leaving something out is not a big deal. I'd recommend starting with the easiest projects, and work your way up to more difficult ones IF you want to.  Take it slowly.