“GeneSys Family Search”

Carroll County Times article for 5 November 1995

by Jay A. Graybeal

Historical Society Library patrons will soon have a new resource for searching family history. The Board has accepted an invitation from the Carroll County Genealogical Society to become a cosponsor to purchase and maintain the GeneSys Family Search System. This system uses CD-ROM technology to provide researchers with the opportunity to search vast amounts of information in a matter of seconds. Library patrons will be able to print pedigrees and family group records or to download data onto a diskette for their records. Family Search consists of five resource file as described in a brochure from GeneSys:
Ancestral File contains vital information on over 15 million individuals linked into family groups and pedigrees. The information in Ancestral File is GEDCOM compatible. Users can print or download information onto diskette from Ancestral File for their own family records. This reduces time spent copying names, dates and places. The names and addresses of submiters are also available for records in Ancestral File so that research efforts may be coordinated and shared between genealogists. Users are encouraged to contribute their own efforts and findings so that they may be included in future updates.
The International Genealogical Index is the largest, single index of its kind. It lists the names and vital information of over 200 million individuals from the middle ages to modern times. These records can be searched by name, parents’ names, spouse names, or country of an event. The 1993 new edition of the IGI features the following sets of discs:
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 British Isles and Wales
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 Continental & Southwest Europe
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 Germany
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 Mexico
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 North America (U.S. & Canada)
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 Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland
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 South & Central America, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, & Misc. World
The Family History Library Catalog describes the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (the most comprehensive library of its kind in the world). The collection includes extensive census, church, immigration, military, probate and vital records acquired from many countries, states, counties and towns. This compact disc version of the Catalog provides on-line help, searches for key words and spelling variations, and browses local records.
The Social Security Death Index & Military Index: The United States Social Security Death Index in an index of approximately 39.5 million names of deceased individuals dating primarily from 1962 through 1988 whose families collected Society Security death benefits. With this index, researchers can find birth and death dates, an ancestor’s last place of residence, where death payments were sent, and the individual’s Social Security Number. The Social Security Number may be used to obtain additional information from the Social Security Administration, such as place of birth and parents’ names. On-line assistance also provides information on how to order a civil death certificate from the appropriate state. The Military Index list almost 100,000 United States military service men and women who died in the Korean (1950-1957) and Vietnam (1957-1975) conflicts. This index is on the fourth disc of the Social Security Death Index. Genealogical, military, family and some personal information may be obtained for each individual included on the index.
The start up cost for the project is approximately $4,000, which includes the cost of a new computer, license, software, instructional materials and the five resource files. An annual operating cost of approximately $1,000 will be underwritten by user fees. More than half of the initial funding for the new system was provided by two anonymous donors who gave $2,000 and $500 respectively. The new system will be installed in the Historical Society’s Library at 210 E. Main St. in Westminster and will be operational in early 1996.
Photo Caption: Local researchers will soon have access to Family Search, a computer system that uses CD-ROM technology to search vast amounts of information in a matter of seconds. The new system will be available in the Historical Society’s library in Westminster in 1996.