A Family History Challenge

I'll be updating the OnGenealogy site with a vast number of digitized microfilms and books now available at FamilySearch. These are all available online, but some are governed by contracts that only permit you to view them at a Family History Center or FamilySearch affiliate library. That may sound overwhelming, but there's probably one within 30 minutes of where you live. I'm a homebody and I have been willing to drive to one of these centers to view these new record collections so I know it's within the grasp of most people.

My challenge to you is to look up your nearest Family History Center/FamilySearch Affiliate Library with this locator map and do a drive-by this week. Set the goal to get out and find where it's located and get comfortable with the idea of visiting in person.

When you type in your address, you'll see a map with icons showing any nearby affiliate libraries.

Some are located in church buildings with a separate room for the library, some are in public libraries, some are in devoted office buildings. Here's an example:

If you want to go in and use the facility, call first because some libraries might not be back to their full, pre-pandemic hours. While you're there, check out any scanners and printers available for your use and see which databases the library has access to for patrons. Most of them allow you to search all the FamilySearch restricted collections, Ancestry's collections, MyHeritage's collections, FindMyPast's collections, AmericanAncestors' collections, and more. It's a great way to test the waters at the fee-sites and see if you want to pay for any future subscriptions.

I'll be adding birth, marriage, and death records from these newly digitized collections for other countries soon, and England, especially, has a lot of restricted collections. But if you have English/Welsh ancestry you'll want to hunt through these record sets, so get geared up for the adventure!

New and Updated Listings

Here's a first-pass at birth, marriage, and death records from these states. I'll be adding more BMDs to each of these listings after I've finished a first-pass through all 50 states in the US. For anyone with early colonial or early American ancestry, these digitized records offer you hope of further documenting the oral traditions you've inherited.

Alabama Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Alaska Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Arizona Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Arkansas Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

California Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Delaware Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Colorado Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Florida Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Georgia Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Hawaii Birth, Marriage, and Death Records online

Remember your challenge this week--drive by your nearest affiliate library. Best with your research!