this post is in partnership with Family Search and their Indexing Event
Have you ever heard of Indexing?? It’s a fun and easy way to help out with family history work – – basically there are tons of old records on paper archives (like when people got married, etc), so indexing is taking those records and converting them to digital, so that they’re searchable. But it takes people to index! You pull up handwritten records on your computer, then you type out what you see, so as to covert the handwritten into digital format. That’s all there is to it! The more people that help out, the more records that can be done. My kiddos actually really like the fun of indexing – it’s a fun Sunday afternoon activity for them. And now there’s a world record event that you can be a part of….
This quick video gives a great overview about what indexing is!
From July 15-17, FamilySearch International will sponsor the third annual “Worldwide Indexing Event,” bringing 72,000 people from around the globe together online during a 72-hour event to save the world’s records by making them searchable to the public.
During the 72-hour indexing period, volunteers participate by downloading the FamilySearch software and completing as many names as they would like. Anyone with a computer and internet connection can join.
Volunteers have made over one billion historic records searchable online since FamilySearch introduced online indexing in 2008. The demand for indexed records continues to grow as millions of historical records worldwide are added every year. To join 72,000 teammates in saving the World’s records, visit https://familysearch.org/worldsrecords.
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. It is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,921 family history centers in 129 countries.
So want to be part of the world record effort?? 72,000 people, all indexing at once? Sounds awesome! During 72 hours, July 15 to 17, is when bunches of people will all be getting on their computers to index. You can do it. Your teenagers can do it (we’ve done it as an activity for our church youth night). Your kiddos can do it. Join in!
The interesting part to me is seeing all those names, and imagining who they were, what kind of lives they had. I want to help record those people so they’re not forgotten.
I first learned about indexing at a local Genealogy Conference – I was there speaking on family blogging to preserve memories – it was so fun to see the passion that others have for indexing!
So come be a part of the record-setting effort this Friday and Saturday! Just think how many names can be preserved if everyone reading this blog did just one batch?!
Find tons more info on the fun of indexing at Family Search World Records.