Genealogy Chat

I have never visited one of the LDS Family History Centres, but have found that there is one not too, too far from where I live. I have found an entry on the IGI in which I am interested (well, a couple of hundred if I am being honest, but let's take it one at a time!), and it is shown as coming from the parish records (not a submission by a church member). If I order the film and go to view it at the Family History Centre, what am I likely to see? Will it be a photograph of the actual parish record (or bishop's transcript) such as I would see at a County Records Office, or will it be a photograph of a transcription from the original? In other words, is it as good as viewing the fiche at the County Records Office? Tina

As far as I know the LDS films are taken from the original registers, just as the microfilms are in records offices. nell

Yes you should go. They have lots of information you can look at. Its just the same as going to your main library. Ann

Thank you very much, Nell and Ann. I shall try to organise myself sufficiently to manage a visit. Tina

I would be up a gum tree without my local LDS, as I am 500 miles from my County of research. I practically have a named seat, LOL! Personally, I much prefer looking at film, to fiche - I find all that t0-ing and fro-ing very muddling and am always convinced I have missed something. I am just about to re-order a PR which I have already had out twice - yet another branch of the tree comes from the same village - I keep threatening to copy the whole thing out longhand. Because I make such frequent use of my LDS, I occasionally give them a small donation - they never ask for this, and any such donations go directly to improving their local facilities, not to the Church Funds. My local one is currently saving for another computer, which will have free Ancestry access. Olde Crone

Yes. What can we find in these places. I believe there is one near to me so I am interested too Steve

Thank you for that information, Olde Crone. Now you have got me all excited and I can't wait to go. How irritating of christmas to be in December! Tina

Steve The information they have varies with each Centre. Obviously they have a lot of locally-relevant stuff, but they ALL have a set of GRO BMDs (on fiche) - handy, cos if you have the patience, you can match up bride and groom, or eliminate them. You can use the computer to access the 1881 etc (you need to book this at mine, because they only have one computer). They have various censuses etc and quite often they will have someone's unpublished tree, in book form - they did ask me, if I ever finished my tree(!) to consider letting the LDS have a copy and I think this is a great idea. For everything else, you can order films from their library, usually £2.70, and you can have these for a month, or for another £1, three months.You can take photocopies for 10p and I personally think it is rude to use a digital camera instead, without asking permission first and handing over the 10p anyway - but that's just my opinion. You need to phone them first - their published opening hours are not always current, and don't forget, they are manned entirely by volunteers, who have holidays, dental appointments and family crises just like the rest of us. You then need to go there in person - you cannot order stuff over the phone. I find them all extremely helpful and knowledgable, although this does vary from volunteer to volunteer. BUT - they will NOT do your research for you. I am sure no one on here would expect that, but I have been in the Centre when someone is sitting passively waiting for someone to wind the film on for them! I was also extremely embarrassed when a researcher started going off on one about the Mormons habit of baptising the Dead, without their permission (LOL). The volunteer said calmly 'So, you won't be using our facilities again, then?' They are strictly not allowed to discuss their religion with you unless you ask them a direct question! Go - you will not regret it. Olde Crone

I do not care much for census records or GRO. I can go my local library for that. I will have to ring them in regards to what they do and don't have. Steve

Please STOP IT AT ONCE! I want to dash out into the cold wet night and hi-tail it down there this very minute. Why have I not visited this place before? It's only half an hour away from me. (Shame it's in the opposite direction to work - or maybe that's a good thing, I might never make it to work if I had to drive past every day). I want to go now, and it's going to be after christmas before I can make it. Somebody cancel christmas, PLEASE! Tina (all tangled up in tinsel)

Tina Tee hee! My first foray was one year in November. I ordered a film and it came in the middle of December. I got one afternoon's go at it, then the Centre was closed till the last week in Jan! I nearly self-combusted with the wait. Olde Crone

Olde Crone Do you have a left-over fire extinguisher you could lend me? Tina

An afterthought - STEVE - if you go onto the LDS website, click on Library (I think!) it should then invite you to type in the place name you are interested in. This will then bring up a list of all the documents regarding that place, often including Poor Law Records, unpublished works, obscure boolets and leaflets etc - stuff you wouldnt dream existed. Again, its pot-luck - the LDS rely mainly on the donation of these oddities. Tina No, you will just have to contain yourself till after Xmas! (Can't understand why they have to close over Xmas, the Mormons don't celebrate Xmas, surely?) And just think, if they opened on Xmas Day, you could sneak out to them, after Auntie Maud and Uncle Fred had dozed off in front of the telly..... Olde Crone

I visited my local LDS a few weeks ago, very helpful. Showed me how to look for PR. As I am nowhere near my ancestors area it will be good. Ordered one for Sussex and they rang me yesterday to say it was in. BUT, can use it next week then as an earlier post said ..... Closed for weeks for Christmas !! I am not able to go this week apart form about 1 hours on Wed. Then have to contain myself until next year. Boohoo I will be on their doorstep in January. lol

Arrrrggggghhhhhh! Olde Crone - will you STOP IT please! I didn't know about the search-what-records-they-have trick. None of the Northumberland records I wanted seemed to be on the IGI. And now I have looked at the particular village I am interested in and they have lots and lots of info on film. AND I STILL CAN'T GO UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS. This is a particularly sadistic form of torture. Tina (still tangled up in the s****** tinsel)

How do I find out which films I can order from there? Are they just the parish registers that are on the IGI or do they have others as well?

Angela (said she, eager to show off her new-found knowledge) Go to the Familysearch.org site. There is a line of tabs, one of which is Search. Below those is a further line of headings. Click on Family History Library Catolog. Then you get a choice of types of search (one of which is place). Choose your search, put your place name or whatever in the search box which comes up, and it gives you a list of films they hold which refer to that place/name/word (whatever). You can then click on the title of the film and it tells you what it has been filmed from (parish records at the county archive, bishops transcripts etc). 2 years nearly I've been doing this and only just found out about this facility. Thank you Olde Crone. So, oh wise woman, can you please explain to me why I am so THICK! Tina

Hiya Tina!! Have just volunteered to become a transcriber for the local FHS! And may also do a few hours in their library! So, am adding to this thread to keep a track of it in case I have any more Tips to add!! ;o))) Kim X

Thanks for that, Tina. I will go and have a poggle on the LDS site immediately and see what I can come up with.

You can find out from the Mormons site the addresses of their family history centres. I have found all the staff at an FHS very helpful. :-) Joy PS I think that they might celebrate Christmas..... I must go into their website and read about the Mormons again.