Yay! More Digitization of Genealogy Records at the National Archives (US)

The US National Archives has signed agreements with FamilySearch and Ancestry to put more of the Archives’ unique genealogical treasures online. We think that’s worth shouting about!

The National Archives has been working with FamilySearch and Ancestry for years to digitize genealogical treasures from its vaults. Contracts have been signed to continue efforts with both partners to digitize even MORE genealogy records at the National Archives: MORE birth, marriage, death, immigration and military service records! Here are some highlights from the contract:

1. Partners will now “be able to post segments of large collections immediately, rather than waiting for the entire collection to be completed.” This sounds familiar to users of FamilySearch, which regularly dumps un-indexed chunks of digitized content onto its site just to make it available faster.

2. The updated agreement contains provisions to protect “personally identifying information.”

3. Ancestry will have a shorter time period (by 12-24 months) during which they have exclusive rights to publish the images together with the index. After that, the National Archives can put the material on its site and/or share it with other partners.

4. The National Archives “will continue to receive copies of the digital images and metadata for inclusion in its online catalog….The public will be able to access these materials free of charge from National Archives research facilities nationwide [not online]. Ancestry.com makes the digitized materials available via subscription.”

What kind of data is already online from The National Archives?

FamilySearch and Ancestry already host digital images of millions of National Archives documents: U.S. federal censuses. Passenger lists. Border crossings. Naturalization records. Compiled military service records. Freedman’s Bank and Freedmen’s Bureau records (the latter are currently being indexed). Federal taxation records. And the list goes on! According to the press release, before these partnerships began, “many of these records were only available by request in original form in the research rooms of the National Archives.”

Click here to search all the National Archives content on Ancestry (more than 170 million images; subscription required to view).

Just in case you’re wondering (and I was wondering), The National Archives isn’t playing favorites with their partnerships. This list shows that a National Archives partnership is pending with Findmypast. They’re already working with Fold3. I wasn’t surprised to see the John F. Kennedy Library on their list, but I wouldn’t have guessed the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland!

Click to read more National Archives gems on our website:

Celebrate the U.S. Constitution with National Archives Resources

National Archives Digitizing Projects: Colonial, WWII, Jewish and More

National Archives Regional Facilities Closing or Consolidating

 

Interview with Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com on the 1921 England and Wales Census (Audio podcast)

SHOW NOTES: In episode 291 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, I’ll be discussing the launch of the 1921 England and Wales census on Ancestry with Crista Cowan, Ancestry’s corporate genealogist. The census covers 38 million people and is significant for several important reasons which Crista will explain. She also highlights the importance of understanding the context, including the delay in census day due to a potential worker strike, the impact of World War I on marital status, and new employment details. Our conversation also touches on the use of AI for indexing and the importance of family history storytelling. Listen in as Crista shares her answer to the question “what are you most excited about for the future of genealogy?”  Then we’ll expand beyond the 1921 census as Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, shares strategies for identifying your old family photos from the 1920s.

Lisa Louise Cooke and Crista Cowan talking genealogy

Listen to the Podcast Episode

To Listen click the media player below (AUDIO ONLY):

Download this episode’s show notes. (Premium Membership required.  Join today.)

A Conversation with Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com

Fast Facts from the interview about the 1921 Census of England and Wales at Ancestry.com:

• The 1921 England and Wales census is now available on Ancestry.com for users with a World Explorer or All Access subscription.

• Ancestry estimates that around 10-11% of the U.S. population will be able to find close family members in the 1921 Census of England and Wales (according to the 2020 American Community Survey). This suggests that a significant portion of the U.S. population, around 1 in 10 people, have ancestors from England or Wales that they may be able to locate in this new census record collection.

• The 1930 US Census lists over 850K people with a birthplace in England with over 100K of those likely to be found on the 1921 England and Wales Census.

• The 1921 Census of England Wales was conducted on June 19th, 1921, and captures a critical moment in history. It offers a look into the lives of roughly 38M individuals, including those who survived the war and the infamous 1919 flu pandemic.

Head of household completing the 1921 England and Wales Census (image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Head of household completing the 1921 England and Wales Census (image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

• The next England and Wales Census will not be available until 2051 given the records of 1931 were destroyed during the Second World War and no census was taken in 1941 – adding to the significance of this release.

• Demographic Shifts: 1.7 million more women than men in England and Wales, largely due to the loss of men during WWI.

• This census is the first to include details about employment, including the name and address of the employer and the materials used in the occupation.

• The census was originally scheduled for April 24, but it was delayed until June 19 due to a threatened worker strike. This resulted in an increase in the population count in resort towns and holiday destinations.

1921 England and Wales Census in the newspaper

“Fill Up the Form Day” for the 1921 England and Wales Census (image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

• The census forms asked for information about the people who were living in a household on the night of June 19, regardless of their usual residence.

• There are 25 different forms for the 1921 census, including separate forms for institutions, the armed forces, prisons, and Merchant Marines.

• This census is the first for England and Wales to record divorces.

• There was an increase in the number of widows listed in the census, likely due to World War I.

• People were more likely to report their age accurately in the 1921 census than in previous censuses where they were encouraged to provide round numbers.

• The Scottish census was taken at the same time as the England and Wales census, but the forms were separate.

• Northern Ireland was not included in the 1921 census because they were in the middle of their war of independence.

• Ancestry.com uses artificial intelligence to index handwritten census records.

• Ancestry.com is working on using AI to make search results more findable and to help people connect the dots between different records in their family trees.

Get Answers to Questions about the 1921 England and Wales Census (Timestamps)

Navigate the podcast quickly with the help of these timestamps on the top questions answered in this episode. 

• 01:45 – When was the 1921 census officially available?

• 03:13 – Is the 1921 census available to all Ancestry users?

• 03:38 – When was the 1921 England and Wales census conducted, and how many people did it cover?

• 06:15 – When will the next England and Wales census be available?

• 10:18 – How the census was conducted

• 17:59 – Women and their changing roles as reflected in the census.

• 20:50 – The Marriage Column.

• 22:41 – The accuracy of ages provided.

• 24:28 – Who might not appear in the 1921 census, even though they were physically there or nearby?

• 28:45 – How AI faced the challenges of handwritten census entries.

• 32:51 What is Crista most excited about these days when it comes to genealogy and what’s coming next from Ancestry.com?

Identifying Photos from the 1920s with Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective

Maureen Taylor’s expertise as a photo detective can help you unlock the stories behind family photographs from the 1920s in several ways:

1. Identifying clues in the photographs

Look for details like the clothing, hairstyles, technology, and background elements to help date the photographs and provide context about the time period.

2. Considering the physical format

Examine the size, paper type, and borders of the photographs to determine the camera and printing methods used. These can offer insights into when the photos were taken.

3. Exploring the context

Review the full set of family photographs, not just individual images. This can reveal patterns, missing pieces, and the broader story behind the photos.

4. Asking questions

By asking thoughtful questions about the photos, it can help uncover hidden details and stories that the family may have overlooked or forgotten over time.

5. Providing a fresh perspective

Asking a friend, fellow genealogist or an expert like Maureen to review your photos can bring a new lens to examining the photographs, spotting details and connections that the family members may have missed due to their personal connection to the images.

Visit Maureen Taylor The Photo Detective.

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