Family Group Records Collection: Difference between revisions

The Family Group Records Collection provides microfilmed copies of about 8 million family group records created by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The collection can help you survey research done previously by others, saving you time and giving you valuable information. While you should not assume the information to be completely accurate, you can use the information and sources provided on the family group records to guide you to original records. The collection is divided into two sections, the Archive Section and the Patron Section.<ref name="Nichols">Elizabeth Nichols, "Family Group Collections of the Family History Library," [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;titleno=244938 ''Genealogical Journal''] 24 (Winter 1996): 11-27.</ref>  

== Patron Section  ==

Three million family group records were submitted to the Patron Section between 1926-1979. The purpose was to share genealogical information and identify others working on the same lines.Each section has some names that cannot be found in other filmings. The family group records often included a brief list of the sources used to compile the record. Some records also included biographical histories for the family members listed on the form.If members of the LDS Church participated in the Three Generation or Four Generation record submission programs, their original submissions would now be found on these microfilms.  

Arranged alphabetically by husband's name when known, and by wife's name when name of husband is unknown. If there is more than one record with the same filing name then they are arranged by birth/christening date. In many instances several records have been submitted for the same family unit. Comparison of these records will sometimes reveal discrepancies. Filming was done in two groups. Surnames "A" to "Kelsey" were filmed first and occupy rolls 1558711 through 1558961. The filming was stopped when it was discovered that Ancestral File contained information for 80 percent of the sheets. Later the collection binders were removed from circulation and the remainder of the collection was filmed. Surnames "K" to "Z" were filmed in 2003-2004 on rolls 2368889, 2369005<br>  

The data sources listed on these family group records often include old book and film numbers. There have been a number of [[Old Book and Film Numbers Used by the Family History Library|old book and film numbers used by the Family History Library]] over the years to identify and label its book and microfilm collections. When microfilming began, a combination of letters and numbers was used to number the films. Later, a system of serial numbers with part numbers was used. Finally, a straight numbering system was used beginning with film number 000001. Each time, the existing films were renumbered. Today there are more than 2,400,000 microfilms in the library's collection.  

*"Family History Library Catalog." Online database. ''FamilySearch.org''. http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp&nbsp;: copyright 2008.<br>