International Genealogical Index: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:12, 22 September 2011

The following blog articles will help answer questions you might have about about the IGI:

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

The International Genealogical Index was a family history computer file that listed several hundred million names of deceased persons from throughout the world. For each deceased individual, the index also listed vital information from a single event, such as birth or marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compiled the index and made it available free to the public.

Some of the information in the index was extracted from collections of vital and church records from the early 1500s to 1885. Extracted records are valuable sources of primary information. Strict rules against duplication from extracted records unfortunately resulted in the exclusion of some records.

Some of the information in the index was submitted by members of the Church about their ancestors. Loose rules for member submissions made duplicate records and inconsistent information common. The information is secondary and should be considered suspect. Always verify member submitted information against sources of primary information.

Today[edit | edit source]

The latest FamilySearch.org website separates extracted records from member submissions so users will not confuse the two. Extracted records were separated into historical record collections according to geography. These records can be searched separately or together with other indexed collections.

Member submissions were moved into the new FamilySearch tree and can be searched together with other user submissions.

Further Reading[edit | edit source]

Ancestry Insider Blog Series[edit | edit source]

What is the IGI? (3 January 2011)
When was the IGI? (4 January 2011)
Whence the IGI? (5 January 2011)
Why Was the IGI? (6 January 2011)
How is the IGI? (7 January 2011)
Where did the IGI Go? (11 January 2011)

See also:

New IGI Batch Number Search (24 May 2011)

The following articles are related to the IGI as published on fiche, CD-ROM, and the old FamilySearch website:

Finding the Source of IGI Batch Numbers
Ordinance Index (1840-1997) (in the "LDS Temple Records" section of Tracing LDS Families
Finding Unrestricted Film Numbers for Selected Restricted IGI Films
How Can I Find the Name of the Submitter in the IGI?
IGI Batch Number Descriptions
IGI Batch Numbers for British Isles and North America
IGI Batch Numbers for the British Isles and North America
IGI Batch Numbers for Latin American Countries
Wales and the IGI
Global Batch Numbers for the International Genealogical Index (link library for IGI batch sites for Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Channel Islands, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, USA, Uruguay, and Wales)
Find ancestors on the IGI (Step 8. in Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research)
Submit names to the IGI (Step 10. in Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research)

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 == Historical Background  ==
-The ''International Genealogical Index'' was a family history computer file that listed several hundred million names of deceased persons from throughout the world. For each deceased individual, the index also listed vital information from a single event, such as birth or marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compiled the index and made it available free to the public. Some of the information in the index was from collections of vital and church records from the early 1500s to 1885 from which volunteers transcribed information. Some of the information in the index was submitted by members of the Church about their ancestors. With the variety of sources, duplicate and inconsistent information for an individual was common.
+The ''International Genealogical Index'' was a family history computer file that listed several hundred million names of deceased persons from throughout the world. For each deceased individual, the index also listed vital information from a single event, such as birth or marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compiled the index and made it available free to the public. <br>
-== The Future  ==
+Some of the information in the index was extracted from collections of vital and church records from the early 1500s to 1885. Extracted records are valuable sources of primary information. Strict rules against duplication from extracted records unfortunately resulted in the exclusion of some records. <br>
-On the older website, the International Genealogical Index is not available as a single collection. The newer [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog FamilySearch.org ]website does not include the International Genealogical Index as a separate collection. Instead, the records from the index are included in the original collections from which the information was copied.
+Some of the information in the index was submitted by members of the Church about their ancestors. Loose rules for member submissions made duplicate records and inconsistent information common. The information is secondary and should be considered suspect. Always verify member submitted information against sources of primary information.
+== Today  ==
+The latest FamilySearch.org website separates extracted records from member submissions so users will not confuse the two. Extracted records were separated into historical record collections according to&nbsp; geography. These records can be searched separately or together with other indexed collections.<br>
+Member submissions were moved into the new FamilySearch tree and can be searched together with other user submissions.<br>
 == Further Reading  ==
@@ Line 13: / Line 19: @@
 === Ancestry Insider Blog Series  ===
-*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-igi.html What is IGI?] (January 3, 2011)
+*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-igi.html What is the IGI?] (3 January 2011)
-*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-was-igi.html What was IGI?] (January 4, 2011)
+*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-was-igi.html When was the IGI?] (4 January 2011)
-*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/whence-igi.html Whence IGI?] (January 5, 2011)
+*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/whence-igi.html Whence the IGI?] (5 January 2011)
-*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-was-igi.html Why Was IGI?] (January 6, 2011)
+*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-was-igi.html Why Was the IGI?] (6 January 2011)
-*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-is-igi.html How is IGI?] (January 7, 2011)
+*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-is-igi.html How is the IGI?] (7 January 2011)
-*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/where-did-igi-go.html Where did IGI Go?] (January 11, 2011)
+*[http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2011/01/where-did-igi-go.html Where did the IGI Go?] (11 January 2011)
+See also:&nbsp;
+*[https://www.familysearch.org/node/1220 New IGI Batch Number Search] (24 May 2011)
+<br>
-The following articles are related to using the current IGI for family history research:
+The following articles are related to the IGI as published on fiche, CD-ROM, and the old FamilySearch website:
-*[https://www.familysearch.org/node/1220 New IGI Batch Number Search] (May 24, 2011)
 *[[Finding the Source of IGI Batch Numbers|Finding the Source of IGI Batch Numbers]]
 *[[LDS Temple Records#Ordinance_Index_.281840.E2.80.931997.29.|Ordinance Index (1840-1997) (in the "LDS Temple Records" section of ''Tracing LDS Families'']]