Fast Accurate Research Tips: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:22, 28 May 2014

While the intentions of Pandora's Hope Chest are noble, there are problems. "PLEASE NOTE: There is no guarantee that this information is accurate. It is your responsibility to verify before submitting to the temple. This tool is not intended to be a replacement for diligent and thoughtful genealogical research." This is not an inherent problem with Pandora's Hope Chest, but a problem with the data in Family Tree.

There is much good data in Family Tree, but most of it is not sourced and subject to error. Also, most of the "green arrows" in Family Tree are duplicate entries (many of which Pandora's Hope Chest or Family Tree do not find accurately).

The First Presidency has counseled, “Because of the sacred nature of this work, members should be diligent in assuring the accuracy of all information submitted” (First Presidency, June 1995), This policy has been recently restated:

https://familysearch.org/ask/productSupport#/Research-and-provide-accurate-information-when-submitting-names-for-temple-ordinances-1381812096436. (Must log in with an LDS account to view).

President Hinckley also counseled “One of the most troublesome aspects of our temple activity is that … there is duplication of effort in proxy work" (Opening Remarks,” General Conference, October 2005).

Also, you are probably not related to many persons that show up in the Hope Chest temple list. The First Presidency has stated, "Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter” (First Presidency, February 2012).

One may ask "why am I not related to persons who show up in my Family Tree pedigree"? The reason is due to the overall accuracy of the information in Family Tree.

A recent poll of experts estimated that the accuracy of each relationship in Family Tree is 92.1%. On the surface, this looks good. However, when compounded over several generations, it is not good. If a user is separated from someone in Family Tree by only 5 unverified generations, the chance they are related drops to 66.2%, over 10 generations, to 43.9%.

In the one instance of using Pandora's Hope Chest where I was able to trace my relationship to the purported ancestor needing ordinances, there were 16 generations between me an this "ancestor". If each generation is not verified, there is only a 26.8% chance that I am even related. Unfortunately, all "ancestors" needing ordinances on the Hope Chest list, do not show your relationship to the person.

I am all for submitting names for our ancestors, but we need to follow the counsel of the First Presidency when doing so. In most cases of using Pandora's Hope Chest, it is impossible to follow that counsel because you cannot accurately determine if you are really related to the person.

I realize it is difficult for many whose ancestors work is mostly complete to find names to take to the temple. For those persons, I suggest using Puzzila.org, because when using Puzzilla, you can trace your relationship to those you are submitting. Also, when one adds a name to Family Tree, there is a higher chance that the ordinances haven't been previously completed compared to finding a green arrow in Family Tree.

I hope all who read this will take the time to review the following presentations. In our zeal to submit names to the temple, if we do not follow the counsel of the First Presidency as mentioned above, we hinder the work rather that hasten it.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87166934/Serve%20a%20Time%20Machine%20Mission.pptx

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87166934/Using%20Puzilla.pptx

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-Compiled 5/27/2014 Rev4.5 Van Celaya<br>FastAccurateResearch@gmail.com<br>Riverton FamilySearch Library
+<p>While the intentions of Pandora's Hope Chest are noble, there are problems. "PLEASE NOTE: There is no guarantee that this information is accurate. It is your responsibility to verify before submitting to the temple. This tool is not intended to be a replacement for diligent and thoughtful genealogical research." This is not an inherent problem with Pandora's Hope Chest, but a problem with the data in Family Tree.
+</p><p>There is much good data in Family Tree, but most of it is not sourced and subject to error. Also, most of the "green arrows" in Family Tree are duplicate entries (many of which Pandora's Hope Chest or Family Tree do not find accurately).
+</p><p>The First Presidency has counseled, “Because of the sacred nature of this work, members should be diligent in assuring the accuracy of all information submitted” (First Presidency, June 1995), This policy has been recently restated:
+https://familysearch.org/ask/productSupport#/Research-and-provide-accurate-information-when-submitting-names-for-temple-ordinances-1381812096436. (Must log in with an LDS account to view).
-'''FamilySearch.org - START'''<br>• Start with Elder Moon's training site (to improve proficiency with Family Tree): http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/fhd/Community/en/FamilyTreeCurriculum/level01/levelone.html
+</p><p>President Hinckley also counseled “One of the most troublesome aspects of our temple activity is that … there is duplication of effort in proxy work" (Opening Remarks,” General Conference, October 2005).
+</p><p>Also, you are probably not related to many persons that show up in the Hope Chest temple list. The First Presidency has stated, "Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter” (First Presidency, February 2012).
-'''Pandora’s Hope Chest – Find GREEN arrows quickly'''<br>• Open Chrome – go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pandoras-hope-chest/gjneklbanpnnjdeddbnkkgeljkhpblhp?hl=en<br>• Click on “+ Free” and follow prompts to add to Chrome<br>• Log into FamilySearch, then click on “Tree” – there is a tutorial near the top of the tree, with new icons<br>• Follow the instructions to find “ancestors” AND “descendants of those ancestors” with work to be done
+</p><p>One may ask "why am I not related to persons who show up in my Family Tree pedigree"? The reason is due to the overall accuracy of the information in Family Tree.
+</p><p>A recent poll of experts estimated that the accuracy of each relationship in Family Tree is 92.1%. On the surface, this looks good. However, when compounded over several generations, it is not good. If a user is separated from someone in Family Tree by only 5 unverified generations, the chance they are related drops to 66.2%, over 10 generations, to 43.9%.
-'''Puzzilla.org - GREAT'''<br>• Ancestry and Descendancy – the first page starts with you<br>• Click any ancestor - the next page will show all of their descendants “that are currently listed in FamilySearch” (many are missing that you need to find)<br>• Use puzzilla to find dead ends, errors and to find missing ordinances (use in conjunction with each person's page in “FamilyTree,” with RootsMapper.com, and with CreateFan.com)
+</p><p>In the one instance of using Pandora's Hope Chest where I was able to trace my relationship to the purported ancestor needing ordinances, there were 16 generations between me an this "ancestor". If each generation is not verified, there is only a 26.8% chance that I am even related. Unfortunately, all "ancestors" needing ordinances on the Hope Chest list, do not show your relationship to the person.
+</p><p>I am all for submitting names for our ancestors, but we need to follow the counsel of the First Presidency when doing so. In most cases of using Pandora's Hope Chest, it is impossible to follow that counsel because you cannot accurately determine if you are really related to the person.
-'''RootsMapper.com - GREAT'''<br>• Locations will help “see” where your ancestors lived or died<br>• Select several generations - RootsMapper will download from FamilySearch ancestor's “locations,” and display them with links on the World Map.<br>• To display single lines, and not all of them, here are the instructions: “http://blog.rootsmapper.com/2013/10/feature-focus-expand-parents.html”
+</p><p>I realize it is difficult for many whose ancestors work is mostly complete to find names to take to the temple. For those persons, I suggest using Puzzila.org, because when using Puzzilla, you can trace your relationship to those you are submitting. Also, when one adds a name to Family Tree, there is a higher chance that the ordinances haven't been previously completed compared to finding a green arrow in Family Tree.
+</p><p>I hope all who read this will take the time to review the following presentations. In our zeal to submit names to the temple, if we do not follow the counsel of the First Presidency as mentioned above, we hinder the work rather that hasten it.
-'''CreateFan.com - GREAT'''<br>• Print out your own FanChart in color ($ 0.60 or with lamination will cost $1.60)<br>• NEW *** Use “Source Tracker” for Census, and “Name Cloud” (for fun)<br>• Use in conjunction with Puzzilla and Rootsmapper AND as a “search log”<br>• Give as a gift - give family and friends a copy of their (or your) FanChart as a gift<br>• Laminate FanChart (or any fragile or special documents)
+</p><p>https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87166934/Serve%20a%20Time%20Machine%20Mission.pptx
+</p><p>https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87166934/Using%20Puzilla.pptx
-'''Free-OCR.com – For PDF and Other Picture Documents'''<br>• Can convert a PDF (or other “picture document”) into a searchable text, so you can copy it, and save it
+</p>
-'''SortedByName.com – Search Social Security Numbers'''<br>• Follow the instructions, because it is complicated - it will take you 3 to 5 screens in order to get to the names you want
-'''SearchEngineColossus.com'''<br>• International Directory of Search Engines by Country
-'''GenealogyInTime.com – GREAT RESEARCH'''<br>• Stories, Books, Newspapers, Genealogy links - great place to start research<br>• Use both (1) Individual, and (2) Family Genealogy searches (Located on left side of page)<br>• Rare Book Search will take you to “google books” (free) or archives.com (pay site)<br> <br><strike>'''TinEye.com'''</strike>'''- UPDATE – USE http://google.com/images'''<br>• Search on a “picture” One of the first places to look – but you will need to scan a picture in order to upload it into TinEye.com<br>• If anyone is using that same picture on the internet, you will be given the internet locations
-'''MillionShort.com – GREAT RESEARCH '''<br>• Many “personal” websites are too obscure to show up in a normal search<br>• You can eliminate millions of sites using this and find the little know websites you might need
-'''Advanced Google Searches – EXTREMELY Good Help'''<br> (you might need to type “http://www.google.com” to see advanced options, bottom right of the google page under settings, and then click on “advanced search”)<br>• quotes = “ “<br>• range = .. (two periods between a range of items, for example 1800..1850)<br>• tilde = ~ (it is on the left of the one key on the keyboard)<br>• asterisk = * (global character)<br>• site = site: (type the website after the colon, and you can't have any spaces)<br>• country servers = in google search type google, then a space, and then the name of the country – then you will be in the “google server for that specific country”<br>• images = from the google.com page (facial recognition software)<br>• books = from the google drop down (you can find books relating to your search)<br>• delimiters = AND, NOT, OR, +, -, INURL, INTITLE (many more = here is just one site that shows delimiters = “http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html” )<br>• google “extensions” – like “snip tool,”
-'''SearchForAncestors.com'''<br>• Search for your ancestors using this interactive directory of free genealogy search engines<br>• On Main Page Click on Google Searcher to learn how to use Advanced Google Searches above
-'''BabyNameWizard.com for Indexing'''<br>• Use for both: Indexing – displays variations of unusual or difficult to recognize names – and -- Research - helps with unrecognized names.<br>• Under the tab “BasicName Tools” you can use “Name Voyager” - If you can only decipher part of the name, use this to find different possibilities for that partial name – and -- “NameMapper” - If you need to find if a name reoccurs often, you could use this
-'''Newspapers.com'''<br>• Select Browse at the top of the page – put in a name and chose advanced search (date range, state, etc)
-(please send any corrections or additions to “FastAccurateResearch@gmail.com” and they will be included in the next revision)<br>[[Category:How_to_articles|How_to_articles]]