Hello PCGS members - Sierra On-line has sold Heritage Quest to ProQuest. Sierra also owns Generations software and sponsors Cyndi's List. I wonder how they will be affected by this? For those of you who are interested, the press release is below. Barbara Leak ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Kemp <TomK@HeritageQuest.com> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:51 PM Subject: News: ProQuest is Going Live with Heritage Quest 1790-1920 CensusImages & Indexes > CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE > RELEASE > Thomas Jay Kemp > 800-760-2455 x1570 > Tkemp@HeritageQuest.com > > > "ProQuest Going Live with Heritage Quest 1790-1920 Census Images & Indexes!" > > ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 16 -- ProQuest Company's (NYSE:PQE) Information and > Learning unit announced today that it has acquired Heritage Quest > <www.HeritageQuest.com>, the North Salt Lake City-based genealogical > information company, from Sierra On-Line, Inc., a division of Vivendi > Universal Publishing. With holdings of more than 250,000 publications and > titles, Heritage Quest is the largest genealogical information provider in > the United States. > > The Heritage Quest product line -- which includes the popular Heritage Quest > Web-based information service, as well as microfilm, CD-ROMs, and print > products (Heritage Quest magazine, Genealogy Bulletin, more than 400 books, > and more than 100 indexes) -- will be added to ProQuest's genealogical > resources, including the Genealogy and Local History Online > <http://www.umi.com/cgi-bin/ShowItem?PID=P0099&market=cu> database and > Sanborn Maps Online <http://www.umi.com/special/Sanborn/>. To date, Heritage > Quest information comprises more than 3 terabytes of digitized data, with > more digitization planned. Having the entire US Federal Census online, > 1790-1920, will make it much easier for genealogists to research their > families. > > "Genealogical research is a top-ranked hobby in the United States, with over > 70 million active participants," said Joe Reynolds, president and chief > executive officer of ProQuest Information and Learning. "Most people rely on > local libraries to help them find the information they need. With the > addition of Heritage Quest information to our own collection of some 7 > million pages of content, we'll be able to provide libraries and their users > with the most comprehensive collection of genealogical information available > anywhere designed specifically for use in libraries. > "Previously, genealogists had to consult multiple sources to find the > information that will be integrated into a single source," said Reynolds. > > Unique census data > > "Of particular value are the complete historical United States census > records dating from 1790 to 1920, which are hand-written," added Reynolds. > "Census records are the most uniquely valuable research tool for > genealogical researchers, because they provides specifics: which family > members were alive at that time; where they lived; their occupations, ages; > and other important information. When added to the thousands of family > records and local history files that we already offer online and those that > we are acquiring, researchers will be able to gain a more complete picture > of their heritage. The Heritage Quest census data provides names and > statistics; our Genealogy & Local History Online collection puts those names > in context. The combination is powerful." > These online census records will be fully indexed to extremely high > standards and offered in full page image, so users can view documents in > their original format. > > In addition to the census records, ProQuest will expand its offerings with > other unique content from Heritage Quest: military records, ship passenger > lists, county records, selected state censuses, Native American records, > marriage records, local and family histories, African-American family > records, city directories, and more. > ProQuest will begin to integrate the Heritage Quest data into its > genealogical databases immediately. Current subscribers to Genealogy and > Local History Online, ProQuest's Web-based genealogy database for libraries, > will have access to census data by late fall 2001. The ProQuest product will > support remote access, a key benefit for patrons who use library resources > offsite. > The Heritage Quest name will be extended as a brand name for all of > ProQuest's genealogical resources, including online databases, microform, > and print products. > > Founded in 1983 by Bradley and Raeone Steuart, Heritage Quest is a leading > purveyor of genealogical data, products, supplies, and equipment to > consumers and institutions. The company has been known for its high-use > data, landmark publications, general-reference books, and informative > periodicals for genealogy enthusiasts. In September 1999, the company was > acquired by Sierra On-Line, Inc. ProQuest plans to maintain the Salt Lake > City office and operations. > > Safe Harbor Statement > Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, > statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking > statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform > Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and > other factors, including without limitation, the cost and availability of > intellectual property from third parties, decreases in the ability to > attract and retain employees for the existing ProQuest Company, obtain > capital, including interest rate risks, unexpected merger-related effects, > and any necessary regulatory approvals, decreases in funding for Internet > access as well as overall acceptance and usage of the Internet in the > education and library markets, including effects of and rate of acceptance > of Internet-based solutions, including the automotive business, changes in > the business services market, changes in the automotive industry, and > general economic conditions, all of which could cause actual results to > differ materially, and such other risks as discussed in the Company's > filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. > > About ProQuest Company > ProQuest Company (NYSE:PQE) was born of Bell & Howell Company's two highly > respected information access businesses. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., ProQuest > Company is a leader in e-learning and e-publishing. For its customers in the > academic, library, automotive, and powersports industries, the company > provides access to a body of content that is unmatched in breadth and depth. > Additional information on ProQuest Company can be found at > www.proquestcompany.com . > > ProQuest Information and Learning is a world leader in collecting, > organizing, and distributing information worldwide to researchers, faculty, > and students in libraries and schools. Known widely for its strength in > business and economics, general-reference, humanities, social sciences, and > STM content, the company develops premium databases comprising periodicals, > newspapers, dissertations, out-of-print books, and other scholarly > information from more than 8,500 publishers worldwide. Users access the > information through the ProQuest(R) Web-based online information system, > Chadwyck- Healey(TM) electronic and microform resources, UMI(R) microform > and print reference products, and XanEdu(TM) online faculty and student > resources. For more information about ProQuest Information and Learning, > visit www.il.proquest.com > > # # # > > ______________________________ >