USING A LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTER #8 FAMILY GROUP RECORD COLLECTION revised Sept 1997 People often write to ask how they can access family group sheets they heard a great aunt "submitted to Salt Lake" sometime in the 1950's. Even in those days, thousands of family group sheets were submitted by LDS Church members and non-members alike. All were placed in those old-fashioned oblong genealogy binders, filed under the husband's surname only. There are no cross-references to the wife's name nor is the collection indexed. This huge collection is commonly referred to as the Family Group Record Collection There are several sub-sets of this collection which are gradually being computerized into the IGI (International Genealogical Index.) These include: Family Group Records Collection (also known as the Family Group Records Archives) Patron's Section (the 4 generation program of the LDS Church 1964-1974) Old Patron's Section (1924-1962) Oldest Patron's Section (1924-1950 submissions) Although my father's stake extraction assignment on FGRC is completed, a call today to the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake (Family Name Extraction) confirmed that not all of the estimated 600,000 family group sheets have been computerized. Even before the process is completed, researchers may access those older family group sheets without traveling to Salt Lake to visit them in person the Family History Library Annex in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. You may visit your local LDS Family History Center and view them on microfilm. Be aware that when the microfilming crew completed its task, it found about 10 percent of the family group sheets had been forcibly removed (!) from the binders!!! Additionally, some heavily damaged pages were removed by library staff. How to order the microfilm: There is a listing in the FHLCatalog with the name of the husband on the first family group sheet on each microfilm reel. You'll just have to figure where your male ancestor's name would appear alphabetically to order the correct microfilm. If you need help with a woman's maiden name, you will have to wait for the computerization. Once the film arrives from the main FHLibrary, be sure as with any compiled genealogy to check the sources listed on each pertinent group sheet. When I lived in Salt Lake as a young woman, I visited the old family history department and photocopied many pages from these grand old binders. In 1988, during my training at the Washington DC Temple Family History Center, the center purchased the entire Family Group Records Collection in 16mm format. It fills a half-height microfilm cabinet. I was amazed how many non-LDS individuals found this collection useful. Perhaps that is because many of the early members of the LDS Church had roots in New England, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Once again I am reminded how closely our families are intertwined, if you go back far enough on the pedigree charts!