----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty Thomas" <bettylt@verizon.net> To: <NYGENESE@rootsweb.com>; <NYWYOMIN@rootsweb.com>; <MAWORCES@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 11:54 AM Subject: [NYGENESE] County Histories to Go Online August 20, 2007 North America Local and County Histories to Go Online from FamilySearch.org (August 15, 2007): Three genealogical libraries pool their collections in massive digitization effort SALT LAKE CITY, UTAHÂThousands of published family histories, city and county histories, historic city directories, and related records are coming to the Internet. The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library, and FamilySearch's Family History Library in Salt Lake City announced the joint project today. When complete, it will be the most comprehensive collection of city and county histories on the WebÂand access will be free at <http://www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu>www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu. The digital history project will target over 100,000 published family histories and thousands of local histories that are rich in names as well as biographical and genealogical data associated with those names. "Publishing those collections from the three libraries involved will make a significant and attractive family history digital library online for genealogists and historians," said David Rencher, director of Records and Information for FamilySearch. "I believe the most immediate, substantial contribution of this collaboration will be the addition of local history materials," said Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center Manager, Curt Witcher. The collaborative project will digitally scan thousands of historic city directories, as well as city and county histories from North America. The ACPL and the Family History Library have the largest collections of city and county histories from North America. "I believe the strength of our two well known, well used, and well loved institutions working together is a terrific benefit to the genealogical community," added Witcher. Once digitized, the collections will have "every word" search capability, which allows users to search by name, location, date, or other field across the collection. The search results are then linked to high quality digital images of the original publication. Digitization efforts have begun. New additions will be noted and hyperlinked in the Family History Library Catalog at FamilySearch.org as they are digitized. The collection can be accessed currently at <http://www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu>www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu. FamilySearch is providing the computers, scanners, and camera operators required to complete the project. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources accessed through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. Betty bettylt@verizon.net Professional Genealogy Research - http://mysite.verizon.net/bettylt/ Wicks,Hammond, Heintz,Bradfield,Walbridge - http://BettyT.tripod.com Boylston Historical Society & Museum http://www.boylstonhistory.org GenWeb Coordinator for: Genesee, NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenese Wyoming, NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~nywyomin Worcester, MA http://www.rootsweb.com/~maworces Commonwealth of Massachusetts http://www.rootsweb.com/~magenweb/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NYGENESE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message