Contributing Information to Ancestral File - from copyrighted information provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints
Ancestral File is part of Family Search, an automated system which provides information on family history research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and at hundreds of family history centers throughout the United States, Canada and selected international sites.
Computerized information on the family you are researching may be submitted to Ancestral File whenever you feel confident it is ready; there are no deadlines for submitting.
Follow these four steps to contribute your information
1. Prepare your information
To protect privacy rights, Ancestral File displays information only on deceased persons. If you contribute information on someone who lived within the last 95 years and for whom you have no date of death, the file will display only the word "Living" in place of the name or other information
Coordinate your efforts with relatives or others who may be researching your ancestry
Include as many generations as you can. Start with yourself or with your children and include all children of your direct ancestors.
2. Enter your information into a computer file
Information must be computerized and able to be converted to GEDCOM format.
Current lists of registered programs which can put your information into the correct format can be found by calling the Family History Department at 1-800-346-6044
To be acceptable, family groups must include at least one individual with a birth or marriage date. Include all children in each family. Contribute only family records and pedigrees that are linked for two or more generations.
3. Create a GEDCOM file on diskette
Follow the instructions in your software program manual
Be sure to record your name address and telephone number in your GEDCOM file. Your name and address will appear in Ancestral File as the contributer of this information. This will enable others who use the file to coordinate with you. Contributions without a name and address cannot be accepted.
4. Send your diskettes to Ancestral File
Write the following on the Label of Each Diskette:
- "Ancestral File Submission" - Your name, address and telephone no. - The genealogical program you are using - Your computers operating system (MS-DOS 5.0 for example)
If a GEDCOM file fills more than one diskette, label each diskette with the name and telephone number of the contact person.
Mail your Diskettes to:
Keep a Backup copy of your Diskette! The ones sent to SLC will not be returned.