The news was stunning.  Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak was going to stop doing  RootsTelevision.com! But her loyal fans (and I am one!!) inundated Megan and Og  with emails, tweets, and Facebook postings and messages saying how much the site meant to us.

“I honestly had no clue how valued it was by the genealogical community,” Megan wrote in an email to her fans. “And I agree with the many of you who pointed out that it serves a somewhat different purpose than the prime time programming that’s on TV at present (much as I’ve been enjoying that!). At the same time, I think many had not realized that RTV is a one-person company, but one that’s not inexpensive to provide. “

So, Megan  surveyed genealogists on Twitter and Facebook, asking whether any would be willing to tolerate commercials if it would help preserve RootsTelevision.com. The response was encouraging, so RootsTelevision will continue with ads. Among the new sponsors are Boston University and Family Tree DNA.

“Og and I are going to do a little tinkering under the hood at RTV, so you’ll see fewer new videos for a while, but please use that time to explore the hundreds of videos that are already there,” Megan wrote.

 You can also upload your own videos (podcasters welcome!) through RootsTube (http://rootstelevision.com/submit_rootstube.php)or   bookmark your favorite genealogy videos by others. So participate and help keep this wonderful resource on the Web!

You can follow Megan for the latest news here:

Megan on Twitter – http://twitter.com/megansmolenyak

Megan on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/megansmolenyak

RTV on Twitter – http://twitter.com/rootstelevision

RTV on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/rootstv

Indexing Update: 1910 US Census initiative begins; 8 international projects added
 
As the 1920 U.S. Census project wraps up and the final states are published, FamilySearch has now opened up indexing for the 1910 U.S. Census! Patrons can freely search the indexes for the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 censuses at the FamilySearch Record Search pilot. Additional international indexing projects were added in December 2009 for Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, France, Germany, and the U.K.
 
Note: The last of the states for the 1920 U.S. Census will be posted to the Record Search pilot online as they go through the final stages of publishing preparations.
 
New Projects in December 2009
 
·         Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934 [Parte 2]
·         Argentina, Santa Fe – Registros Parroquiales 1634-1926 [Parte 2]
·         België—Burgerlijke Stand, 1851-1900 [Deel 2]
(In partnership with Algemeen Rijksarchief en Rijksarchief in de Provincien)
·         Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie 1]
(In partnership with Algemeen Rijksarchief en Rijksarchief in de Provincien)
·         Colombia, Bucaramanga—Registros Parroquiales, 1649–1959
·         Deutschland, Baden, Achern—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869 [Part 1]
·         France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Part 3]
·         U.K., Norfolk—Parish Registers, 1538–1900
(In partnership with International Society for British Genealogy and Family History)
·         U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754-1900 [Part 1]
·         U.S., Alabama—1910 Federal Census
·         U.S., Arizona—1910 Federal Census
·         U.S., California—1910 Federal Census
·         U.S., Colorado—1910 Federal Census
·         U.S., Connecticut—1910 Federal Census
 (See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)
 
Recently Completed Projects
 
(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process in preparation for future publication.)
 
·         Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2]
·         Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Parte 3]
·         U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754–1900 [Part 2]
·         U.S., Arkansas—1910 Federal Census
·         U.S., Massachusetts—Deaths, 1913 [V 50–53]
·         U.S., Minnesota—1875 State Census
·         U.S., South Dakota—1935 State Census [Part 1]
·         U.S., South Dakota—1935 State Census [Part 2]
Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion
 
Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934Spanish15%
Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934 [Parte 2]Spanish(New)
Argentina, Cordoba—Matrimonios, 1642–1931Spanish86%
Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926Spanish6%
Argentina, Santa Fe – Registros Parroquiales 1634-1926 [Parte 2]Spanish(New)
Belgium, Antwerp—Foreigners Index, 1840–1930English77%
Canada, British Columbia—Deaths, 1872–1986 [Part 3]English56%
Canada, Québec, Montreal—Régistres Paroissiaux, 1800–1900French10%
Česká republika, Litoměřice – Matriky 1552-1905 [část 1]
(Tschechien, Litomerice—Kirchenbücher [Teil 1])German20%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2]Spanish8%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 3]Spanish1%
Colombia, Bucaramanga—Registros Parroquiales, 1649–1959Spanish(New)
Colombia, Marinilla—Registros Parroquiales, 1815–1959Spanish10%
Deutschland, Baden, Achern—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869 [Part 1]German(New)
Deutschland, Brandenburg—Kirchenbücher, 1789–1875German90%*
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 39–69]German18%
España, Avila, Madrigal y Garganta—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935Spanish20%
España, Avila, Navalmoral—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935Spanish47%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1]Spanish30%
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907French9%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907French5%
France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906French90%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie 2]French93%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie 3]French(New)
France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907French21%
Guatemala, Huehuetenango y San Marcos—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900Spanish21%
Italia, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Atti di Morte, 1809–1936Italian18%
Jamaica, Clarendon—Births, 1878–1930English50%
Mexico, DF—Registros Parroquiales, 1898–1933 [Parte 3]Spanish16%
Mexico, Hidalgo—1930 Federal CensoSpanish66%
Mexico, Jalisco—1930 Federal CensoSpanish39%
Mexico, Michoacan—1930 Federal CensoSpanish10%
Mexico, Nuevo Leon—1930 Federal CensoSpanish18%
New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915English72%
Nicaragua, Managua—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984 [Parte 1]Spanish37%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885German2%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970English18%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]Swedish5%
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]Swedish18%
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]Swedish1%
U.K., Cheshire—Parish Records, 1538–1850 [Part 2]English/Old English64%
U.K., Essex—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part 1]English2%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754-1900 [Part 1]English(New)
U.S., Alabama—1910 Federal CensusEnglish(New)
U.S., Arizona—1910 Federal CensusEnglish(New)
U.S., California—1910 Federal CensusEnglish(New)
U.S., Colorado—1910 Federal CensusEnglish(New)
U.S., Connecticut—1910 Federal CensusEnglish(New)
U.S., Indiana, Clark County—Marriages, 1811–1959English48%
U.S., Indiana, Dubois County—Marriages, 1811–1959English38%
U.S., Indiana, Harrison County—Marriages, 1811–1959English56%
U.S., Indiana, Marshall County—Marriages, 1811–1959English39%
U.S., Rhode Island—1905 State Census [Part 2]English73%
U.S., Rhode Island—1935 State CensusEnglish71%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 1]Spanish94%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 2]Spanish2%
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925German6%
Украина, Киев—Метрические Книги, 1840–1842Russian59%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)
 
Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion
 
Australia, Victoria—Probate Records, 1853–1989English81%
België—Burgerlijke Stand, 1851-1900 [Deel 2]Dutch(New)
België, Mechelen—Overlijdens Registers, 1851-1900Dutch, Flemish69%
Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie 1]French(New)
Belgique—Registres Des Décès—En Français, 1796–1910French74%*
Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935English2%
Deutschland, Bremen—Schifflisten, 1904–1914German92%
France, Quimper et Leon—Registres Paroissiaux, 1772–1909 [Part 1]French21%
Norway—1875 Census [Part 1]Norwegian88%
Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Parte 4]Spanish28%
Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982Spanish5%
U.K., Norfolk—Parish Registers, 1538–1900English(New)
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 2]English95%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 3]English1%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Birth Registers, 1890–1908English1%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940English28%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)
 
 
 
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FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.