Last week I wrote about the brand-new online 1901 England and
Wales 1901 Census Records Database. The British Public Record Office put the
Web site up on 2 January, and it has been flooded with users ever since. As
I wrote last week, "With so many genealogists trying to access this site,
you may find the site to be unavailable. In fact, at the time these words are
being written, a disclaimer on the site says, ‘Due to overwhelming demand the
technical project team for the 1901 Census site has had to place access restrictions
to the site.’" I then went on to say that I expected the demand for access
would slow down in a few weeks and that performance would improve.
While I still believe the words I wrote last week, it was interesting
to watch for the past seven days. Demand continued and even increased. In fact,
the servers crashed during the week, knocking the entire site offline for a
while. More servers were being brought in on Thursday, but organizers warn it
could take several days before they can meet demand.
The following announcement is now on the Public Record Office
Web site:
The site remains unable to meet continuing levels of demand.
The PRO has agreed with QinetiQ's technical team that searching of the database
and downloading of images will not be available for one week to allow enhancements
to take place. The Census site will provide updated information and help
about using the Census service. Meanwhile the normal 1901 Census microform
services continue to be available at the PRO Kew and local record offices
and public libraries across the country.
The 1901 Census On-Line service is available at the Family
Records Centre and at Kew. Access is limited to one hour per user by ticket.
Tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis and no advance
bookings can be taken. For further information regarding the FRC service
please see the Family Records Web site. For further information regarding
the Kew service please telephone 020-8392-5200.
This is frustrating for anyone trying to reach the Web site. I’m
sure it is even more frustrating for the technical folks at the Public Record
Office as they struggle to meet that demand. However, I must say that this "problem"
is very satisfying to those of us who watch the growth of technology within
genealogy. It shows that millions of genealogists want to access primary records
online. The market for online genealogy data is obviously strong. I hope that
other providers of genealogy-related records are watching.
To read my review in last week’s newsletter, go to: www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/eastman/5123.asp.
The Public Record Office’s online 1901 Census for England and Wales is at: www.pro.gov.uk.
Dick Eastman Online
