Four tabs are shown at the top of the main page: Home, Search, Share, and Library. The following three major features are available under Home:

• Search for Ancestors
  
• Share Information
  
• Family History Library System

The following options are available under Search:

• Search for Ancestors
  
• Research Guidance (select a place)
  
• Research Helps (sorted by place, title, subject, and document type)
  
• Web Sites (arranged by 16 different subject categories)
  
• Family History Library Catalog

The Research Guidance portion of Search has been improved and expanded to include a “research assistant” who will guide you in identifying various types of genealogical records.

The Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) identifies books, microfilms, microfiche, maps, and other sources housed at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, although it does not include keyword, subject, or title searching capabilities. This Internet version of FHLC is arranged by place (locality), surname, author’s name, Family History Library call number, and microfilm or microfiche number. The surname and place (locality) are the most important features of this FHLC version.

Researchers may already be aware that a more complete Family History Library Catalog is available on compact disc and is available from Church Distribution in Salt Lake City for $5 (see Kip’s Tips from June 13, “Using the Family History Library Catalog”). In addition to author, surname, and place (locality) searching, the FHLC compact disc version also includes keyword, subject, and title searching. In fact, the keyword search is one of the most valuable features on the CD version.

One of the most significant additions to the LDS site is a link to a new Family History Library Web site. A brief history of the Library is given, as well as information about the library building, a short description of its collection of records, information for library patrons, and information about Family History Centers and sources at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB) in Salt Lake City.

In summary, the updated and revised FamilySearch™ Web site is loaded with new information that will assist all genealogists—beginners and experienced alike.

Immigrant Ancestors Project
Sponsored by Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, a new Web site has been created known as the Immigrant Ancestors Project. The goal of the project is to assist genealogists and family historians in identifying the birthplaces of their immigrant ancestors. This database will eventually contain millions of names of immigrants to America. Internet users will be able to search this database at no cost. The present phase of the project focuses on identifying immigrants from Germany. Future indexing will add names of immigrants from England, Ireland, Italy, France, Poland, and elsewhere. The database will show names of immigrants along with their age, birth date, and birthplace for the period from the early 17th century to about 1940.

BYU student research assistants and other individuals are presently indexing microfilm copies of original German emigration records. By the end of the year 2000, it is anticipated that copies of original German emigration records will be available to volunteers worldwide over the Internet.

The project is being funded through donations to the Immigrant Ancestors Project. Data entry volunteers with German language skills are needed to index emigration records, such as emigrant application files, which were completed by individuals before leaving Germany for America. Persons wishing to donate funds to the project or become volunteer indexers may contact the project’s director, Professor Raymond Wright, for details by using the e-mail link on the Immigrant Ancestors Project Web site.

Kip Sperry is an associate professor of family history at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.