User:GreenwoodKL/FamilySearch International
FamilySearch International, historically known as the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU), was established in 1894 and is the corporate name for the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church),[1] from which it receives its entire funding. An incorporated, nonprofit educational organization, it is operated by thousands of volunteers.
The department's research facility, the Family History Library, which has developed the most extensive genealogical record-gathering program in the world, was established to assist in tracing family lineages for special religious ceremonies that Mormons believe seal family units together for eternity. According to Mormons, this fulfills a Biblical prophecy stating that the prophet Elijah would return to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."[2]
Operations[edit]
The central office of the GSU is the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, where hundreds of GSU volunteers help inquiring researchers.
The Society also maintains archives and digital images of records obtained from around the world. It began microfilming records in 1938, eventually microfilming sources of family history from over 100 nations. In 1998, the GSU began digital imaging of records.
The GSU and Family History Library are responsible for the FamilySearch Internet website, which facilitates online family history and genealogy research at no charge.
History[edit]
In 1975, the GSU became the Genealogical Department of the LDS Church, which later became the Family History Department. At that time, its head officer was renamed President from Executive Director, starting during Theodore M. Burton's term.[3] However, the title "President of the Genealogical Society of Utah" and other GSU titles were still used and bestowed upon department officers.
In 2000, the LDS Church consolidated its Family History and Historical departments into the Family and Church History Department, and Richard E. Turley, Jr. became managing director of the new department and president of the GSU. This broke with tradition,[citation needed] since the President of the GSU was no longer the department's executive director or a General Authority of the LDS Church.
Officers and Directors[edit]
Genealogical Society of Utah (1894-1944)[edit]
Genealogical Society of the Church (1944-1961)[edit]
| Start Date | End Date | President | Vice-President | Secretary | Treasurer | Librarian | Directors | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 20, 1944 | Joseph Fielding Smith | Joseph Christenson | Archibald F. Bennett | Joseph Fielding Smith | Archibald F. Bennett | James M. Kirkham A. William Lund Mark E. Petersen John A. Widtsoe |
[3][13] | |
| June 22, 1961 | Joseph Fielding Smith | Mark E. Petersen | Archibald F. Bennett | Joseph Fielding Smith | Archibald F. Bennett | James M. Kirkham A. William Lund John A. Widtsoe |
[3][13] |
Genealogical Association (1961-1962)[edit]
| Start Date | End Date | President | First Counselor | Second Counselor | Secretary | Treasurer | Directors | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 6, 1961 | December 4, 1962 | Junius M. Jackson | Lamont B. Gundersen | George H. Fudge | Paul Royall | Roy Brown | Archibald F. Bennett | [3] |
Genealogical Society of the Church (1962-1975)[edit]
| Start Date | End Date | President | Vice-President | Secretary | Treasurer | Librarian | Directors | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 4, 1962 | January 21, 1964 | N. Eldon Tanner | [3] | |||||
| January 21, 1964 | May 25, 1972 | Howard W. Hunter | [3] | |||||
| May 25, 1972 | December 10, 1975 | Theodore M. Burton | [3] |
Genealogical Department of the Church (1975-1987)[edit]
| Start Date | End Date | Executive Director | Managing Director | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 10, 1975 | 1978 | Theodore M. Burton | [3] | |
| 1978 | December 31, 1978 | J. Thomas Fyans | [3] | |
| January 1, 1979 | October 6, 1984 | Royden G. Derrick | [3] http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350157/Elder-Royden-G-Derrick-dies-at-94-in-Salt-Lake-City.html | |
| October 6, 1984 | August 1987 | Richard G. Scott | [3] http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=865b27cd3f37b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 |
Family History Department (1987-2000)[edit]
Family and Church History Department (2000-200?)[edit]
| Start Date | End Date | Executive Director | Managing Director | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | March 12, 2008 | Richard E. Turley, Jr. | http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/37924/Family-History-History-departments-joined.html http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/51778/Church-names-new-assistant-historian.html [14][15] | |
| March 12, 2008? | 2010? | Richard J. Maynes | http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58377/Revolution-in-family-history-work.html | |
| 2010? | present | Jay L. Verkler |
Research Papers[edit]
Series A[edit]
Series B[edit]
Series C[edit]
Series D[edit]
Series E[edit]
Series F[edit]
Selected Publications[edit]
- The Church Genealogical Archive
- Lessons in genealogy (1912)
- Handbook for Genealogy and Temple Work (1924, 1949)
- Church Service on Genealogical Committees: Course for Senior and Junior Classes for 1935 (1935)
- Methods of Tracing Pedigrees (1936)
- A Book of Remembrance : A Lesson Book for First Year Junior Genealogical Classes (1936)
- Teaching One Another: Study Course for Senior Genealogical Classes, 1939-40 (1938)
- A Guide for Genealogical Research (1951)
- Ten Basic Steps in Genealogy (1963)
- Genealogical Observer (1964-1972)
- World Conference on Records and Genealogical Seminar (11 vols. 1969)
- Records Protection in an Uncertain World (1975)
- Preserving the Past for the Future (1976)
- From You to Your Ancestors (1978)
- Microphotographers manual (1978)
- Preservando la historia genealógica
- World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage (12-15 August 1980) (13 vols. no publishing date)
- Branch Genealogical Libraries Memorandum (later Family History Centers Memorandum) (December 1981 - )
- Branch Genealogical Library Operational Manual (January 1983)
- A Guide to Micrographics (1984)
- Preserving the past (1986)
- Come unto Christ through Temple Ordinances and Covenants (1987)
- Submitting Names for Temple Ordinances (1987/1988)
- Providing Temple Ordinances for Our Ancestors (1987/1988)
- News of the Family History Library (August 1989 - ?)
- Temple and Family History Leadership Handbook (1992/1993)
- A Members Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants (1993)
See also[edit]
- Nephi Anderson - librarian of the GSU and editor of the Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine from 1910–1923
- Archibald F. Bennett - secretary of the GSU from 1928 to 1961
- Theodore M. Burton
- FamilySearch
- Family history
- Family History Center (LDS Church)
- Genealogy
- Granite Mountain Record Vault
- John Jaques - first librarian of the GSU
- Joseph Fielding Smith - president of the GSU from 1934 to 1961, who had previously served as secretary of the GSU.
References[edit]
- ^ Lloyd, R. Scott (November 8, 1997), "Typists marshaled in peaceful army", Church News, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News, retrieved 2008-11-20
- ^ Allen, James B.; Embry, Jessie L.; Mehr, Kahlile B. (1995), Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894-1994, Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, Brigham Young University
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah (Allen, Embry & Mehr 1995, p. 267) harv error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFAllenEmbryMehr1995 (help) Cite error: The named reference "pres" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The Genealogical Society of Utah", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 1 (1): 38–42, January 1910
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Table of Contents", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 1 (1): ii, January 1910
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "The Biennial Meeting of the Genealogical Society of Utah", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 1 (3): 139, July 1910
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 23 (2): 49–53, April 1932
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "President Charles W. Penrose", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 16 (3): 96b-101, July 1925
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "James M. Kirkham : New Member of the Board of Directors of the Genealogical Society", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 23 (4): 151–152, October 1932
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b State of Utah Death Certificate
- ^ a b "In Memoriam : President Anthony W. Ivins : 1852-1934", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 25 (4): 144b-145, October 1934
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "New Officers of the Genealogical Society of Utah", The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 26 (1): 1–3, January 1935
{{citation}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Genealogy Society Has New Name". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. 25 November 1944. Church Edition, p. 1. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Electra Kimble Price honored by Genealogical Society of Utah, AfriGeneas, March 27, 2000, retrieved 2008-11-20
- ^ "Biography - Richard E. Turley Jr.", LDS Newsroom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, March 12, 2008, retrieved 2008-11-20
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Taylor, Rebecca M. "Exploring: A Century of Genealogy" The Friend, March 1994.
- "Genealogical Society: A century of steady growth and development" LDS Church News, November 1994.
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| Online Collections | Ancestral File · Census (1880 US, 1881 British, 1881 Canadian) · International Genealogical Index · Pedigree Resource File · US Social Security Death Index · Vital Records Index |
|---|---|
| Online Collections (beta) | Historical Records · Trees · Library Catalog |
| Publications and Periodicals | Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine · |
