Update on Discontinuance of Microfilm

Photo by Logan Ingalls [CC BY 2.0]

Two months ago, we alerted you to the FamilySearch press release that they would discontinue distribution of microfilm (see Press Release: Microfilm Distribution to be Discontinued) and that the last day for ordering microfilm would be August 31, 2017.

Today, FamilySearch released the following update with helpful facts and tips to help patrons better navigate the transition from microfilm to digital:

QUICK FACTS AND TIPS

• Patrons can still order microfilms online until Thursday, September 7, 2017.
• After film ordering ends, if customers need access to a particular film yet to be digitized, they can express interest to have it added to the priority digitization list by contacting FamilySearch Support (Toll Free: 1-866-406-1830). 
• All of the microfilm rented by patrons in the past 5 years have now been digitized by FamilySearch—over 1.5 million microfilms (ca. 1.5 billion images).
• The remaining microfilms are being digitally scanned at a rate of 1,000 films per day and are projected to be complete by 2020.
• New digital images are available as they are scanned in the FamilySearch.org Catalog.
• Films currently on loan in family history centers and affiliate libraries are automatically granted extended loan status.
• Affiliate libraries now have access to nearly all of the restricted image collections as family history centers.
• Visitors to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City will still be able to order needed microfilms to use during their research visits.

HOW TO FIND DIGITAL IMAGES ON FAMILYSEARCH
Digital image collections can be accessed today in 3 places on FamilySearch.org, all under Search.

• Catalog. Includes a description of all the microfilms and digital images in the FamilySearch collection. This is where all of FamilySearch's digitized microfilm and new digital images from its global camera operations are being published. A camera icon appears in the Catalog adjacent to a microfilm listing when it is available digitally.
• Records includes collections that have been indexed by name or published with additional waypoints to help browse the unindexed images.
• Books include digital copies of books from the Family History Library and other libraries, including many books that were previously copied to microfilm.

For additional help, see Finding Digital Images of Records on FamilySearch.org, or watch this how-to video “Where are the digitized records on FamilySearch?”

Centers have the option of returning the microfilm that is available online or otherwise not needed. The Tucson Family History Center on Langley does not intend to return any of the microfilm in its collection at this time.

For more information, visit the FamilySearch Newsroom article UPDATE: FamilySearch Digital Records Access Replacing Microfilm.

Family History Storytime

A new session of Family History Storytime is starting on Monday, September 11, 2017. These one-hour classes are designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. The six classes are full of fun stories and activities focused on getting the young ones interested in their own family history.

When?  Mondays, September 11-October 23 at 10am
Where?  Tucson Family History Center, 500 S. Langley Ave.

Schedule:
September 11 – My Family
September 18 – Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins
September 25 – Family Trees
October 2 – Heirlooms
October 9 – No Storytime (Columbus Day)
October 16 – Quilts
October 23 – Brave Ancestors

Walk-ins are welcome, but since there are crafts involved it helps to get an idea of how many children to expect. Visit the Tucson Family History Storytime website at http://familylocket.com/storytime/ to sign up so they can be prepared.

If you can't make it this time, the next session begins November 6 and ends December 11. Visit the Storytime website (link above) to register for this session.

They are also looking for volunteers to help lead some of the sessions. Lessons plans will be provided. Contact information for more details and to volunteer is on the website.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2018 Tucson Family History Fair

The 2017 Tucson Family History Fair had the largest attendance in its history; 283 in the second hour. The Fair is an annual event hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Tucson Family History Center and partnered with Pima County Genealogy Society.

Free and open to the public, the Fair offers classes for those just starting their family history as well as those that have been working on it for many years. The class schedule, handouts, and class descriptions are still available on the Tucson Family History Center wiki. The list of classes and handouts for the 2013-2016 Fairs are also available on the wiki.

In the past few years, the date for the Fair has been inconsistent in order to avoid conflicts with other genealogical events occurring in the area. In order to avoid those conflicts in the future, starting with 2018 the Family History Fair will be held on the first Saturday in February.

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, February 3, 2018 will be the next Tucson Family History Fair.

By Jackaranga - Own work, GFDL, Link

Announcing a New Special Interest Group for Jewish Genealogy

Sephardi Jewish couple from Sarajevo in traditional
clothing. Photo taken in 1900.
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

The Tucson Family History Center is sponsoring a Jewish Special Interest Group (SIG) beginning April 5, 2017. This is a wonderful opportunity for those who have Jewish roots to learn how to find their ancestors. The Jewish  SIG will meet at 3pm on the first Wednesday of each month in the Family History Center.

This SIG is not intended to replace the Southern Arizona Jewish Genealogy Society, but rather to enhance the learning experiences of attendees. The Jewish SIG will be a hands-on learning opportunity where an in-depth examination of one or two topics will be explored with time for attendees to put the lessons into action at the Center computers or their own laptops. There will also be opportunities to share information with each other at the meeting.

 Moreen Ferdi will be the SIG facilitator. There is no need to register in advance, just show up with a desire to learn and to share what you know with others.

Moreen is considering adding an evening meeting time for those that cannot meet during the weekday. If you have an interest in the evening time slot, please send an email to tucsongoalie@gmail.com.  You may direct any questions about the SIG to that email address as well.

Update on the 2017 Tucson Family History Fair

More information is being posted on the Tucson Family History Center website as the instructors make them available. Not only is the schedule available, but several classes have descriptions and handouts online. Remember, handouts will not be available at the event, please print them out and bring them with you. If you have trouble printing them, please visit any Family History Center for assistance.

Highlights from this year's class lineup include:

• Researching in several countries will be presented this year.
• Old German Empire (this is a 2 hour class)
• Spanish speaking countries
• Great Britain
• Italy
• Scandinavia
• Unique research challenges for several ethnic groups will be discussed
• African American
• Jewish
• Native American
• Three classes on genetic genealogy (DNA) are returning from last year
• Classes on record types, some new and some returning from previous years, will be offered
• Wills and probate
• Deeds
• Death records
• Immigration and Naturalization
• A new class will teach you how to share your family history with children and keep them coming back for more.

 There is truly something for everybody this year. And the best part is that it is absolutely FREE! And there is no pre-registration; just come and go as you please.

Visit our previous blog post Tucson Family History Fair February 25, 2017 for our initial Fair announcement. Click here to view the Fair details and get the handouts from the Tucson Family History Center website.

Tucson Family History Fair February 25, 2017

The Tucson Family History Fair will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 6901 E. Kenyon (south of Broadway and west of Kolb).

This annual event is free and open to the public.  Seven classes will run simultaneously each hour from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. with a one hour break for lunch on your own (tables will be available). Displays, individual help, water, and snacks will be available in the Cultural Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. One-on-one support will be provided at the Family History Center from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Several new classes will be offered this year, mostly on researching outside the United States. Countries of interest include Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom. Some of the most popular classes will be offered again, including the DNA classes updated with new discoveries and technology since last year.

PCGS has for many years partnered with the Tucson Family History Center for this event. Our members teach classes and provide great displays in the Cultural Hall.

The Tucson Family History Center will post the schedule, class descriptions, and links to any handouts that you can print in advance of the Fair. Please check the Tucson Arizona Family History Center wiki page periodically for those additions. Handouts will not be available at the event, please print them out and bring them with you. The website can be reached by clicking here or by entering "Tucson Family History Center" in your browser's search engine.

Remember, this event is FREE and open to the public. Plan to spend a day of learning with us and fellow researchers.

UPDATE January 6, 2017: The tentative schedule is posted on the Family History Center website. Click here to view and print.

Family History Discovery Fair Schedule Available

The tentative class schedule for the Family History Discovery Fair on January 30, 2016 has been posted on the Tucson Family History Center's Wiki. The direct link to the schedule can be found here.
Six hour-long classes will run simultaneously from 8:30am to 3:15pm and one-on-one personal help will be available until 4:30pm.

The most popular classes from past years will be presented again, but there are 13 new classes being offered this year. The DNA class has been expanded from one class in 2015 to three classes in 2016.

They will post class descriptions over the next several weeks, as well as links to any handouts that you can print in advance of the Fair. Please check the wiki page periodically for those additions. Handouts will not be available at the event, please print them out and bring them with you.

Remember, this event is FREE and open to the public.

2016 Tucson Family History Fair is Coming (January 30, 2016)

SAVE THE DATE
for the 2016 Tucson Family History Fair to be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016. It is still in the planning stages; more information will follow closer to the event. A record 300 people attended the 2015 Fair. The planning committee is reviewing the feedback received from those attendees with the result that next year's Fair should be better than ever. And best of all, there is no charge for this event.


PCGS has partnered with the Tucson Family History Center on this event for the past few years and will again next year. Our members teach classes and provide great displays in the Cultural Hall.

Please check their wiki page periodically for information on the Fair and on the Tucson Family History Center. You can access the wiki page by clicking here or by entering "Tucson Family History Center" in your browser's search engine.

Tucson Family History Fair January 31, 2015

The tentative schedule for the 2015 Family History Fair can be found on the Tucson Arizona Family History Center wiki site by clicking here.

The Fair will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 6901 E. Kenyon (near Broadway and Kolb). There will be a break for lunch on your own (tables will be available) and snacks and water will be provided throughout the day. Interesting displays will be open during breaks and lunch. There is no charge for this event.

This year's line-up includes five hour-long classes running simultaneously from 8:30am to 3:10pm with a 70 minute break for lunch. Our most popular classes from previous years are updated and will be presented again. There are also several new classes including Introduction to DNA and Using Evernote for Research.

As in years past, the handouts for the classes will be available on the Tucson Arizona Family History Center wiki as we draw closer to the event. Please print the handouts and bring them to class.

Free Classes at the Family History Center

Did you miss the "Family History in the 21st Century" Fair on January 25th? Did you want to take one of the classes again? Did you have to give up attending one class because it was presented at the same time another class was presented? You're in luck!

Many of the classes that were presented at the fair will be repeated at the Family History Center at 500 S. Langley, over the next few months. A schedule of the classes and the handouts are available online by clicking here. The first class is tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Pre-registration is required. If there are not more than two people signed up a couple of days before the class date, the class will be cancelled. You may register by calling 298-0905.

Tucson Family History Library Books Blog

The FHC has a new blog http://tfhcbooks.blogspot.com/. The staff will write book reviews on their favorite books in the collection (about once a month) and they will posted on the Staff Favorites tab. There will also be a post of a rolling 3-month list of new acquisitions on the New Acquisitions tab. 

Check out the blog at http://tfhcbooks.blogspot.com/

Free Classes This Week!

The Tucson Family History Center is offering repeat sessions of some of the presentations from "Family History in the 21st Century" in January. If you missed a class or want a refresher, this is your opportunity. The classes being offered the next two weeks are listed below.

Making the Most of Ancestry.com - Thursday, March 28, 11:00 a.m.
British Research: Beyond Parish Records - Saturday, March 30, 11:00 a.m.
FamilySearch Indexing: Serving in Family History from Home or Anywhere - Thursday, April 4, 11:00 a.m.

All classes are one hour in length and are held at the Tucson Family History Center, 500 S. Langley. Map Call the Family History Center at (520)298-0905 for more information or to register. Links to the handouts for both the Ancestry.com and the Indexing classes are on their website and can be accessed by clicking on this link. A complete schedule of classes offered is found here.

Free German Research Classes - April 9, 16, and 23

map from www.lonelyplanet.com

Free German Research Classes from the Tucson Family History Center, 500 S. Langley.  Map

Classes will be taught on Tuesdays, April 9, 16, and 23 from 3-5 pm.  You must be pre-registered to attend the class.  Registration reservations can be made by calling 298-0905.

Free German Research Classes - A series of three classes from the Tucson Family History Center

map from www.lonelyplanet.com

Free German Research Classes from the Tucson Family History Center, 500 S. Langley.  Map

Classes will be taught on Tuesdays, April 9, 16, and 23 from 3-5 pm.  You must be pre-registered to attend the class.  Registration reservations can be made by calling 298-0905.

Family History Fair 2013 Repeat presentation Schedule

Did you miss the Family History Fair 2013 at the Tucson Family History Center last Saturday?  

The classes are being repeated!  

Please register if you are interested in attending one of the classes listed below.  Call 298-0905 to register.

All presentations will be held at the Tucson Family History Center

Please call to register: 298-0905

Presentation	Date	Day	Time
Audio digitizing Digitizing records	Feb 12 “	Tuesday “	7 pm 8 pm
Clues to Conclusions	Feb 19	Tuesday	7 pm
From Chaos to computers---                   Family History Basics-entering         data, scanning, and preserving	Feb 23	Saturday	11 am
Getting the most out of FamilySearch’s new features	Feb 26	Tuesday	7 pm
“	Feb 27	Wednesday	11 am
British research-beyond the Parish records	March 2	Saturday	11 am
Finding the Living	March 5	Tuesday	7 pm
“	March 6	Wednesday	11 am
FamilySearch FamilyTree-sourcing and trimming	March 12	Tuesday	7 pm
“	March 13	Wednesday	11 am
Finding the Dead	March 19	Tuesday	7 pm
“	March 20	Wednesday	11 am
Getting the most out of Ancestry.com	March 28	Thursday	11 am
British Research-Beyond the Parish Records	March 30	Saturday	11 am
Indexing—how to give back to the genealogy community	April 4	Thursday	11 am
Irish research	April 12	Friday	3 pm
Maps-the best kept research secret	April 18	Thursday	7 pm
Internet resources other than the FHC portal	April 25	Thursday	7 pm
Family History for those who think it is all done	April 30	Tuesday	7 pm
“	May 1	Wednesday	11 am
German Research	May 7	Tuesday	3 pm

Register for the First PCGS Event of 2013

Subscription websites, genealogy research books from all over the world, family histories, and local access to films stored at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City:  $0.00 at the Family History Center.

An orientation tour of the treasure trove of resources, including the ones above, held at the Tucson Family History Center:  $0.00

Handouts to take home with you: Minimal $ (collected at the door)

Using what you learn while on the tour to find a new branch of your family tree: Priceless.

Join us for this no cost tour of the Tucson Family History Center and see what priceless bits of information you find!

The orientation will be on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required and the registration deadline is 12 January--just a few short weeks away. Follow this link for the registration form. Don't miss out...register today!

Watch our blog for the full list of the year's events to be posted soon.

Free Genealogy Classes from the Family History Center

The Family History Center is offering repeat classes from the Family History Fair weekly during the months of February, March and April.  "Publishing/Sharing Your Family History Projects" will be taught Feb. 28 and 29.  Call the FHC at 298-0905 for times and to register.  For a complete listing of classes go to see below or go to: https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Tucson_Arizona_Family_History_Center.

Family History Center - Classes at the Langley location

The Family History Center will be offering repeat classes from the Family History Fair weekly during the months of February, March and April.  "Getting the Most Out of FamilySearch.org" will be taught Feb. 7 and 8.  Call the FHC at 298-0905 for times and to register.  Additional classes on different subjects will be offered, please contact FHC for more information.


The center is located at 500 S. Langley, Tucson, AZ  85710.