by Alan Mann
Many CD-ROMs for genealogy have been released since my article in ComputerCredible (June/July 1996 issue). Also, a new major CD-ROM producer has entered the genealogy marketplace, along with several smaller companies. My previous article explained that there were two different markets for CD-ROMs--institutional and home use. Several major changes have taken place in the home market, which will be the focus of this article. Let's take a look at the present state of the home CD market for genealogy and family history, starting with a new service for CD users.
Actual Records made to order on CD
Several companies have begun producing CDs containing scanned copies of actual records. Both scan each frame from a microfilm and put the resulting images on a CD. You can then view the images on your computer. In essence, their service is to convert a microfilm to a CD. In most cases, the image on the CD is clearer than the original microfilm (see example from scanned CD image at right). Individuals determine which records they would like to see on the CD and order it. Companies then make the CDs to fill the customer's order (unless already on hand due to a previous customer's order). The best known company is CensusVu. CensusVu started with the 1850 census of Arkansas (now complete, costs $149.95 for all 51 counties or $29.95 for any 3 counties), and is moving on to other census years and states. These companies are forerunners of the ideal future--where all genealogical data is available electronically, either by CD or via the Internet. For more information, contact CensusVu at the address above, or contact your CD-ROM distributor (see below).
CD distributors on the Internet
There are three major distributors of genealogical CDs. The oldest, Automated Research, Inc. (ARI) offers the most information about the CDs they distribute, including detailed descriptions of what is contained on each CD. Based in Orem, ARI's website is complete with research tips (under Introduction). Another major distributor is Moobasi, which has the widest selection of CDs that I've seen, but content descriptions are not quite as detailed or organized. Moobasi has a number of links to other helpful genealogy sites. The third major distributor is American Genealogical Lending Library (AGLL), which also offers to rent CDs for a limited time for less money than a regular purchase. AGLL also offers many books and other aids for genealogy.
Brøderbund's Family Archives series
The major producer of CDs is still Brøderbund Software's subsidiary called Banner Blue Software, which produces Family Tree Maker. Their series, called Family Archives, now numbers over 80 different CDs, grouped in fourteen categories. 50 of them are U.S. Census Indexes, U.S. marriage indexes, World Family Tree, and Family History CDs. The balance fit into the categories of non-U.S., Birth, Pedigree, State, Social Security Death Index, Mortality, Cemetery, Land, Military, and Miscellaneous. Most of the CDs give an individual's name, some means of identifying the person (such as birth, death, or marriage information), and a page number or reference that points to where further information is available. The purpose of the CDs is to make it easier to find that information. For example, a census index (there are 21 census index CDs) gives the persons name, town of residence, and the page number of the census on which he appears. You then look them up in the census microfilm for more info.
The World Family Tree is a series of CDs containing genealogies contributed by individuals around the world. The information is taken from submitted disks and made available to purchasers. The CD gives you an identification number code as the source of information. If you find an ancestor or other relative on the CD, you can call or write to Family Tree Maker to get the name and address of the person represented by that code number.
Brøderbund also publishes a CD called the Family Finder Index, which is an index to all the names that appear on all the CDs they produce. This index gives no information other than the name and the which of their CDs that name appears on. You must then obtain the CD itself to get the details that are available (in the case of a census CD, the town and page number). The Family Finder Index is also available on the Internet free of charge. One word of caution, though, you must have either the Family Tree Maker software program or a program called Family Archive Viewer to use any of their CDs.
A major new feature is available only with Family Tree
Maker 4.0, which is the ability for the software to automatically search
the index using the names in your genealogy database. For more information
on this feature, see ComputerCredible's
August/September issue.
Other CD Producers
A new major producer is Infobases & Ancestry of Provo. Their first product was the Ancestry Reference Library (five genealogical reference books on one CD), which was followed by the LDS Family History Suite, which includes the Ancestry Reference Library as well as a genealogy data management program (Ancestral Quest), the Pioneer Heritage Library, the LDS Vital Records Library, the Geographic Reference Library, Deluxe Journal Keeper, and 12 months of unlimited access to World Wide Family History Network. It contains the full text and over 10,000 pictures from over 400 books. While the CD was designed for people with LDS ancestry, it is the single most important source for Utah Pioneer genealogy available in any form. If you have ancestors who were in Utah before 1875, this CD should help you.. Infobases has joined forces with Ancestry, and are now offering a free CD called Ancestry Genealogy Library, with 17 databases. Some of the databases are free, while others require payment of an "unlock" fee before they can be accessed off the CD. Order your free CD on the Internet. Their latest accomplishment is the production of PERSI (PERiodical Source Index) on CD (sells for $99.95). For more information on PERSI, see Ancestry's website.
Another producer of several titles in 1996/7 is GenRef, who has brought us the Vital Record Assistant (writes for birth certificates to any of the 50 states automatically), Encyclopedia of U.S. Counties, Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid (index to 1.2 million headstone in Ontario, Canada), and the Social Security Death Index. This company also offers to help you publish your own family history on CD-ROM.
There are numerous other companies that have recently produced a CD for genealogy. Some of the more notables are:
GuildPress of Indiana has produced the official records of the Civil War (both Union and Confederate).
Family Forest has produced CDs for Delaware and Pittsburg founding families. The data is in Family Tree Maker format.
Heritage Books has produced Mayflower Descendants and other New England Town Records and Early Hartford, CT 1635-1750
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has produced CDs containing information about land grants, patents, and cash sales for eight states (1 CD for each state).
The town of Schevenhutter, Germany has a CD containing genealogies of people in the church records of the town, along with photographs of many who have lived in the town since 1945.
There are many other worthwhile CDs available for genealogy. There have been many new things produced in the past year, and it seems likely that the trend to produce on CD will continue, with even more available by the end of 1997.
The three distributors listed above can help tell you more about them, offer you the opportunity to buy or rent them, and keep you informed as new releases are announced. Wasatch Front residents also have the opportunity to use most of these CDs at the Family History Library in Salt Lake (ask for the Automated Resource Center). Genealogy on CD can be fun and exciting.