ANCESTRAL FILE AND

PEDIGREE RESOURCE FILE

©2007 by Donald R. Snow

Sections of the Class Notes

• Welcome and What This Class Is All About
• History of Ancestral File
• Available Versions of Ancestral File
• Searching and Downloading From Ancestral File
• Pedigree Resource File
• Contributing to Pedigree Resource File
• Differences Between Ancestral File and Pedigree Resource File
• Conclusions
• Assignment

• Instructors are Elder and Sister Donald R. and Diane M. Snow of the England London Mission, Hyde Park Family History Centre  ( snowd@math.byu.edu , dms34@juno.com )
• These notes with active Internet links are posted on the Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group website http://uvtagg.org under Class Outlines , Don's Listings , and are linked on the Hyde Park Family History Centre website  http://www.hydeparkfhc.org  under Events .   Many other class notes and outlines for family history are linked on both sites also.
• This class is to learn about the databases Ancestral File and Pedigree Resource File from the LDS Church's FamilySearch system.
  • The indexes to both of these files are on http://www.familysearch.org -- see interesting  Facts and Statistics about FamilySearch.org
  • Only subsets, not the full versions, of each of these files is on FamilySearch.org -- see the details below

• AF started in 1978 (see Information screen about any name in it on http://www.familysearch.org , but was first announced to the Church in the Ensign, Apr 1981
  • Each family was asked to submit one correct set of 4-generation family group sheets
  • AF staff was to type them all into the computer, but not enough staff, so that much of what was sent in on hard copy never got into AF -- is available in Patron Files on film now 
  • Only 7% of LDS Church members ever did that assignment, anyway.
• CD Editions of AF in FHC's
  • 1st Ed - to 1989, 6.5 million names
  • 2nd Ed - to 1990, 9.7 million names,
  • 3rd Ed - to Dec 1991 (released Oct 1992), 12.7 million names
  • 4th Ed - to Aug 1992 (released Oct 1993) (better data compression, so only 4 CD's), 17 million names
  • 5th Ed - to 18 Feb 1994, 21 million names (beta test version in early 1995 had problems so they decided to skip that edition and not release it at all)
  • 6th Ed - to Jan 1996 (released Fall 1996), 29.5 million names, 7 CD's
  • 7th Ed - to Jan 1998 (released January 1999), 35 million names, 9 CD's -- I think that was the last version of AF.  (DRS)
  • They had many more submissions and corrections ready to upload when it was decided not to update it any more.
• Concept was that it would be the "Ultimate File of Man" that everyone could submit to, correct, and update
  • AF is lineage linked, unlike the IGI, which usually only has two generations linked (spouses and children to parents) 
  • Idea was to include everyone's genealogy, LDS or not, and get it correct -- still a worthy goal
  • Early talks about AF suggested that families send in their own updated information and their current family history research every year, so it would be preserved and become visible available as soon as death dates were submitted
  • Contributing to and correcting AF was our responsibility, not "Salt Lake's", and they just maintained the file for us
  • AF is one of the 5 databases in new FamilySearch being released now (Dec 2007) by Temple Districts
    • I suspect that all the corrections and submissions they had after the last AF edition will be in new FamilySearch, but I don't know for sure.  (DRS)
• Submissions were given a number, e.g. AF89-12345, which indicates that it was submitted in 1989 -- remaining numbers have further significance  
  • AF did not show notes or sources, even if they were submitted
  • Early submissions were on paper and the AF staff entered them into the computer database
  • All paper submissions were microfilmed, so notes and sources are available, if they were included
    • On 606 microfilm reels -- see Ancestral File Submission Sheets
    • Many good notes and sources in those early ones and they are worthwhile examining
    • To determine the film number from FamilySearch click on Submitter Details and look at submission numbers -- gives film number, if it was filmed
    • Films can be ordered at any FHC -- Family History Library and BYU Library each have the entire set of film 
    • Most submissions were accepted on disk and are not on microfilm at all -- indicated by words "MICROFILM: None" by submission Number
    • Submissions before about 1989 were all on hard copy -- I have seen some submissions up through 1991 that were filmed.  (DRS)
• AF numbers (AFN's) were assigned when the data was sent in, e.g. 958X-C7 
  • Many families used the AFN's for common references since they didn't change like RIN's (Record Index Numbers in PAF) do
  • To be able to add or edit AFN's in your PAF database in PAF 4 or 5, set the preferences to allow "Edit AFN's"
  • With new FamilySearch there is a new unique number assigned to each individual that will be used for common references 
• FH Department discussed ways to achieve and maintain accuracy of the file, but many errors crept in
  • AF program was set to automatically merge individuals where enough information matched -- problem was that the checks were not careful enough and many individuals were merged who shouldn't have been -- caused many people to distrust the file
• Medieval Genealogy group was formed to organize and enter all known records from before 1500
• Submitters list -- gives name and address of all submitters for that person, and submission number and whether microfilmed or not (see above) 
• Research interests -- AF took the place of the Research Interests file they had before and you could register your research interest in that person
• List of changes -- shows all changes and merges that were made to that record, year done, who by, and for what reason
• Angle brackets, < >, around year or place indicates that data was not submitted so computer estimated it from other data, e.g. marriage location from birth of first child

• The two available versions of Ancestral File are:
  1. Complete version in FHC's on CD's and/or on FHC server network
  2. Subset version on the Internet at http://www.familysearch.org
• Differences between the two versions
  • For living people
    • Internet version has no living people
    • FHC version shows the following for living people:
      • Name of the person, if submission showed a live (not proxy) LDS baptism date, but no death date  -- no data other than the name is shown, even if it was sent in
      • [LIVING] in place of name, if no live LDS baptism date nor death date was sent in -- so names are not shown for children under 8 
    • Living people in the FHC version have an AFN (Ancestral File Number), but Internet version will say that AFN doesn't exist.
  • Temple data -- if it was sent in, it shows on FHC version, but not on Internet version
  • Downloading ancestors
    • Internet version only allows downloading 4 generations at a time, so you have to go to ends of lines, note the AFN's, and start again with those
    • FHC version allows downloading more generations of ancestors at a time -- most FHC's run AF on their servers and have set it up so you can download 13 or more generations at a time
    • Multiple parents are indicated by "+" in front, means the child file has other possible sets of parents, e.g. biological parents, sealing line, adoption line, or they are just plain mistakes -- if more than one set of parents, set it the way you want it before you download
  • Downloading descendants
    • FHC version allows downloading up to 5 generations of descendants at a time
    • No download of descendants from Internet version

• Need to search AF (and any database)  in several ways to cover all possibilities
  • Similar vs exact surname spellings
    • Check other possibilities -- other spellings, initials, letters that sound the same (S instead of Z), etc.
    • Data may be there, but may not be listed correctly, nor linked, and may be duplicated with one linked and the other not
    • Search with less information at first, then narrow the search, if you get too many hits -- otherwise you might inadvertently eliminate hits
• In AF in FHC's with a name highlighted, press ENTER to see details, then ENTER again to see more details
  • Tabs across the top indicate the kind of data there is for that person:  F6 = Family, F7 = Pedigree, F8 = Descendants
• Printing and downloading from AF at a FHC
  • Can print info on the printer
  • Can download or "print" to your own flash drive or floppy disk -- no charge at any FHC
    • Gives you the data to examine and include in a working PAF database without retyping it
    • Specify GEDCOM for PAF 3 to use data in PAF 4 or 5
    • Can download as text (ASCII) for word processing
  • Data available includes events, dates, places, AFN's, LDS ordinances (if indicated and selected), submitters, history of changes, register of research interests
• Might be wise to start with a small file of 5 generations, print pedigree chart, and download a few family groups to get familiar with it
  • It's easier to download more generations all at once, but you sometimes get overwhelmed with all the data. 
  • AF is a compiled (secondary) source, so use AF data as a guide and check it out with primary sources
    • It's much easier to verify something than find it in the first place.
    • Enter it into a working database to check it out before including it in your master (checked) database
    • Don't mix it with your good data since it's much harder to find and delete inaccurate records when in your master database

• Successor to Ancestral File -- started in xxxx
• Takes submissions by uploading to http://www.familysearch.org via the Share option
  • You must be registered on FamilySearch, including an email address
  • You do not have to a member of the LDS Church to upload your files
  • You upload a GEDCOM file of the database you want to send in
  • Do NOT include names of anyone still alive
  • Databases uploaded are converted to the format they use and are released within a few months on DVD's (used to be released on CD's)
  • Can download the GEDCOM's from the CD's and DVD's
• Pedigree Resource File Index is on FamilySearch.org, but data is only on CD's from the LDS Church Distribution Centers
  PRF Index is in two versions: (1) online, and (2) on CD -- CD version has more search capabilities, but online index may include later PRF DVD's that haven't been released yet
  • CD cumulative index is on two DVD's (Dec 2007) and includes CD's 1-125 and DVD's 126-134
  • Each cumulative index supersedes all earlier ones and latest one must be installed to index latest CD's
  • Full index is also on http://www.findyourfamilytree.com/ by Progeny Software who produces the PRF CD's for the LDS Church
  • Commercial program called PRF Magnet will form a GEDCOM from the online PRF Index
    • File will contain names and dates, but no notes nor sources, and those are what make the PRF data most useful
    • Program is commercial ($20), but free for FHC's; go to http://ohanasoftware.com
  • Program PAF Companion 5.2.1 (CD bundled withe PAF 5.2 CD) will search and give report for names in your PAF database that are in PRF Index
  • Index shows all occurrences on all PRF CD's of the name you are searching for, tells you which CD's it occurs on, who sent it in, when, and whether it has notes and sources, but the index doesn't show the data -- you have to go to the particular PRF CD to see that
  • The index that comes on CD can be set to show additional information, e.g. spouse, parents, submission date, etc. -- then it takes you to the CD and you can VIEW the data on screen, do a REPORT, print the report, or download the GEDCOM
  • The index shows if the name has sources and/or notes and the best files have both
    • The poor entries were just downloaded from the AF and submitted to the PRF's with no editing at all -- is a waste of time and resources
    • However, even if all the data came from the AF, it may have been edited, linked, corrected, merged, etc., and may be in better shape than the original AF data was

CONTRIBUTING TO PEDIGREE RESOURCE FILE

• Can contribute to PRF, but not AF now -- See statement in What's New? section of http://www.familysearch.org
• PRF is one of the 5 databases included in new FamilySearch, so uploading your GEDCOM now will put it in new FamilySearch 
  • You will be able to "claim" your submission in new FamilySearch to edit and correct it
  • You can not change it in PRF, only only send in a new file
  • Can put a note in the new file that "This supersedes submission..... on CD xx."
• Don't submit info on any living person to PRF (or anywhere else to be posted online)
• Can submit your FH research periodically so it's available to others and as a backup -- include sources and notes
• There are other places to upload your data where you have full control over it and can change or delete it, if you want, e.g. RootsWeb's Family Trees
• Do the temple work and include all temple dates in your PRF submission, so it can't be downloaded and sent through the temple again and duplicate the temple work
• To submit data to PRF from PAF 5 -- from other programs form an appropriate GEDCOM file and upload that
  • Use File/Export/Pedigree-Resource-Files to form a submission GEDCOM -- note where you saved it
  • Select people to include by using Relationship and/or Field filters
  • Leave out living people for PRF, but include sources and notes and temple data
  • Use your user name and password for the Church web site and log in to familysearch.org -- you must have an email address to register
  • In http://www.familysearch.org , click on Share Your Information and follow directions to upload it
  • Family History Dept will store a copy of your GEDCOM in the Granite Vault and put it out on CD within a couple of months
  • The index (not the data) will be online and can be searched on FamilySearch.org
  • The index on each CD and DVD includes every name in the GEDCOM's on that CD or DVD -- the online and Master indexes leave out living people, if the PRF staff knows about them, e.g. someone sent in my name and it's on a PRF CD, but now doesn't show up in the online index
  • Both indices list who submitted them, his or her email address, which CD or DVD that GEDCOM is on, and if it includes any sources or notes

• AF data is merged, PRF data is not -- PRF data is in separate GEDCOM files
• AF in FHC's (but not on the Internet) includes living people -- PRF should not include anyone living (but there are a few in it)
  • If living people are shown in PRF, notify the FH Dept and they will delete them from the online index
  • They can't be deleted from the CD or DVD nor the index on that CD or DVD, since those have been distributed
• Sources and notes, if sent in, are on PRF, but not AF -- have to go to the AF submission microfilms to see the sources and notes for AF
• Can't correct either AF nor PRF, but can send in a new submission to PRF and say "This supersedes submission..." 
  • Old file remains in PRF
  • Both new and old GEDCOM's are indexed, so people need to check to see if a later file corrects earlier data
• Can download from both AF and PRF's in GEDCOM and text format
  • PRF CD's and DVD's have an option to download entire submission, if you want, or just ancestors or descendants
• Number of names -- AF has about 35 million names; PRF has about 200 million names (Dec 2007)

• Both of these files are helpful in some cases and should be checked in any genealogy survey of what has been done on your family history lines.
• Consider any data you find here as helpful, but not proven until you check it out.
• These are good secondary sources (not primary records themselves), but may lead you to primary sources to verify the data.

1. Do a search online at http://www.familysearch.org and see if any of your ancestors are in either the Ancestral File or in the Pedigree Resource File.   If none are, use some other name, e.g. Erastus Snow, and see how many hits you get.
2. Find a submission in the Ancestral File that was submitted on paper and determine year it was submitted and the microfilm number it in on.
3. Find a submission in the Pedigree Resource File that has notes and/or sources on one of your surnames.