THE NAUVOO DATABANK

©Copyright 2011 by Donald R. Snow

Sections of the Class Notes Return to http://uvtagg.org > Class Outlines > Don Snow's Listings or http://uvtagg.org/classes/dons/dons-classes.html . This page was last updated 2011-08-17.
    WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO CLASS

  1. Instructors are Donald R. and Diane M. Snow of Provo and St. George, Utah ( snowd@math.byu.edu, dmsnow34@gmail.com )
  2. These notes with active Internet links are posted on the Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group website http://uvtagg.org > Class Outlines > Don Snow's Listings. Underlined words in these notes are usually clickable links in the online version.
  3. This class is a discussion and illustration of the Nauvoo Databank which uses the Folio 4.2 search engine.

    4. ABOUT THE NAUVOO DATABANK

  4. "Nauvoo" in the title refers to where it was compiled, not what's in it
    • NOT limited to the Nauvoo period, but includes Kirtland, Missouri, Nauvoo, Utah, etc., from 1830 up to about 1900
    • Was mostly compiled in Nauvoo by missionaries and others under the direction of Dr. Milton V. Backman Jr., Retired BYU Professor of Church History
  5. Is a Folio text file , but includes some images of people and places -- the Folio 4 search engine has many powerful search features (see below)
  6. Is NOT a FH database of individuals like the EarlyLDS database at http://earlylds.com .
  7. Brings many sources into one database to search all at once -- includes many things not available elsewhere
  8. Only available to the public in a few places, e.g. Kirtland, Nauvoo, and some FHCs in Northern Utah
  9. To open the database click on the icon on the desktop or else open the Folio 4 Views program and tell it where to find the Nauvoo Databank -- May take a long time to open since it is so large
  10. Some parts are available elsewhere, as noted below, including http://ancestry.com -- available in FHCs

    CONTENTS OF THE NAUVOO DATABANK

    BIBLIOGRAPHIES
  11. Mormons and Their Neighbors compiled by Marvin Wiggins - an index to biographical references from 1820 to Present.  Nauvoo Databank has about 75,000 references, but updated online version at BYU Library web site http://lib.byu.edu/digital/Ancestry/intro.php has more than 100,000 references.
  12. Guide to Mormon Diaries and Autobiographies (1977) compiled by Davis Bitton -- also at http://lib.byu.edu/sites/mormonstudies/files/2008/09/bittons-guide.pdf
  13. Guide to Mormon Manuscripts to 1846 (1977) compiled by Andrus and Bennett -- also on FH Suite CD's

    VITAL RECORDS
  14. MEMBERSHIP OF THE LDS CHURCH 1830 TO 1858 (50 volumes) and EARLY RLDS MEMBERSHIP RECORDS (6 volumes) compiled by Susan Easton-Black
    1. In TEXT format in the Nauvoo Databank, and hence every-word-searchable
    2. Now online at http://www.worldvitalrecords.com , but in IMAGE format and hence, NOT text-searchable
    3. LDS Family History Suite CD from Ancestry (1997) contained TEXT versions of the Susan Easton-Black Membership Records of the Early LDS Church and RLDS Church
    4. Marie Taylor of FHL had a website through 2009 showing URLs for parts of the LDS FH Suite CDs on the Internet -- See old versions of her website stored in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine -- http://www.archive.org/web/web.php -- Type in "http://www.warnes.net/Teslacorp/GenealogyLinks" (without the quotes), highlight the year you want, and click on the date it was archived to see that version -- On Marie Taylor's old website, click on tab "7-LDS Ancestors" > "Family History Suite - What's on the Internet"
  15. Marriages in the Nauvoo Region -- many are online at Illinois Online Marriage Records Index now -- http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/marriage.html
  16. Inscriptions Found on Tombstones and Monuments in Early LDS Burial Grounds -- lists of names from kiosks at Old Nauvoo Burial Ground and at monument at foot of Nauvoo Parley Street at Mississippi River

    BIOGRAPHICAL
  17. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah 1847 to 1868 -- also at http://www.archive.org/details/pioneersprominen00esshrich
  18. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia by Andrew Jenson -- online at http://www.lib.byu.edu/dlib/misc/
  19. Early Priesthood Holders -- Biographical Information from Seventies Records and other sources
    1. Early Seventies, compiled by Harvey Black -- on FH Suite CD (on FH Suite 1, but not on FH Suite 2)
    2. Seventies Ordained Before 1850; Seventies Ordained After 1849; Autobiographies of early Seventies
    3. Biographical Information from High Priest Records
    4. Index of Minutes From High Council (Nauvoo)
    5. Index of Minutes From Teachers Quorum
  20. Record of Members 1841-1845
  21. 1842 LDS Census
  22. Excerpts from 1842 Personal Property Tax Record -- Primarily records from townships where many Latter-day Saints gathered -- some of the tax records from around Nauvoo are online at http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4221 and
  23. Nauvoo List of Members
  24. Daily Log of Persons Entering Nauvoo
  25. Members of Nauvoo Legion
  26. Missouri Petitions
  27. Pioneers of 1847 -- see lists at http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanylist-chronological/0,15765,3968-1,00.html
  28. Members of the Mormon Battalion (List) -- see information and links to roster at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Battalion
  29. Ellsworth and McArthur Handcart Companies 1856 -- see online rosters and info at http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/0,15797,4017-1-111,00.html and http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/0,15797,4017-1-195,00.html
  30. Willie and Martin Handcart Company -- see online rosters and info at http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/0,15797,4017-1-319,00.html , http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/0,15797,4017-1-192,00.html , and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_handcart_pioneers
  31. Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and Their Mothers Collection -- indexed online at Godfrey Memorial Library -- http://www.godfrey.org/
  32. Our Pioneer Heritage 1847 to 1868 (19 vols.) -- also online at http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3239
  33. Heart Throbs of the West (19 vols.) -- also online at http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3240
  34. Treasures of Pioneer History (4 vols.) -- also on the FH Suite CDs and online at http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3241
  35. An Enduring Legacy (12 vols.) -- also online at http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3242
  36. Biographies of Members of the Mormon Battalion (in process)
  37. Biographies of the Prophets (Presidents of the Church from Joseph Smith thru Pres. Ezra Taft Benson) -- on LDS Collector's Library CD's

    WRITINGS OF EARLY LATTER-DAY SAINTS
  38. The Writings are text files in a separate folder with Nauvoo Databank and individual files can be downloaded from there without the source citations that Folio puts into each paragraph in the Folio file
  39. The Writings collection consists of
    1. Primarily unpublished writings by and about early Latter-day Saints and their contemporaries
    2. Letters and reminiscences, including reminiscences of Joseph Smith by more than 60 Latter-day Saints
    3. Over 550 autobiographies, journals, and diaries
    4. Over 170 biographies of early Latter-day saints
    5. Excerpts from some of these and some additional early LDS writings are online at http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/ and http://www.ldsinfobase.net/lds_stuff.html#periodicals

    LDS HISTORICAL LIBRARY
  40. Many of these are also in places such as the old LDS Collector's Library CD 1997 , New Mormon Studies CD , LDS Book Lovers , LDS Book Club , http://www.lib.byu.edu/dlib/misc/ , or elsewhere, but are completely Folio-searchable in the Nauvoo Databank
  41. Doctrine and Covenants -- online at http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc?lang=eng
  42. Pearl of Great Price -- online at http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp?lang=eng
  43. Joseph Smith Collection (Includes Teachings, Words, Writings, and Papers)
  44. Pioneer Periodicals -- for excerpts from some of these see http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/artindex.htm and
  45. Nauvoo Neighbor (May-July 1843) (Excerpts) -- online at http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/artindex.htm
  46. Times and Seasons (1839-1845) -- online at http://www.ldsinfobase.net/lds_stuff.html
  47. Elders Journal (1838) -- online at http://www.ldsinfobase.net/lds_stuff.html
  48. Messenger and Advocate (1835-1838) -- online at http://www.ldsinfobase.net/lds_stuff.html
  49. Evening and Morning Star (1831-1834) -- online at http://www.ldsinfobase.net/lds_stuff.html
  50. The Frontier Guardian (1847-1852) -- excerpts at http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/artindex.htm
  51. Far West Record 1830-1844, edited by Cook & Cannon -- online at http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/ss/fwr.phtml
  52. History of the Church (7 volumes by Joseph Smith) -- online at http://byustudies2.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx?HC=/hc/1/4.html&A=10 --
  53. Selections from the Journal History of the Church (1839-1846) in text format
    1. Images of Journal History (1830-1923) are on Selected Collections from the Church Historian's Office DVD set ( available to buy, but very expensive )
    2. Images of Journal History (1830-1972) will soon be posted on Church History Library website -- http://churchhistorycatalog.lds.org/
    3. Images of card index of Journal History (1830-1972) are on CHL website now
  54. Journal of Discourses (1854-1886, 26 volumes) -- online at http://www.ldsinfobase.net/lds_stuff.html and http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/browseresults.exe?CISOROOT=%2FJournalOfDiscourses3
  55. Collected Discourses (1886-1898, 5 volumes compiled by Brian H. Stuy) -- a few parts are online at http://mormonlit.byu.edu/lit_work.php?w_id=9000
  56. Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes by James R. Clark)
  57. Church Chronology (1805-1913 by Andrew Jenson) -- online at http://lib.byu.edu/digital/misc/
  58. Historical Record (8 volumes by Andrew Jenson) on Infancy of the Church -- volumes 5-8 online at http://books.google.com/books?q=editions:0Vkvd2v_hWYf_NzIlE&id=Is1LAAAAMAAJ
  59. Comprehensive History of the Church (6 volumes by B. H. Roberts)
  60. History of Utah (4 volumes by Orson F. Whitney)

    PRINCIPLES AND HELPS FOR SEARCHING WITH FOLIO

  61. Folio searches are powerful when you learn the techniques
  62. Start with minimal info and only add more to narrow down the search when you get too many hits -- entering too much search data at the start may eliminate hits due to spelling and/or data entry errors

  63. QUERY -- for simple queries click on the word "Search" at the top left of the screen, then "Query" (F3 does the same thing)
    1. Entering the string of characters "Joseph Smith" (without the quotes), then clicking OK gives all pages with Joseph or Smith or both words, with the search terms highlighted on the page
    2. The case (caps or small) of search terms does not matter in Folio, so searching for "Joseph Smith" gives same hits as "joseph Smith"
    3. You see the number of PAGES with hits on them, not the number of hits, e.g. 1/50, which means Page 1 out of 50 pages with hits on them -- there may be many hits on a page
    4. Clicking on the big forward double arrow at bottom takes you to the next hit (F4 does the same) -- the page indicator, 1/50, won't change to 2/50 until the hit is on the next page
    5. Clicking on the small forward double arrow at bottom takes you to the next page of hits and you see 2/50, then 3/50, etc.
    6. If there is only one hit per page, then both sets of double arrows do the same thing.
    7. The back double arrows go back one hit or one page of hits, respectively.
    8. With this type of Query searching for "Joseph Smith" (with on quotes) gives hits of things like Joseph A. Banks and George A. Smith on the same page
    9. Clicking Prev in Query gives you the past query, so you can reuse or edit them.

  64. ADVANCED QUERY -- has more search options; click on the word "Search" at the top left of the screen, then "Advanced Query" (F2 does same thing)
    1. Now entering the string "joseph Smith" (without the quotes) first shows that the word Joseph occurs in the Databank 85667 times, then Smith occurs 79984 times, and both on the same page occurs 48842 times
    2. Adding more words, e.g. Jr., shows Jr. occurs 9071 times and these three words occur on the same page 2942 times in the Databank -- but these may not all refer to the same person on that page, e.g. you may get a page with Lovina Jane Smith & Joseph City, Arizona; and Brigham Young Jr.
    3. Adding quotes, e.g. "Joseph Smith" (including the quotes), gives hits with the words in that order (36,072 hits)
    4. "joseph smith jr." (1402 hits) gives words in that order, and it includes "joseph smith, jr." with a comma, so punctuation is ignored
    5. Adding @5 after the words in quotes, e.g. "Joseph Smith"@5, finds occurrences of Joseph and Smith within 5 words of each other (46,004 hits), so you get Joseph Smith; Smith Joseph; Joseph F. Smith; Joseph Fielding Smith; Smith, Robert Evan Joseph; etc. -- everything you got before plus more
      • Larger numbers after @ usually give more hits since you are allowing more words between, but you also get more extraneous hits
      • @2 means just those two words together, but in either order
      • @ searches find things that you can't find by searching straight text, e.g. "nauvoo teach*"@10 finds the words Nauvoo and teach or teacher or teaching within 10 words of each other, so you can find information about teaching in Nauvoo
      • To find Josephs with any event (birth, married, died, wrote letter, etc.) in 1805 search for "Joseph 1805"@5
      • To find Smiths married to Hales search for "Smith Hale"@10

  65. WILDCARDS -- ? (Question Mark) = a single character; * (Asterisk) = any number of any characters
    1. Wildcard searches take longer, but include misspellings
    2. Example of misspelling -- "jospeh smith"@5 brings up 30 hits, so there are 30 mispellings of Joseph Smith's name -- Indicates why you need to try various spellings, misspellings, and wildcards -- you pick up all of these by searching for "j*s*p*h smith"@3
    3. Wildcards can be used to find dates in all formats, e.g. "23* dec* 180?"@6 will pick up all events on 23 Dec in the 1800s -- Very helpful since the date could have been entered as 23 Dec 1805; December 23rd, 1805; 23rd day of December 1804; etc.
    4. "Vermont Smith"@10 will pick up all Smith's with a Vermont connection within 10 words, such as lived, died, etc.
    5. "joseph smith emma new york"@30 brings up the letter Joseph Smith wrote Emma from New York City in 1832

    EXPORTING DATA

  66. SAVING TEXT OR IMAGES BY HIGHLIGHTING AND COPYING
    1. To highlight a block of text left click at top and drag to the bottom
    2. To highlight a large block it is easier to click at the top, scroll down, and hold the shift key down while clicking at the bottom -- this highlights everything in between and is a Windows feature that works in any Windows program
    3. Copying text by highlighting gets all the visible text, including the sources at the start of each paragraph; however, it does not get the sources that are in links (footnotes, etc.) as in the Susan Easton-Black Membership of the Early LDS Church compilations
    4. With text highlighted you can right-click-copy (or CTRL-C) to get it on the clipboard, then right-click-paste (or CTRL-V) to put it into your genealogy notes for a person or to another file or to an email
    5. To copy an image left click it to get the image box around it, then right-click-copy and paste it into a document in a word processor such as WordPad or Word or to a graphics program such as MS Paint or Irfanview
    6. To print the highlighted text click on File/Print and click Selection
    7. To copy entire articles from the Autobiographies section it is usually easier to copy the rich text file (rtf) from the Writings folder which is usually a subfolder under the Nauvoo Databank folder -- has the same text, but the paragraphs aren't separated by source notes, as in the main Databank.   The files in the Writings folder are titled alphabetically by the person's name and can be opened with most word processing programs.

  67. SAVING TEXT OR IMAGES BY TAGGING
    1. Tagging a record means marking it for printing or exporting -- each paragraph is a record, so each paragraph has to be tagged separately to export or print it (but you can highlight the whole thing in one large block, as mentioned above)
    2. To tag a record put the cursor anywhere in the paragraph, then click Edit > Tag Record (or press CTRL-T) -- you see a red vertical line appear to the left of that paragraph
    3. Tag as many records as you want.
    4. To export all tagged records into one file click File > Export and tell it where to save the file, what name to give it, and the format you want, e.g. Generic Text or Rich Text File -- then click Export to save it
    5. Exporting or printing tagged records includes the sources even if they are not visible, as in the Susan Easton-Black Membership of the Early LDS Church database -- the earlier technique of highlighting and printing doesn't include sources that are not visible as text
    6. To print all tagged records click File > Print
    7. To clear (delete) all tags after exporting or printing, click Edit > Clear All Tags

    CONCLUSION

  68. This outline has only scratched the surface of what you can do with Folio searches and the Nauvoo Databank
  69. For more information read the help instructions in the Folio program and in the Nauvoo Databank

  70. ASSIGNMENT

    1. Search for an ancestor in the Nauvoo Databank (or use Erastus Snow).  How many hits result?  Go through the first few to see how to proceed.
    2. Do a search for some date to see where this date occurs in the database, e.g. 27 Jun 1844.  Do an @ search, e.g. "27 jun* 1844"@5, so it will pick up various ways that the date may be written.
    3. Highlight some text and right-click-copy-paste it into a document in a word processor, e.g. WordPad.
    4. Select a few records and tag them to see the red marks down the left column.  Click on Export to save the tagged records and copy that into the WordPad document you opened above.
    Return to Don Snow's Class Listings page or to the home page of Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group .