F is for FamilySearch Initiative

F is for FamilySearch Initiative. Many of us wonder what might happen to our one-name studies in the future or what we would do if we had a hard-drive crash or a cloud service glitch. Two of the pillars of our one-name studies are to publish and preserve our work. When thinking about preserving your one-name study, why not take advantage of the Guild’s partnership with FamilySearch. 

The partnership is a way of preserving our one-name studies by uploading our trees into the genealogies section of the FamilySearch website. Thanks to the efforts of Guild member Marie Byatt, this FamilySearch Initiative is a free and secure method of preserving our one-name studies while sharing the fruits of our labor with the larger family history community. If someone is searching for your surname, their results will include your data.

If you want to learn more about the FamilySearch Initiative and just how easy it is to publish and preserve your one-name study, visit the Guild Website. Simply use the drop down menu and select Resources, then select Guild Services, and click on Preservation with FamilySearch. While you are there, why not check out the other great services available to you as a Guild member!

Some key features of the FamilySearch Initiative: (1) Your data will be preserved and FamilySearch will handle all upgrades to technology/server features, (2) the contributing Guild member is the only person who can update, replace or delete information –  you have full control of your family trees, (3) it’s a simple process of uploading a GEDCOM (more information and instructions are at the Guild Website), (4) it serves as a useful backup for all your hard work, and (5) it is FREE.

So why not have a look at some of your fellow Guild members’ data that is already available on FamilySearch. Marie Byatt serves as the Guild Co-coordinator for this partnership and is happy to help any Guild member with the process. Thanks Marie!