Footnote.com and Lowcountry Africana Join Forces to Create an Interactive Slave Records Collection

-Newly Digitized Records Preserve the Names of More Than 30,000 Slaves -

SALT LAKE CITY - July 19, 2010 – Today Footnote.com (www.footnote.com) and Lowcountry Africana (www.lowcountryafricana.net) announced the launch of a new collection of historical records from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History containing estate inventories and bills of sale for Colonial and Charleston South Carolina from 1732 to 1872. FamilySearch International donated the copies of the microfilm of the original historical documents.

Charleston’s role as a port of entry during the Atlantic Slave Trade means many thousands of African Americans may have ancestors who came from, or through, South Carolina. This new collection on Footnote.com will assist African American genealogy research by forming, in many cases, a seamless paper trail from Emancipation to the 1700s.

"Research about African American history and genealogy has often been especially difficult because of limited access to primary source material," says Henry Louis Gates Jr., Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research."Footnote.com is spearheading a revolution in access to the black past by digitizing major portions of the black archive, and making these records available on the Internet. The publication of these records from South Carolina in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is the latest example of their bold commitment to resurrecting the African American past."

Footnote.com provides an experience where visitors can access historical records and interact with those records and members of the Footnote community.

Visitors to Footnote.com can enhance these records from the South Carolina archives through various activities including:

• Creating and sharing web pages about the documents and their discoveries
• Adding their own insights and comments to the documents
• Uploading and connecting their own photos, letters and documents
• Annotating information on the documents, which creates a searchable database 

"We are excited that Footnote has joined this collaboration because they offer family historians the ability to turn public records into personal history,” said Toni Carrier, Founding Director of Lowcountry Africana. "Nowhere else on the Internet can readers interact with historical records in such a meaningful way."

“South Carolina has one of the richest sets of early government records of social and cultural history, said Charles Lesser, Senior Archivist at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. “This new cooperative effort will revolutionize access to an especially important segment of those records.”

Lowcountry Africana has established an online volunteer program to create the searchable index for this collection. To learn more about this volunteer program or to sign up to be a volunteer, visit the Lowcountry Africana site.

To view these South Carolina records, please visit Footnote.com.

Additional Resources
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/footnote
Join us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Footnotecom/52981708480

About Footnote, Inc.
Footnote.com is a subscription website that features original historical documents, providing visitors with an unaltered view of the events, places and people that shaped the American nation and the world. At Footnote.com, all are invited to come share, discuss, and collaborate on their discoveries with friends, family, and colleagues. For more information, visit http://www.footnote.com/.

About Lowcountry Africana
Lowcountry Africana, sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston, South Carolina, is a free website dedicated to African American genealogy and history in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, home to the rich Gullah-Geechee cultural heritage. The entire content of Lowcountry Africana is, and always will be, 100% free.

FamilySearch Indexing Update: Freedmen Letters from North Carolina Will Help Expand Popular African American Collection Online

25 June 2010

A project to index Freedmen Letters from North Carolina is now available. This is the second Freedmen’s Bureau collection FamilySearch has worked on with the National Archives. These records provide the earliest major compilation of information on many emancipated slaves, freed Blacks, and Black Union soldiers, including names, marriages, education and employment information, and receipt of rations, health care, and legal support.

New Projects in the Past Month

                                                                                                

·         Jamaica—Civil Births, 1878–1899 [Part C]

·         U.S., Arkansas—WWII Draft Registration, 1942

·         U.S., District of Columbia—Deaths, 1874–1959

·         U.S., North Carolina—Freedmen Letters, 1862–1870

 (See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)

Recently Completed Projects

(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process. They will be published at pilot.familysearch.org in the near future.)

·         Belgium, Antwerp—Foreigners Index, 1840–1930

·         New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915

·         Nicaragua, Managua—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984 [Part 3A]

·         U.K., Isle of Man—Parish Registers, 1800–1950

·         U.S., Oklahoma—WWII Draft Registration, 1942

·         U.S., Pennsylvania—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Tennessee—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Tennessee, Carroll County—Marriages, 1881–1939

·         U.S., Vermont—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Virginia—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Washington—1910 Federal Census

Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934 [Parte B]	Spanish	31%
Argentina, Cordoba—Registros Parroquiales, 1722–1924 [Parte B]	Spanish	24%
Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926 [Parte A]	Spanish	22%
Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926 [Parte B]	Spanish	27%
Brasil, Pernambuco, Recife—Registro Civil, 1900–1920	Portuguese	1%
Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Matrimonios, 1900–1910 [Piloto]	Portuguese	36%
Canada, Ontario—Births, 1869–1912	English	10%
Canada, Ontario—Deaths, 1933–1937	English	56%
Canada, Ontario—Marriages, 1869–1927 [Part A]	English	16%
Canada, Québec, Montreal—Régistres Paroissiaux, 1800–1900	French	29%
Česká republika, Litoměřice—Matriky, 1552-1905 [část 1] (Tschechien, Litomerice—Kirchenbücher [Teil 1])	German	54%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2A]	Spanish	84%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2B]	Spanish	15%
Colombia, Bucaramanga—Registros Parroquiales, 1649–1959	Spanish	7%
Colombia, Marinilla—Registros Parroquiales, 1815–1959	Spanish	37%
Deutschland, Baden, Achern—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869 [Part C]	German	23%
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 70–92]	German	25%
España, Avila, Navalmoral—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935	Spanish	84%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1]	Spanish	38%
España, Malaga—Registros Civiles, 1846–1870	Spanish	81%
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907	French	21%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907	French	19%
France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906	French	90%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie D]	French	39%
France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907	French	56%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900	Spanish	1%
Guatemala, Huehuetenango y San Marcos—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900	Spanish	78%
Italia, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Atti di Morte, 1809–1936 [Parte B]	Italian	43%
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2A]	Italian	15%
Jamaica—Civil Births, 1900–1930 [Part A]	English	95%
Jamaica—Civil Births, 1878–1899 [Part C]	English	(New)
Mexico, DF—Registros Parroquiales, 1855–1934 [Parte 4]	Spanish	45%
Mexico, Zacatecas—1930 Federal Censo	Spanish	36%
Norge —Tinglysningskort, 1640–1903	Norwegian	1%
Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1887–1921 [Parte A]	Spanish	23%
Portugal, Setúbal—Registros da Igreja, 1581–1910	Portuguese	13%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885	German	3%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970	Afrikaans, Dutch, English	44%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]	Swedish	30%
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]	Swedish	42%
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]	Swedish	21%
U.K., Bristol—Non-Conformist Registers, Pre-1900 [Part A]	English	14%
U.K., Bristol—Parish Registers, 1837–1900 [Part C]	English	87%
U.K., Essex—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part A]	English	6%
U.K., Isle of Man—Parish Registers, 1598–1850	English/ Old English	52%
U.K., Manchester—Parish Registers, 1813–1925 [Part A]	English	4%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part 2 Adv]	English/ Old English	3%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754–1900 [Part 1C]	English	58%
U.S., Alabama—County Marriages, 1809–1950 [Part A]	English	4%
U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [VIII]	English	21%
U.S., Arkansas—WWII Draft Registration, 1942	English	(New)
U.S., California—County Marriages, 1850–1952 [Part A]	English	5%
U.S., District of Columbia—County Marriages, 1811–1950 [Part A]	English	1%
U.S., District of Columbia—Deaths, 1874–1959	English	(New)
U.S., Hawaii—1920 Federal Census	English	93%
U.S., Idaho—County Marriages, 1864–1950	English	59%
U.S., Illinois—County Marriages, 1810–1934 [Part A]	English	3%
U.S., Indiana, De Kalb County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	20%
U.S., Indiana, Dearborn County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	13%
U.S., Indiana, Delaware County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	48%
U.S., Iowa—1885 State Census	English	9%
U.S., Iowa—County Marriages, 1838–1992 [Part A]	English	2%
U.S., Military—1920 Federal Census	English	95%
U.S., Minnesota—1905 State Census	English	70%
U.S., Minnesota—County Marriages, 1860–1949 [Part A]	English	1%
U.S., New Jersey—County Marriages, 1682–1956 [Part 1]	English	3%
U.S., New York—1905 State Census [Part 2]	English	17%
U.S., New York—1910 Federal Census	English	27%
U.S., New York—Marriage Licenses, 1908–1938 [Part A]	English	3%
U.S., New York—Marriages, 1908–1935 [Part A]	English	2%
U.S., North Carolina—County Marriages, 1762–1959 [Part A]	English	22%
U.S., North Carolina—Freedmen Letters, 1862–1870	English	(New)
U.S., Oklahoma—County Marriages, 1891–1959 [Part A]	English	7%
U.S., Puerto Rico—1920 Censo Federal	Spanish	5%
U.S., Puerto Rico—Nacimientos Civiles, 1836–1930 [Parte A]	Spanish	30%
U.S., Rhode Island—1885 State Census	English	40%
U.S., Rhode Island—1935 State Census	English	77%
U.S., Tennessee—County Marriages, 1790–1950 [Part B]	English	12%
U.S., Texas—County Marriages, 1837–1977 [Part A]	English	9%
U.S., Utah—County Marriages, 1887–1966 [Part A]	English	54%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 2]	Spanish	11%
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925	German	24%
Украина, Киев—Метрические книги русской православной церкви, 1843–1845 [Часть А]	Russian	13%

Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Australia, Victoria—Probate Records, 1853–1989	English	90%
België—Burgerlijke Stand, 1851–1900 [Deel D]	Dutch	4%
Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie A]	French	32%
Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935	English	17%
Deutschland, Westfalen, Minden—Volkszählung, 1880–1900	German	6%
España, Avila, Madrigal y Garganta—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935	Spanish	57%
France, Quimper et Leon, St. Louis—Registres Paroissiaux, 1722–1909	French	34%
Norway—1875 Census [Part B]	Norwegian	21%
Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982	Spanish	24%
U.K., Norfolk—Parish Registers, 1538–1900	English	1%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 3]	English	31%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Birth Registers, 1890–1908	English	51%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940	English	32%

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

FamilySearch Records Update: Much Anticipated International Records Posted

Since the last update on January 5, 2009, FamilySearch added over 40 million new records to its Record Search pilot. Individuals with international roots from Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, and the Philippines will find some nice surprises in the newly added collections.

Birth, marriage, and death records were added for the Netherlands and Ireland. Irish researchers in particular have been anxiously awaiting the 23 million records from the Irish Civil Registration indexes. These records date from 1845-1958 and are also known as the Statutory Registration Records. Statutory registration for Protestants began in 1845 and for Catholics in 1864.

Many thanks to the thousands of online FamilySearch Indexing volunteers who helped make these wonderful records available.

See the chart below for more details. The new records can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org (Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

Collection Name: 1869 Argentina National Census
Indexed Records: 232,853
Digital Images: 157,133
Comments: New

Collection Name: California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records 1835-1931
Indexed Records: 43,407
Digital Images: 61,017
Comments: New

Collection Name: Canada Census 1916
Indexed Records: 1,811,736
Digital Images: 36,263
Comments: New

Collection Name: Costa Rica Church Records 1595-1992
Indexed Records: 1,387,505
Digital Images: 260,367
Comments: New

Collection Name: Germany Burials 1500-1900
Indexed Records: 3,633,851
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes 1845-1958
Indexed Records: 23,023,320
Digital Images: 70,971
Comments: New

Collection Name: Mexico Aguascalientes Catholic Church Records 1616-1961
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 601,572
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands Births and Baptisms
Indexed Records: 1,350,335
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands Marriages
Indexed Records: 374,659
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands Deaths and Burials
Indexed Records: 206,477
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: Philippines Marriages
Indexed Records: 2,224,877
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: 1920 United States Census
Indexed Records: 2,437,479
Digital Images: 50,364
Comments: Added Alabama

Collection Name: 1850 United States Census
Indexed Records: 1,425,756
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Alabama and Indian Population

Collection Name: 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule)
Indexed Records: 869,079
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina

Collection Name: 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule)
Indexed Records: 37,993
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Louisiana and Indian Population

Collection Name: 1870 United States Census
Indexed Records: 7,954,406
Digital Images: ---
Comments: Added Pennsylvania