Finding an Indexing Project

FamilySearch Indexing probably will not help you with your personal family history research, but it can help strangers with their own research in at least two different ways. 
Firstly, it works by making records searchable by computer. 
Secondly, the FamilySearch Family Tree automatically attempts to connect these records to people who are in the Family Tree by offering Record Hints, the blue icons we see.

My biggest problem with Indexing tends to be finding a project that I understand, that has legible records. A week ago my South African death records project was completed. This project was ideal for me since Afrikaans is similar to German, with which I am somewhat familiar. So whether a record was written in English or Afrikaans, I felt comfortable indexing it. And Google Translate was available in a pinch.  

Looking for a replacement project, I tried a Kiribati project that was supposed to be in English, but was not, and I couldn't understand it, so I sent it back un-indexed. Then I tried South African Dutch Reformed Church records, but I could not determine what the event was. (Birth? Christening? Death?) So I phoned FamilySearch Support at 1-866-406-1930. The Support worker could not find the answer for me either, since it was a newly-available project. But she promised to find out and send me an email, which she did. 

Instead, I found that I preferred the KwaZulu Natal birth records. For the past week I have been happily indexing them. I find it interesting that the people all have East Indian names; I had not realized that there were so many of them in South Africa. I feel especially good about indexing records for this group of people, who probably do not have many genealogical records. But any indexing can be of help to others.

My message is that if you try Indexing and run into a roadblock, don't give up easily. There are solutions. Sometimes finding a suitable project may require exploring a few different projects. 

If you have a little extra time, Indexing can be a satisfying a way to give back to the genealogy community. https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/ 

Bill 

Putting your genealogy online

Over the years, I have enjoyed getting emails from strangers who are my distant cousins. This is one of the benefits of putting your genealogy online. There are hundreds of genealogy-related websites, such as FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, Myheritage.com and findypast.com (to mention the "Big Four"). 
A blog is well-suited to telling family stories, but not necessarily to displaying family trees,
I will paraphrase a recent email, I may be receiving another family history book because I put my ancestors' genealogy online. It can pay dividends. 😊

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I've come across quite a bit of information about my family's ancestry when searching through Familysearch.org, and wanted to say thanks, from a Buchanan descendant in California for taking the great effort to research and share what you have with others. I have really enjoyed some of the personal stories you have posted about the brothers, and their photos, after settling in Canada following their harrowing emigration from Ireland! 

I wanted to let you know that my father has written a wonderful memoir about his life growing up in Washington, and his life that followed, which my sister is putting the finishing touches on, and we'd like to send you a copy of it when it's completed. I think because of your interest in family history, you may find it interesting. I know his Grandfather Buchanan was instrumental in helping him develop a wonderful outlook on life, full of curiosity, and kindness towards others. You may even recognize some familial Buchanan traits while reading this book, who knows?! 

Looking forward to hearing back from you with interest, 

Sincerely, 
T.