Editing FamilySearch (section)

==History==

===Genealogical Society of Utah===
[[File:Genealogical Society of Utah logo.svg|250px|thumb|right|Logo of the Genealogical Society of Utah]]

GSU, the predecessor of FamilySearch, was founded on 1 November 1894. Its purpose was to create a genealogical library to be used both by its members and other people, to share educational information about [[genealogy]], and to gather genealogical records in order to perform [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|religious ordinances]] for the dead. It was founded under the direction of Church leaders, when the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]] appointed [[Franklin D. Richards (Mormon apostle)|Franklin D. Richards]] as the first president.<ref name=pres />

The society published the ''Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine'' from 1910 to 1940.<ref>{{cite book|page = [https://archive.org/details/printedsourcesgu00meye/page/710 710]|url = https://archive.org/details/printedsourcesgu00meye|url-access = registration|title = Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records|first = Kory Leland|last = Meyerink|year = 1998|publisher = Ancestry, Inc.|isbn = 9780916489700|place = [[Salt Lake City, Utah]]}}</ref>
 
The GSU began microfilming records of genealogical importance in 1938.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pugmire |first1=Genelle |title=LDS Church celebrates 120th anniversary of Genealogical Society, now FamilySearch |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/lds-church-celebrates-th-anniversary-of-genealogical-society-now-familysearch/article_fd4b36fd-794f-5eb0-8f9d-c4794be5ea0f.html |website=Daily Herald |access-date=August 3, 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803223228/https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/lds-church-celebrates-th-anniversary-of-genealogical-society-now-familysearch/article_fd4b36fd-794f-5eb0-8f9d-c4794be5ea0f.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1963, the microfilm collection was moved to the newly completed [[Granite Mountain Records Vault]] for long-term preservation.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

In 1975, the GSU became the Church's Genealogical Department, which later became the FHD. At that time, its head officer was renamed president from executive director, starting during [[Theodore M. Burton]]'s term.<ref name=pres>{{Citation
| last1 = Allen
| first1 = James B.
| author-link1 = James B. Allen (historian)
| last2 = Embry
| first2 = Jessie L.
| last3 = Mehr
| first3 = Kahlile B.
| title=Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894-1994
| publisher=[[BYU Studies]], [[Brigham Young University]]
| year=1995
| location=Provo, Utah
| url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/byustudies,2282
}}</ref> However, the title "President of the Genealogical Society of Utah" and other GSU titles were still used and bestowed upon department officers.

In 2000, the Church consolidated its Family History and Historical departments into the Family and Church History Department, and [[Richard E. Turley Jr.]] became managing director of the new department and president of the GSU. Later this decision was reversed and the Family History Department was separated from the [[Church History Department]], becoming its own department.<ref>{{cite web|last1=T |first1=Justin |title=Breaking News: Changes in Family and Church History Department Organization |url=http://davidgolding.com/ji-test/breaking-news-changes-in-church-history-department-organization/|website=Juvenile Instructor Blog |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006153215/http://davidgolding.com/ji-test/breaking-news-changes-in-church-history-department-organization/ |archive-date=2015-10-06 }}</ref>

In 2008, the [[Holy See|Vatican]] issued a statement calling the practice known as [[baptism for the dead]] "erroneous" and directing [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] dioceses to keep parish records from Latter-day Saints performing [[Genealogy|genealogical research]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Muth |first=Chad |date=2008-05-02 |title=Vatican letter directs bishops to keep parish records from Mormons |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802443.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080513195437/http%3A//www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802443.htm |archive-date=2008-05-13 |access-date=2008-05-05 |work=Catholic News Service |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops}}</ref>

====Presidents of the Genealogical Society of Utah====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Term !! Notes
|-
| [[Franklin D. Richards (Mormon apostle)|Franklin D. Richards]] || 1894–99 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Anthon H. Lund]] || 1900–21 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Charles W. Penrose]] || 1921–25 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Anthony W. Ivins]] || 1925–34 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Joseph Fielding Smith]] || 1934–61 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| Junius Jackson || 1961–62 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[N. Eldon Tanner]] || 1963 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Howard W. Hunter]] || 1964–72 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Theodore M. Burton]] || 1972–78 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[J. Thomas Fyans]] || 1978 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Royden G. Derrick]] || 1979–84 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Richard G. Scott]] || 1984–88 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[J. Richard Clarke]] || 1988–93 || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| Monte J. Brough || 1993–2000? || <ref name=pres/>
|-
| [[Richard E. Turley Jr.]] || 2000?–08 || <ref>{{Citation | title=Biography - Richard E. Turley Jr. | date=March 12, 2008 | work=Church Newsroom | publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] | url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/biography-richard-e-turley-jr | access-date=2008-11-20}}</ref>
|}

===FamilySearch===
[[File:FamilySearch logo.svg|250px|thumb|right|FamilySearch logo used 2006–2013]]

In 1998, the GSU began digital imaging of records and in about August 1998 the decision was made by Church leaders to build a genealogical website. In May 1999, the website first opened to the public as ''FamilySearch''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/1999/05/sowing-seeds-for-family-trees/|title=Sowing Seeds for Family Trees|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=24 May 1999|agency=Reuters|access-date=3 Aug 2019}}</ref> The beta version, released April 1, almost immediately went offline, overloaded because of high popularity.<ref name=wireddatabases>{{cite magazine|last=Davis|first=Erik|url=https://www.wired.com/1999/07/mormons/|title=Databases of the Dead|magazine=Wired|date=1 July 1999|access-date=3 Aug 2019}} The article refers to the "Family History Department" of the LDS church as the entity behind the creation of the original FamilySearch website.</ref> Only a few days after the official launch, the website had received an estimated 100 million hits. To handle the load, site visitors were only given access to the site for 15 minutes at a time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676564/How-technology-revolutionized-family-history-work-in-recent-decades.amp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329021305/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865676564/How-technology-revolutionized-family-history-work-in-recent-decades.amp |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2017 |title=How technology revolutionized family history work in recent decades|work=Deseret News|date=28 Mar 2017|access-date=4 Aug 2019|last=Toone|first=Trent}}
</ref> In November 1999, 240 million names were added, bringing the total number of entries to 640 million.<ref>{{cite journal |title= 640 Million Names Added to Familysearch Site |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg9k9CLMZHoC&pg=RA1-PA7-IA2 |journal= [[Ancestry Magazine]] |date=January–February 2000 |page= 9 |publisher= Ancestry Inc.}}</ref>

In 2009, the Church launched a collaborative tree known as "New FamilySearch". It was the precursor to the current "FamilySearch Family Tree", and was only available to church members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/updated-familysearch-to-bring-new-features-under-one-roof?lang=eng|title=Updated FamilySearch.org to Bring New Features Under One Roof|work=Church News|quote=New.familysearch.org, which replaced TempleReady last year and includes the Family Tree feature, will be integrated into the updated site.|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|date=16 July 2010|access-date=5 Aug 2019}}</ref> The system was an attempt to combine multiple genealogical submissions to FamilySearch's databases into one single tree, but it did not allow users to edit information that they had not submitted. It also was difficult to add sources to individuals in the tree or determine what was the correct information among multiple submissions. By April 2011, plans were in place to redesign the database into a more collaborative platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadcast.lds.org/eLearning/fhd/Community/en/FamilySearch/FamilyTree/pdf/The_Case_for_Our_Tree_FamilySearch.pdf|title=The Case for moving to "Our Tree" : A FamilySearch White Paper|date=April 2011|publisher=FamilySearch International}}</ref>

In 2011, the FamilySearch website received a major redesign. The previous site had allowed users to only search one database at a time, but the new version allowed sitewide searches of multiple databases. It also included the addition of more databases as well as some digitized and indexed microfilms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.familytreemagazine.com/index.html%3Fp=3899.html|title=Inside the New FamilySearch.org|last=Crume|first=Rick|work=Family Tree Magazine|date=9 Jun 2011|access-date=5 Aug 2019}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 16 November 2012, it was announced that the new Family Tree database would be available to all users of New FamilySearch, and that the New FamilySearch database would eventually be phased out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/family-tree-newfamilysearchorg-users/|title=Family Tree Now Available To new.familysearch.org Users|website=FamilySearch Blog|last=Green|first=David|date=16 Nov 2012|access-date=5 Aug 2019}}</ref> On 5 March 2013, it was announced that Family Tree would now be available to everyone, whether or not they were members of the Church.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Matt|url=https://familysearch.org/blog/en/family-tree-users/|title=Family Tree is Available to All Users|work=FamilySearch Blog|date=12 Apr 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/familytree-new-familysearch-service-promotes-collaboration?lang=eng&_r=1|title=FamilyTree: New FamilySearch Service Promotes Collaboration|work=Church News|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|last=Lloyd|first=R. Scott|date=11 Mar 2013|access-date=5 Aug 2019}}</ref>
On 16 April 2013, FamilySearch completely revamped the site design generally, with new features and a changed color scheme.  Some of the new features include an interactive fan chart and some printing capabilities, as well as the ability to add photos to Family Tree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/24839297/familysearch-launches-redesigned-website|title=FamilySearch launches redesigned website|work=KSL News|date=18 Apr 2013|access-date=5 Aug 2019}}</ref>

In February 2014, FamilySearch announced partnerships with [[Ancestry.com]], [[findmypast]] and [[MyHeritage]], which includes sharing massive amounts of their databases with those companies, and members of the  Church receiving free subscriptions with these companies. They also have a standing relationship with BillionGraves, in which the photographed and indexed images of graves are both searchable on FamilySearch and are linked to individuals in the family tree.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brimhall|first=Dennis|url=https://familysearch.org/blog/en/questions-answers-familysearch-partners/|title=FamilySearch Partnerships: Some Questions and Answers|work=FamilySearch Blog|date=26 Feb 2014|access-date=3 Aug 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/15/myheritage-partners-with-familysearch-to-add-billions-of-historical-records-to-its-genealogy-database/|website=Tech Crunch|title=MyHeritage Partners With FamilySearch To Add Billions Of Historical Records To Its Genealogy Database|date=15 Oct 2013|access-date=5 Aug 2019}}</ref> At the end of 2015, FamilyTree had 1.1 billion persons added by 2.47 million contributors.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sagers|first=Diane |url=https://familysearch.org/blog/en/2015-year-review-familysearch-grows-worlds-foremost-family-history-resource/ |title=2015 Year in Review: FamilySearch Grows as World's Foremost Family History Resource|date=29 December 2015|work=FamilySearch Blog}}</ref>

In August 2017, FamilySearch discontinued distribution of physical microfilm to its family history centers due to large-scale availability of digital images of those films and planned digitization of remaining films.<ref>{{cite web|date=30 May 2017|author=FamilySearch |url= https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/microfilm-distribution-discontinued-august-31-2017/ |title=Microfilm Distribution to Be Discontinued on August 31, 2017|work=FamilySearch Blog|access-date=3 Aug 2019}} Improving search results and indexing additional records is on-going work, as is improving international resources for those living in countries outside of the United States.</ref> In May 2018, FamilySearch added and digitized its 2 billionth record.<ref name=2billion>{{cite web|author=<!--not stated-->|url=https://media.familysearch.org/familysearch-adds-2-billionth-image-of-genealogy-records/|title=FamilySearch Adds 2 Billionth Image of Genealogy Records|work=FamilySearch News Releases|date=23 Apr 2013|access-date=3 Aug 2019}}</ref> In September 2020, FamilySearch announced that it now includes 8 billion names, 3.2 billion digital images, and 490,000 digital books, with over 1 million new records each day.  7 billion names from almost every country were added within the last 10 years.<ref name=8billion>{{cite web|author=<!--not stated-->|url=https://media.familysearch.org/familysearch-hits-8-billion-searchable-names-in-historical-records/ |title=FamilySearch Hits 8 Billion Searchable Names in Historical Records|work=FamilySearch News Releases|date=24 Sep 2020|access-date=25 Sep 2020}}</ref>