Learn More on the Research WiKi

FamilySearch has over 2.5 billion records online, but did you know that by clicking the "Learn More" button feature with each record set, you can connect to additional information about the record sets on the FamilySearch Research WiKi? By clicking on the "Learn More" button you are instantly accessing a wealth of information on the FamilySearch Research WiKi that can add depth and insight to the records you are using for your family history research. While the information provided can vary slightly, there are 10 types of basic information that are provided for each record group including:

COLLECTION TIME PERIOD-This indicates the time period the collection encompasses.
RECORD DISCRIPTION-The description tells the kinds of records a collection contains. If a record collection contains only baptisms and marriages and you are looking for a death record, for example, then looking in this record collection may not be the best place to start.
HOW TO USE THIS RECORD-Have you ever wanted or needed instructions on how to use a record collection? It may sound silly, but it is important to know how to use a particular record collection. FamilySearch Research WiKi provides detailed instrucitons on how to use each collection in an easy to understand format.
RECORD HISTORY-Knowing the historical context in which the records were created as well as the reliability of the records contained in the collection can help in evaluating the records.
RELATED WEBSITES-Familysearch Research WiKi provides links to additonal information for the collection.
RELATED WIKI ARTICLES-If there are volunteer-contributed articles that pertain to a record collection, then the links to those articles are listed here.
KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE COLLECTION-Record collections can have issues and concerns that come up from time to time, and knowing these can help in evaluating records.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS ARTICLE-This is where users can add any information they have on the particular record collection, adding more insight to the records.
CITING FAMILYSEARACH HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS-No more worries on how to cite a record-examples are provided here.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THIS COLLECTION-knowing the sources of a collection can affect users' decisions about records.

As you can see, FamilySearch.org provides vast collections of records, but the FamilySearch Research WiKi provides added value to those collections by providing more information about them. Click the "Learn More" button while you research, and let the Research WiKi add depth to you family history records.

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Camp Floyd State Park

Camp Floyd State Park in conjunction with the Town of Fairfield and the Friends of Camp Floyd will be conducting a re-dedication ceremony of the Camp Floyd Cemetery on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2011, at 5 p.m.

Established in 1858, Camp Floyd housed the largest concentration of United States troops then in the United States. The troops were sent to Utah to suppress a rumored Mormon rebellion which never took place. The army was recalled back east in 1861 for the Civil War emergency.

In the 1960's efforts were made to research death records and restore the cemetery. As original grave markers had been lost to age, the exact location of the graves were unknown. Markers installed in the 1960's were simply placed symmetrically throughout the cemetery. Due to limited research access at that time, many of the markers contained incorrect information.

A detailed research was comiled in 2003 of those buried at Camp Floyd. With new technologies the correct information on the Camp Floyd burials was obtained and documented. A ground penetrating radar was completed in 2008, which located the actual site of the graves. The 1960's grave markers were removed and replaced with up right white headstones to reflect the period of the cemetery.

The re-dedication of the cemetery will commemorate the history of Camp Floyd and honor those veterans buried there. The event will conclude with the Utah Civil War Association performing drills and a fire squad salute. The dedication will be followed by a fireworks show provided by Lantis Fireworks & Laser of Fairfield, Utah. Hot drinks will be provided with bon fires to keep warm. Those attending are asked to bring two non-perishable food items to be donated to the local food bank.

Camp Floyd State Park is located in the town of Fairfield, 22 miles southwest of Lehi on State Highway 73. For more information about the event or park, please contact the park at 801-768-8932.

Finding Pioneer Cemeteries in Winter Quarters

Several noted historians will discuss pioneers who lived in Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and the surrounding Iowa settlements at the upcoming "A Prairie Pioneer Legacy: A Family History Conference."

The focus will be on the period of 1846-1853 and the genealogical research for those pioneers. The conference will be at the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters, 3215 State Street in Omaha, on October 29 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Among the speakers will be local historian Bob Sharp.Sharp's specialty is rather unusual-he looks for Mormon pioneer cemeteries.

Bob and his wife, Martha, are members of the Historical Pioneer Research Group, which is sponsoring the conference, and have been among those responsible for finding more than 100 early settlements in the Middle Missouri Valley belonging to the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In each of those settlements people were born, got married and died. To find out more about them, Bob Sharp has been hunting for the graves of those who died to help piece together the puzzle of those family histories.

As the cemetery specialist for the Historic Pioneer Research Group Inc, Sharp directs field work using ground penetrating radar and has found several cemetery sites. One of his recent finds was the gravesite of the Abel Galland family in the community of Falland's Grove.

Galland, a veteran of the War of 1812, founded this small settlement in 1848, the first in Shelby County. He found a place where honey was produced in large amounts. He became a successful merchant selling honey to California gold seekers and other pioneers passing through. His large farm included acres of black walnut, a hard wood that was highly valued and sought after for railroad ties and rifle stocks.

It was purely by chance that sharp found the graves of Galland and his family. He was vititing the site of the church Abel had built, and a woman also visiting the site mentioned she had a journal of a family member married in that church. When he read her account he noted the young newlyweds left the church walking "by the graves." Sharp then used ground penetrating radar to find the Galland family.

Members of the Historical Pioneer Research Group, Western Iowa Pioneer Cemetery Association and the Harrison County Genealogical Society along with two Scout troops worked to build a 100 foot brick walkway from a monument at the site where early LDS pioneers built meetinghouses. Behind that was the Galland's Grove Cemetery where Abel and his wife and cildren are buried.

Sharp will have many such finds to share at the Family History Conference. It is free and open to the public. Other speaker include noted pioneer historians Susan Easton Black from brigham Young University, William Harley who has retired from BYU, Mormon Battalion Trek expert Kevin Henson from Michigan, and a host of local historians and genealogist who can help provide answers about family history.

New Family History Website for Youth

You can go to the new family history website for youth by going to the website www.lds.org/fhy or www.lds.org/familyhistoryyouth. This is a website developed by the church to aid the youth of the church in learning and doing family history for their own ancestors. The websites teaches youth how to do family history in five easy steps.

In the October 2011 general conference, Elder David A. BEdnar told us that our youth were prepared to be on earth at this time. He said, "Your fingers hve been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord-not just to communicaste quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation." He invited children and youth of the Church "to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah and to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead and to help other people indentify their family histories." Elder Bednar promised that through participation in family history efforts, young people would "be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives."

Ward councils can strengthen children and youth by encouraging them to discover their ancestors, serve others by taking part in family history and temple work, and experince the blessing that result from particpation in this great endeavor. Ward leaders can encourage youth to act on Elder Bednar's invitation by using the resources found on the new youth family history websites.

Seven Million Records Added to Family Search

More than seven million records and images have been added to FamilySearch this week. The largest collection includes more than five million images added to the Philippine, Civil Registration, 1945-1980.

Thousands of images were also added to collections from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain and the U.S. states of California, Florida, Idaho, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah. New records were added for collections from Arkansas, Indiana and North Carolina. To search these collections or to volunteer to index, please go to the familysearch website at www.FamilySearch.org.