Date: Fri 08-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Family-History-Center-Mormons

Full Text:

Mormon's Family History Center Seeks To Bring Ancestors Back Into The Family

WITH PHOTO AND CHARTS

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

It is a spiritual mission that has prompted the Mormons to create Family

History Centers domestically, in places like Newtown, as well as overseas. But

all are welcome to use the materials which emmanate from the main library in

Utah, a repository of more genealogical information than is found in the

National Archives - or anywhere else in the world.

"To me, it's just nice to know where you come from," said Bettie Maclay of

Brookfield, now a regular at the Newtown center. "There are five ship's

captains in my family. And my son is in the Navy. You don't realize the tie

you have [to your ancestors] until you start doing research."

Many researchers find the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints has

the most concentrated amount of information available from any one source.

With 2,650 centers in 64 countries and territories (thus far, ten in

Connecticut), the Mormons opened the Family History Center in Newtown this

June.

"It's really fun. We take [new researchers] by the hand. Genealogy is just a

wonderful thing to do," said Rosemary Davis, director of the Newtown center.

"It can be very absorbing - and very obsessive, too!"

The church's genealogical library was founded in 1894. In 1939 the Mormons

began preserving records on micro-film. Each year they preserve and catalog

about 100 million new pages of historical documents on 50,000 microfilms and

25,000 micro fiche, and in 12,000 books. Most of the records date from 1550 to

1920.

This year, they have 250 microfilm camera operators filming birth, marriage,

death, probate, immigration, military, and many other records in 53 countries.

Genealogical researcher Harlan Jessup of Newtown, said the Family History

Center is valuable, especially if you're starting with research outside of

Connecticut. (If researching Connecticut ancestors, Mr Jessup thinks it is

easier to find information through the State Library, Connecticut Historical

Society, or Fairfield Historical Society.)

"Without going to Salt Lake City, you can order those films and view them

locally," said Mr Jessup, who does research for himself and other people. "The

National Archive has only federal information - census and military service

records - not local vital records."

And the Mormons will not be putting their information on the Internet, because

it can too easily be tampered with, according to Ms Davis.

The Newtown center is drawing people from many neighboring towns. Before it

was opened, the closest centers were Woodbridge and New Canaan.

Mrs Maclay began to get serious about documenting the family genealogy when

she was stricken with a severe case of Lyme Disease a few years ago, and is

glad to have such a rich resource close to home. Her family tree was 1« pages

when she began; now, just the list of ancestral names fills more than 50

sheets. Her research goes so far back that she discovered a Swedish relative

on her mother's side who went to Russia and founded the Ukraine (although some

might dispute it, it is corroborated by Encyclopedia Brittanica, she said).

"I really, really enjoy it. And I've learned a lot of history," said Mrs

Maclay. "I had a lot of preconceived notions of how people lived in the 1600s.

I thought they didn't live beyond 40, but found some of my relatives lived to

be in their 90s. And I thought women had nothing then, but some of the widows

in my family founded towns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island."

Mrs Maclay's great-grandfather was in Stonewall Jackson's brigade, and died in

the Battle of Kernstown. While researching in the Booth Library Genealogy

Room, she met a man who also had an ancestor in that battle. She was

astonished to hear that her new acquaintance had letters from his relative

that mentioned her great-grandfather.

Although Mrs Maclay finds a great deal of information at the Family History

Center, she questions everything. "To get something you say is `true,' you

have to get it from three [different] sources."

Where To Begin

The first step in genealogical research is to write down what you already know

about your family. The center provides a Pedigree Chart that allows you to

begin with yourself and branch out to include the date and place of birth,

marriage date, and date and place of death of previous generations. You don't

have to know much to begin, and often you will remember things as you proceed,

said the director.

Next, the Family History Center recommends you select an ancestor you would

like to learn more about, preferably one born before 1900 because most of the

library records have an earlier date. Working on one ancestor at a time, use a

research log to document the collection/call number, description of source,

and what you found.

"People are alive here," said Ms Davis. "You may know their name, but you see

it written here and you say, `Ah! There they are! ' and you get so excited."

Some Mormon library records are in foreign languages - Polish, Chinese, Samoan

- so researchers often bring their own dictionaries, said the director. Ms

Davis is taking an Italian class so she can more easily research her own

heritage and help others.

The church's genealogy libraries have two kinds of information - original

documents created at the time the ancestors lived, and previous research.

Three major collections of previous research at the centers are the

International Genealogical Index (IGI), the Family Group Records Collection,

and Family Histories. These are found on either micro-film or micro-fiche. If

a center does not have the micro-fiche a researcher needs, they will have a

copy made and sent from the main library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The FHC staff is enthusiastic and willing to assist with research. The

libraries are open to the public and holdings may be used free of charge.

Researchers are charged postage fees for information borrowed from the main

library in Utah. The cost is $3 for the local center to borrow a micro-film

for a limited time or $6 to permanently add the material to its collection

(but if you move, they will transfer it to the center nearest you); and 15

cents for each micro-fiche film. Photocopies of center information are 10

cents each.

Importance to Mormons

A mission of some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day

Saints is to visit cemeteries, churches, town halls, archives - any place that

might contain records - in countries throughout the world, where they

micro-film every document of genealogical value. One copy of each micro-film

is given to the source, and one is stored in temperature controlled "granite

mountain" vault in Salt Lake City. A library of books is also found there and,

if the publication is not copyrighted, will be copied and mailed to

researchers.

"We believe families are eternal," said Ms Davis, explaining why genealogy is

important to Mormons. "And in order to be with your familiy after you die, you

have to know them. We share with other people in the hope that they will share

with us."

According to the pamphlet, Why Family History , published by the church,

church members want to identify family members and perform vicarious work

(such as baptisms) that will ensure salvation of predecessors. "Every modern

method is used to make this information available for use. Records of [church

members'] deceased ancestors can thus be compiled into family units in order

to tie together our pedigrees, which will eventually unite every one of us

within the family of God," the pamphlet states.

Joseph Smith, who the church regards as the first of the modern-day prophets,

wrote, "The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is

to seek after our dead... This doctrine [of salvation for the dead] was the

burden of the scriptures. Those Saints who neglect it in behalf of their

deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation."

Those interested in finding their roots may stop by during regular hours and

speak with one of the staff and watch a video tape on how to use the center

for genealogical research.

The Family History Center in Newtown is located in back of the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Saw Mill Road. The hours for the public are:

Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am to 2 pm; and Thursday 7 to 9 pm. For more

information, call the center at 426-1752.