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How much does the Library of Congress weigh?

Oh, about 6 lbs, according to this blog post. Now, they didn't say it weight 6 lbs., but I used the bullet point that stated

."..it is estimated that the entire collection of the Library of Congress including photos, sound recordings and movies might take 3,000 TB of storage. Assuming $100 each for 2 TB hard drives, the entire book collection of the Library of Congress could be stored on about $1500 worth of hard drives at today's prices." LINK

I looked up 2 GB external HDs and picked one at random. This Seagate Express 2 TB External HD weighs 6.4 oz.

Hence, 15 2TB HDs at 6.4 oz. each, divided by 16 oz/lb = 6 lbs.

The Mormons' information is at familysearch.org. No paywall there.

Ancestry.com is a private business. I think the owners are Mormons, but their church doesn't own the site.

Congratulations, you were hacked by the Mormons : https://familysearch.org/

Footnote ... link to said 1942 Census Indexing start-page and blog.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints provides a very well done software package. It also provides a massive store of records which can allow you to cover all of your genealogical ancestry needs.

It's free to any one to use.

They have hundreds of thousands of individuals indexing birth, death, christening, records from all over the world. You won't find a finer offering. It is part of the requirements for their members to create a full ancestry for all of their posterity.

http://new.familysearch.org/
http://indexing.familysearch.org./

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints provides a very well done software package. It also provides a massive store of records which can allow you to cover all of your genealogical ancestry needs.

It's free to any one to use.

They have hundreds of thousands of individuals indexing birth, death, christening, records from all over the world. You won't find a finer offering. It is part of the requirements for their members to create a full ancestry for all of their posterity.

http://new.familysearch.org/
http://indexing.familysearch.org./

This isn't open-source, but it is free (standard version): Legacy Family Tree. I used that and eventually upgraded to the deluxe since it's only about $30 USD. Yes, it's from LDS. You get a lot of choice to customize things to your taste--a really serious amount of options. One thing I really like is it will warn you if you put in a county that didn't exist during the year in question (and will tell if what year it came into existence.) Also has some nice defaults, like marking someone as deceased if say, they were born in 1830, if you forget. You can turn these on and off. But what's really nice is the reporting features (may be in the deluxe only) that nicely put the information together in a story-styled book. You can also make wall charts (although they usually get too complicated in large families so it's easier to do the book.) The deluxe version also gives you access to the databases which makes it easy to research straight from the program, although from what I can see, most are available anyway from your browser.

Check out what's online for free before you jump in and pay. You can also get a lot of free access to Ancestry.com and other paid sites from the library. I did end up joining Ancestry because, while you can add your tree for free and you can get access to documents via the library, the one thing you can't do is contact a member (which you may want to do if you have questions or find a second cousin.) Libraries are a great source of free access to sites you'd otherwise have to pay for. I second FamilySearch.org. They have a beautiful search engine and often it links to actual scanned files, not just transcribed. RootsWeb is owned by Ancestry, but provides free access to other family trees and FreeSurnameSearch is a good starting place.

One caution--do your own research and go with scanned documents over transcriptions. You'll be amazed at how many transcriptions are wrong and how many people are sloppy and just copy what someone else has. We've got an issue in one branch where someone made statements about one ancestor being a full-blooded Indian who was adopted. All nonsense with no facts to support it, but you wouldn't believe how many people are jumping on this and adding it to their trees.

It's a little late in the year to be putting a tree together. It sounds like you're underestimating the time required to do the work. Also, the software you're using has nothing to do with it. The best software for you to use right now is a plain old text editor. Genealogy software isn't going to make things any easier when you're just starting out. When you *do* start putting the data together, just make sure you can export to GEDCOM. It's far from perfect as a file format, but it's universally used and will serve your needs until you start getting over 100 names. Only then start thinking about committing to a piece of software. It's hard to switch later.

Like others have said, go find a FamilySearch center https://library.familysearch.org/ and get some help. They're very nice.

And if you didn't get information from ancestry.com, you're doing it wrong. It's a very good site. You should think twice before you disparage a website you had very little time with.

Look into the GEDCOM file format. That seems to be the de facto standard. If you can't easily merge them now, you'll eventually find a tool that can.

I figured it would feature some mormom "find all my ancestors" button but it looks like it is all manual.

If only... There are pay-for services (much like private investigators), and there are volunteers willing to help. A lot of work is being done to automate the process, but it's much harder than it sounds. For now, all work is leg-work. If you're lucky, someone has already done a huge chunk of work that you can simply tap into. (like your grandparents have started)

You mean like this? https://familysearch.org/

Mod parent up. It's a free service, frequently updated from various sources, goes back centuries, and even includes a series of online lessons on how to do your family history. Backed by Mormons, but that doesn't make it any less of an awesome service. (Disclaimer: I am a Mormon)

Any software you find is likely just going to be a database entry/maintenance type software tool for storing your genealogical information, but itself will not give you any information; it just provides a place for you to keep track of information you do find from other sources.

If you are stuck on open-source, I'm not sure how to help you, but if all you really care about is that it is free, I can strongly recommend Personal Ancestral File from here. While it has some fields for Mormon ordinances, you don't have to use those features and it will do nicely to maintain your records.

As for doing the actual research, again I recommend looking into the Mormons - they maintain branches of their main family history library at various church buildings around the world. The volunteers who staff those branches are instructed to not proselyte, they simply are there to help you do the research. The only time you'll have to pay for something is for obvious things like using the copy machine, or if you want to have records shipped in from Salt Lake City you'll have to pay postage, but that's it.

Disclaimer: yes, I am a Mormon, so I may be biased on this matter, but as far as I've seen, the Mormons are the premier experts in the world when it comes to family history research.

PAF is obsolete, but still viable.

If research is what you need, don't overlook Family Search. It works best if you can start with someone long dead. If you want one-on-one assistance (for free), stop by an LDS Family History Center. Yeah, we're "Mormon's", but the family history advisers must not be overtly preachy (if they are, they're not following instructions). Just bring everything you've got.

PAF is obsolete, but still viable.

If research is what you need, don't overlook Family Search. It works best if you can start with someone long dead. If you want one-on-one assistance (for free), stop by an LDS Family History Center. Yeah, we're "Mormon's", but the family history advisers must not be overtly preachy (if they are, they're not following instructions). Just bring everything you've got.

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Windows_Genealogy_Software Most of the better genealogy programs (Legacy, Ancestral Quest, Roots Magic) have a free version that lets you do everything you need as a beginning genealogist.

You mean like FamilySearch's Personal Ancestry File software?

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/

And also, what OS?
When my uncle did our family tree a few years ago, he did it in PAF, which is free (as in beer), and seems to have every option that was needed.
It's a Windows program, but it does work under Wine. It can export to ceveral standard formats.
Some people may take issue with the fact that it was created by the Mormons, but they do make it freely available to anyone to download and use free of change.

not open source, but the mormon's offer a nice little program for free: http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/

I remember my parents doing some genealogy stuff, they used a program called PAF (Personal Ancestor File), I think it was free. There's also https://www.familysearch.org/, where you can look people up for free as well. These are both free even if you are not an LDS member. Not sure what exactly you need the software to do for you, but I remember with PAF my parents printed out a big ol' pedigree chart, found out we were related to some kings back in the dark ages, pretty crazy stuff.

We have a few in the UK but they don't seem to *do* anything...

LDS has the largest collection of genealogical records on microfilm. They go into cities and small villages around the world and microfilm their records.

Admittedly, they do this because of their believe that people can be converted to Mormonism after they are dead, which means people can retroactively convert their ancestors. But it makes us amateur and pro genealogists happy :)

--Rob

Since its fat gravy train is going to end soon... How? With the massive FREE release of the entire scanned archive from the Mormon Vault in Salt Lake City (to be available on www.familysearch.org). Once this project has gone live much of the information that Ancestry.com currently charges for will be essentially public domain.

There already is a schism forming between Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org, seen from the collapse of arrangements between the Mormon church and Ancestry to provide the Ancestry.com service free in the LDS Family History centers around the world.

I'm not sure about Ancestory.com's policies, but familysearh.org doesn't make names of living people available unless they request it themselves. I don't remember exactly, but I think they wait a few years after the person's death as well. That alleviates at least some of the privacy concerns.

The Mormons keep a huge genealogy database, perhaps the individual in question was involved with securing that?

In 1970, the tapes were placed in the US National Archives in Accession #69A4099. By 1984, all but two of the over 700 boxes of Apollo era magnetic tapes placed in the Accession, were removed and returned to the GSFC for permanent retention. These tapes are now missing.
...
Accession Document #69A4099. Note: Sam Preecs is the Agency Official who signed the Accession. He is the most likely person to know where the tapes are. Where is Sam today?

I'd wager he's dead :

20. Samuel PREECS - U.S. Social Security Death Index
Birth: 18 May 1921 State Where Number was Issued: Indiana Death: 18 Feb 1993
21. Samuel PREECS - U.S. Social Security Death Index
Birth: 17 Nov 1889 State Where Number was Issued: Texas Death: Dec 1972

GEDCOM is the standard file format for geneology information. There are plenty of products that import or use this format. GEDCOM was developed by the LDS Church (Mormons). They also have a free program to manage your geneological data called Personal Ancestral File. Personally I use PHPGEDView to manage my family geneology data (view here

http://www.familysearch.org/
It is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Future access will pretty much be a given and it will help others their family history.

The lds church does a lot of family history and genealogy work. They have family history centers around the world staffed with volunteers that work to help people preserve their genealogies and family history. Locations can be found here and other resources that might be helpful are found at Cyndi's List which compiles a list of family history resources.

Maybe it's best to consider outsourcing it. Groups like the Mormons do this kind of work as one of their missions.

This link may or may not be useful.

Why does anyone use WinMX, Kazaa or any other spy and mal-ware software when both eMule and Shareaza are available? with source?

I guess I spend so much money on my hobby, CGI and the software for that, I just can't handle the thought of buying something when a free application does as good or better.

Some free software that is better than alternative commercial software (or has no alternative):

FREENET

Steel Panthers: World at War

Irfanview

PAF 5 (genealogy software, go to download products, ignore Marie Osmond's attempts to seduce you to the dark side)

GMAX 3D Modelling software

You can also get tons of free software with the purchase of magazines (I know, not really free); you can get the previous version or a free version of just about any graphical app when you buy digit magazine, including software that cost kilobucks as recently as a year ago.

They aren't mormons, especially when they are often involved in sexual molestation. They're criminals.

Riddle me this: Would you consider a man in his thirties who coerces young women (lets say 15-17) into a sexual relationship in complete secrecy a criminal?

What if this man has shown a pattern of secretive liasons with over half a dozen teenage women, 5 of them under the age of 18, and some as young as 15, and pleas with them all to keep it absolutely secret.

Would you associate with that person?

That person is JOSEPH SMITH - founder of the LDS Church

Ages of the teenage wives which he coerced and took in secret (even from their own families):

Sarah LAWRENCE age 17
Zina Diantha HUNTINGTON age 19
Nancy Mariah WINCHESTER age 15-16
Helen Mar KIMBALL age 15
Lucy WALKER age 17
Sarah Ann WHITNEY age 17
Malissa LOTT age 19

They are all listed there in the Ancestral File archive. Check it out yourself.

You may think this is based on our history, but it is completely wrong.

With that kind of paedophillic example from the creator of the original LDS / Mormon church, that sure sounds like its based on history and completely factual.

Think about a man you respect the most in your life. What if they did this? Leave a bad taste in your mouth?

With all of the paedophile freaks out there making the news, this kind of secretive, exploitative preying on young women/girls is all to easy to identify.

How does it feel to know the roots of your religion are based in such a tainted source?

Webtre,

You, sir, are an ignorant fool.

I understand your ignorance webtre. I was brainwashed like you. It's takes some study and reading to find out that you are the fool.

Not only have Mormons rewritten their scriptures but they've also rewritten their history. But Technology is the light. Let me show you using tools that are familiar to all brainwashed Mormons:


Here we have the Churches own geneology database:
That there is your founder's record:

Notice a couple of things that don't quite fit in with your understanding of polygamy:

#1 Helen Mar Kimball was only 14 years old when he married JS. (You probably thought that polygamy was due to a lack of men in the day. Nope. Many young teenage girls were married to JS long before they had a chance to marry someone else. )

#2 Notice Zina Huntington: She was married to another man when she married JS. (Yeah Polyandry was also practiced. JS married women that were married to other men. Several times. You'll find several examples. )

Now in all your Mormon history studies have you ever read such things? No. Because Mormon history has be "re-written".

It's kind of funny that you can dispell so much of the "re-written" history by simply using the Mormon churches own sources..

While your at it I suggest a good reading of Section 132: http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132
That will answer you any doubt that you might have regarding Joseph's sexual activity with these teenage girls.
It will help you to see that you infact are the ignorant fool.

Good news is that through the magic of the Internet you can free your mind + give yourself a 10% raise. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!