A new initiative between FamilySearch International and the National Library of New Zealand is helping make family stories easier to discover.
DOWNLOADThrough the collaboration, users searching on FamilySearch.org can now more easily access Papers Past, the National Library’s free online collection of historical newspapers, magazines, journals, and other publications.
Through the new arrangement, FamilySearch users in New Zealand can more easily discover Papers Past when researching New Zealand ancestors and families. Rather than duplicating records, FamilySearch saves a user’s search criteria and redirects them to the National Library’s collection, helping researchers find additional sources that may add depth and context to their family stories.
FamilySearch, one of the world’s largest family history organisations, helps millions of people each month discover their ancestors through digitised records and online research tools, including a global Family Tree. FamilySearch works with libraries, archives, governments, cultural organisations, and community groups globally to preserve and share historical records online.
The National Library’s Papers Past collection is one of the country’s most significant digital heritage resources. It contains millions of pages of historical content, providing a rich record of daily life, local communities, businesses, family events, and historical milestones.
Mark Crookston, Director Digital, National Library and Archives New Zealand, said, “By connecting researchers from around the world to Papers Past through trusted search pathways like FamilySearch, we can help more people uncover their connection to New Zealand’s history.”
He added, “Through Papers Past, millions of pages of newspapers, magazines, journals and other historical publications have been digitised and made freely available. Collaborations with organisations such as FamilySearch help connect more people with these collections, extending their reach and making it easier for researchers, family historians and communities around the world to discover New Zealand’s stories.”
Garrick Parr, Pacific Area Manager for FamilySearch, said, “This initiative helps increase awareness and discoverability of Papers Past among family historians. It connects more people with New Zealand’s documentary heritage while helping them learn more about the lives of their ancestors and communities.”
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that all people are children of God and that, through Jesus Christ, families can be together forever. Genealogy supports this belief by helping members identify their own ancestors so they can perform temple ordinances, including baptisms and sealings, on their behalf, uniting their family generations eternally.