FamilySearch volunteers supported an open day sponsored by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists in Wellington on Saturday 5th August 2017.
August is Family History Month in New Zealand and Australia.
Those attending the event received hands-on training from FamilySearch consultants to locate information about their ancestors.
FamilySearch is a genealogical organization operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was previously known as the Genealogical Society of Utah (or “GSU”).
New Zealand passenger ship manifests, digitized New Zealand probates and wills, and Pacific birth, death and marriage records were especially interesting to those searching for information.
One woman attending the event expressed her excitement at the prospect of being able to see the actual handwriting of her deceased relative on a probate document.
NZSG chairwoman, Robyn Williams, commented about the collaboration of FamilySearch making records accessible to everyone.
She said, “FamilySearch record collections held at the National Library are really great. The records that were previously available on film will shortly be available through the FamilySearch website at the National Library−great news for all people doing their family history.”
FamilySearch.org, the family history website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, if free for all.
On August 22 from 12:10 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the ground floor of the National Library in the Ahumairangi Room, Jenny Martin, a FamilySearch volunteer will run a session for enthusiasts.
She will be demonstrating new ways to locate information about “hard to find” ancestors.
Records that could only be accessed on microfilm previously, can now be accessed through the services offered by the National Library and in a digital form through FamilySearch.org.
Actual registry entries, parish records, gazettes and many more of the records which are held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will soon be available online at all LDS Family History Centres and their affiliates.
Watch a short Indroductory video on FamilySearch: