How can I request a record be digitized? (many are still film only)

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Robert Raymond said: Marie,

I temporarily posted my email address here. I assume you received an email containing the message. Check it for my email address. I have deleted it from here to avoid receiving spam.

--- Robert

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Sonia Grant said: What about the records from the Turks & Caicos Islands?

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Sonia Grant said: Please put Turks and Caicos Islands on the list please. I am ready to transcribe

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Paul said: Sonia

I see at https://www.familysearch.org/search/c... a number of films have not yet been digitised. It might be helpful if you follow the instructions (link) shown in this thread, but are more specific about what film(s) in which you have a specific interest. Then Robert (or another employee) might be able to respond to your request.

However, from the details of Turks and Caicos Islands films that have already been digitised it seems likely viewing them would be restricted to a Family History Center or FamilySearch affiliate library.

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Tom Huber said: While my situation is not regarding Friends' minutes, it is similar. I am trying to locate the original Presbyterian Church records for a Church that was merged into another congregation. I contacted the historical society that would normally have those records, but they reported that they did not have them. They did, however, given me a name and address of where the records might exist. Something like that may involved some of the volumes of the Friends' minutes.

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Ann Gilchrest said: Hi, Robert Here is a set of records I would love to see digitized. Here is the information:

Repository: New York Public Library
Title: Notes for a history of Washington County, NY; manuscript
Location: SASB Manuscripts & Archives Rm 328
Call No. MssCol NYGB 18065
Coverage Washington County, New York
Dates covered ca 1845-
Description .4 linear foot 8 vol. 1 box
Source MSS 2008M27

This is a link to the manuscripts https://catalog.nypl.org/search~S1?/a...

My Notes: These manuscripts have been indexed in The Fitch Gazetteer: An Annotated index to the manuscript History of Washington County, New York in 4 volumes by Kenneth Perry. Also, NYBG did microfilm of 7 volumes of the manuscripts. During the microfilming, a number of pages were missed.

Thanks,
Ann Gilchrest

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Robert Raymond said: Ann,

Thanks for your request. It is a good example of the level of detail we need. I have passed it on to the New York strategist for consideration. I cannot comment on acquiring particular records. We have learned from the past that it sets unrealistic expectations, some that are never met.

On a related note, everyone may be interested to know that our cameras generally travel to the records, rather than bringing the records to the camera. The camera apparatus is rather large and involved. The camera operator must uproot their lives and find new places to live. We often wait for some time before visiting a place, accumulating a list of records to be acquired there. We may never see a sufficient volume at a place to justify moving the camera there. Contract negotiations may or may never be successful. It is a complicated and lengthy process. We are experimenting with new equipment and new processes that may speed this up, but it may be at the expense of quality. These experiments are ongoing.

---Robert

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RealMac said: The questions about records of the Society of Friends, the Presbyterian Church, and more often that you might think, Washington County, New York, are perennial favorites, going back at least 50 years to the days when I was just beginning in genealogy.

They are hard questions, because the records themselves were inconsistently kept and were not created in a way that encouraged centralization or accountability.

It has also been noted, that whatever the Presbyterians were doing in the early days, for the most part, they weren't writing it down. And for Washington Co., NY, it is the familiar story of the "county historians", or even the "town historians", whose records may still be in someone's barn. I'm not making that up, I had correspondence involving that situation only a couple years ago.

The institutional response always emphasizes the ultimate goals of record preservation and perfect digitization and indexing. However, in real life, achieving these goals for some collections has been elusive. There are just too many complications involving logistics, disparate requirements, wishes, or goals of diverse institutions or stake-holders.

I say, put down your stakes ! -- and see what you can do on a less grand scale! For example, it is now entirely feasible for a dedicated amateur armed with nothing more than a little digital camera to produce perfectly legible photographs of whole volumes of medieval records, in just a few days, and without special lighting or other apparatus. The results will almost certainly be better than the old microfilms! I know this because one of my distant cousins has been doing this for years, in various archives in Europe. It is also perfectly possible for an amateur to abstract records of this sort and make indexes available -- not perfection, but a feasible way to make the records accessible.

I'm waiting for the arrival of a new generation of archivists who have grown up with the internet and who believe that any information worth having should be on the internet. Also needed, it turns out, is a new generation of bureaucrats and bean-counters who share this idea. I hope I live long enough to meet them!

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Tricia Wilkinson said: Anyone listening out there???
Requesting the Catasto Onciario Tax/land records of Italy. Southern Italy to be exact. Several communes already have a website up and the land records are already there to be viewed. Many may want the indexed. I just need access to them. The Wiki has a page ready but it and FS don't say when they will be available. I would love for then to come out before then end of 2019 but I bet they are years away which makes me frustrated.
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/...

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MaureenE said: The Wiki page linked in the post immediately above was first introduced 11 August 2014 at which time the records were "scheduled to become available".

After five years of nonavailability I think the likelihood they will EVER become available is remote.

The closest record I could find in the catalogue is
Catasto Onciario di San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (Pescara), 1743-1775
https://www.familysearch.org/search/c...

This shows the records have been digitised but are not available.

The original microfilms appear to have only been available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, as the catalogue record states "No circulation to family history centers". This would suggest the records are never going to be available on FamilySearch.

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Tricia Wilkinson said: does this mean they are at the family history library? is so, you are amazing and a genius. Thank you, thank you for replying to me.

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MaureenE said: The way I interpret the catalogue entry is that the microfilms in the collection "Catasto Onciario di San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (Pescara), 1743-1775 " would be available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, see
"Will microfilm continue to be available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City?"
https://www.familysearch.org/ask/faq#... which says
"Microfilm that is currently in the FHL collection that is not yet online will remain available."

However, I suggest that you check with the Library.

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Phil Jeffrey said: Films will still be available in the SL FHL till they are digitized and online. Once online then at somepoint, they get removed from the Library.
Like Maureen said I would call before hand as some films are offsite and have to be brought in.

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Tricia Wilkinson said: Thanks to MaureenE. I found a few.... does anyone know if they have all of the comunes at least on microfilm? If so how do I find them?

Phil can you find out for Please!

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A van Helsdingen said: All microfilms and digitized records that FamilySearch holds can be found on the FamilySearch catalog.

You should search by place, then look under the appropriate category.

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A van Helsdingen said: On a related note, in April I asked that film 571898 be digitized. Last year I requested film 571893, which belongs to the same collection, and it was digitized within a month. There are no reasons for restrictions on these films.

Thank you FamilySearch for digitizing the first film, but are you able to say when the second film will be digitized?

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Tricia Wilkinson said: I don't know that, that is a true statement. I have not figured out the way the catalog works yet. but things don't show up when you put in a place and they should. I think FS is hiding microfilms. Crazy as it sounds I believe it.

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Phil Jeffrey said: I would ask to have it digitized again since it should have been done by now. What will happen is the team that does it if it's on the list already will let the missionary know to post that in the case to you otherwise it will be done.

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Phil Jeffrey said: All Comunes - I don't know that answer as I have no idea how many there are. The Italian records project is a little interesting since it's a joint venture with the Italian government/archives. We can't post till they give us the ok not so much restrictions but they check for quality and to make sure everything is present. The agreement also is they post on their web site for a limited time before we can post. I would check here since the communes will so up there first http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it they have a really good FAQ as to what or how to find if some communes aren't present. 

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Tricia Wilkinson said: I will look and see if what I can find there.

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Tricia Wilkinson said: Yes, I found it very helpful! Each comune (city) had to do a Catasto/land registry. In it, there is a part that is like a census. Head of the household, occupation, age, and everyone living in that house. Women in Italy go by their Maiden Name never by the husband's name. So that is also helpful. There are often brother's living there with a spouse and children, unmarried sisters, sometimes sister-in-laws, Mother-in-laws, and sometimes the Mother who is widowed. you can see nieces and nephews sometimes. Also it will tell you who they are living by so you might be able to see siblings living next door to one another. This is a huge piece to the puzzle. Being that is it from 1742-1754. People dying between 1809-1818 could be on this land registry and the dead record could give you the parents and then you can connect the dots.

This book is not what I am looking for. If you put in under keywords Catasto Onciario you get about 10. If you put in Riveli (from the wiki it said it can be known as that too.) I get more.
Informações Online
Altino - Registros Civis
Archi - Registros Civis
Ari - catasto onciario transcricao registros civis
Arielli - registros civis
Atessa - registros civis
Bomba - registros civis
Borrello - registros civis
Bucchianico - catasto onciario transcricao registros civis
Casoli catasto onciario transcricao
Celenza sul Trigno - registros civis online
Filetto - catasto onciario
Lettopalena - alguns sobrenomes
Montebello sul Sangro - frazione Buonanotte registros civis
Ortona - cemiterio
Pennapiedimonte - catasto onciario - transcricao
Pretoro - catasto onciario - transcricao
Ripa Teatina - catasto onciario - transcricao
Rosello - catasto onciario - transcricao
Torricella Peligna - cemiterio registros catolicos registros civis registros notariais frazione di Fallascoso catasto onciario nascimentos
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/pt/...

Under Keywords: Onciario
Castellamare, Pescara, Villa del Fuoco : attraverso il catasto Onciario del 1754
Author: Cirillo, Giovanni
Add
Il catasto onciario di Roccarainola del 1748
Author: Capolongo, Domenico; Taglialatela, Bruno
Add
Catasto Onciario di San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (Pescara), 1743-1775
Author: San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (Pescara). Cancelliere
Add
Estratto dal catasto onciario di Pratola Peligna, 2 October 1745 : with historical notes and alphabetical indexes
Author: Abruzzo World Club
Add
Estratto del Catasto Onciario della terra di Guardiagrele : anno 1753
Author: Abruzzo World Club
Add
Extract from the catasto onciario of Pettorano sul Gizio, year 1750 : with historical notes and alphabetical indexes.
Author: Abruzzo World Club
Add
Italia, Salerno, Padula. Catasto Onciario : Comune, 1749
Author: Padula (Salerno). Ufficio dello stato civile; Padula (Salerno). Ufficio dello stato civile

Putting in Catasti not with an O on the end. in keywords I get the most 16 entries:
1-16 of 16 results
Caserta e Casali nel 1749 : catasti onciari del Regno di Napoli
Author: Bascetta, Arturo
Add
Catasti onciari del regno di Napoli : la mappa del Principato Ultra nel 1600
Author: Bascetta, Arturo
Add
Catasti onciari del regno di Napoli : Piazza Libertà di Avellino nel 1700
Author: Bascetta, Arturo
Add
Aiello nel 1742 : comune di Aiello del Sabato (AV) - parte
Author: Bascetta, Arturo
Add
Altavilla nel 1746 : comune di Altavilla Irpina (AV)
Author: Bascetta, Arturo
Add
Apice ne… [truncated]

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Tricia Wilkinson said: I also recommend in the Keywords putting the Place name. ie: Terra di Lavoro, or Alfedena

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Tricia Wilkinson said: can it be seen at a family history center or at the family history library just not online?

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A van Helsdingen said: Thank you, I will ask again. I re-opened the original case twice, but both times the case was closed by Support without any comment or explanation.

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Phil Jeffrey said: Nope if it's not online it can't be seen anyplace. The film can be seen at the SL FHL which is the only way around it currently

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Matt Daly said: Is there any way to check when Franklin County, NY land records will be digitized? They start with film # 877578. They have had DGS numbers since at least December 2018 and I've sent several emails and check back every few days and they're still not digitized. My emails usually don't even get a reply anymore. The closest FHC that has the film is a 12 hour drive. It's the only county I can think of where the land records aren't digitized. I don't think it could be a licensing issue because they are *public* records and every other county's land records you can freely access at home.

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A van Helsdingen said: If there is a DGS number, it means the records have been digitized. They can't be published due either to a privacy reason (highly unlikely for records going back to 1808), or lack of consent from the record custodian (Franklin county courthouse).

You may like to contact the custodian and ask if they will consent to publication of the records on FS. But if the records are on Ancestry.com, or they make money from these records in another way, there's very little chance they will give consent.

There are many instances where government agencies charge unreasonable fees or illegally prevent the public from gaining access to government records. The organisation Reclaim the Records is active in the state of New York and has a good track record of winning public access to records. See https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/

However a major problem is that the Freedom of Information Act in New York does not apply to the judiciary. According to this explanation of the law by the NY government, https://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/Right_to_... the courts are allowed to charge for access to records. Since FS is a free site, they can therefore refuse consent to publication of the records on FS.

When government agencies legally refuse access to records or charge high fees,as Franklin county courthouse appears to be doing, then it is a political issue, one that local politicians and voters will need to consider.

One final thing- FS rarely if ever publicly comments about the legal aspects relating to specific records being published. Unless a staff member responds here, FS will not comment, and I'd suggest not sending any more emails.

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Matt Daly said: Should I just email the Franklin County Clerk and ask? Is there a way to CC familysearch so they know it's coming from a legitimate source? If the county let familysearch come in and microfilm all these at one point I don't get why they wouldn't allow them to be used. Maybe it's just an oversight or something?

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A van Helsdingen said: Just because Franklin County once authorized microfilming the records, does not automatically mean they will consent to online publication. For example, they may have in the meantime entered into a contract with a website like Ancestry.com that gives that website exclusive rights to the records.

FS would have attempted to contact Franklin County themselves at the time they digitized the record. Since the records aren't published, the county either refused, FS wasn't able to make contact, or they are still considering their decision.

I don't think FS would want to be "CC"ed into your email. Write as an individual and a genealogist, and ask that they contact FS (giving a contact address would be helpful) for the purposes of renegotiating the contract between them and FS that regulates what FS can do with the microfilms of these records.

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A van Helsdingen said: It is also possible for FS to make mistakes with the setting of restrictions on records. That was the case for one set of records I contacted the owners about. But if you have already contacted FS about these records on multiple occasions, it's unlikely to be cause here.