Family Search & Billiongraves sources need to be linked
I'm in the process of uploading over 5000 obituaries to billiongraves.com. Here is the problem that others will encounter. I"m going to use the example please see FS ID L2X7-TT1 Betty Jane Cain. When you look upper right side "Research Help" you will see 2 that say Find A Grave Index and Billiongraves Index.
When you go to the billion graves index you actually follow the link it can take you to the headstone just like Find A Grave. The difference is you can add the obituary under "Other Sources" on Billiongraves:
https://billiongraves.com/obituary/Betty-Jane-Ammerman/102905375
Please go to the link above now. This will not be shown yet on the FS page of Betty Cain under resources just the headstone. On the obituary page of billiongraves you can add the FS ID so it can take you to the FS ID of the deceased.
My recommendation is not to just index headstones at billiongraves alone. But also connect any source attached that a person adds with the FS ID to the billiongraves.com source so it shows up on the FS ID as a possible source to using family search. I mean it makes sense since you can add the FS ID to the source on billiongraves.com. Not just the headstone alone. You can connect back to family search from the source from billiongraves but not from family search to billiongraves. It makes sense to do that because you would never know the obituary was there on the headstone page unless you really look. Truly, non-experienced people doing family search need all the help they can get.
I know we can add a source and make a link ourselves from the FS ID of the deceased. I think its also a good idea so people really can't tamper with the actual source itself if its added this way. After all, in this case, its the actual obituary a hard to find article. Not found on Newspapers.com etc.
Thanks for your consideration!
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There is a problem with Billiongraves.com
They require you to upgrade to their account level before they will allow you to contact or to see any more information such as obituaries or even to see who else is buried with the person. $$
Many won't go that far. Findagrave does not require sign in just to see obituaries along with the memorials.
That's the difference to consider
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I like FindAGrave better and they have a place to add a bio too.
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Wdsamuelsen I must kindly disagree with you that they charge for obituaries. I logged out of my billiongraves.com account, and made a test account with no upgrade. Searched for the individual and found the obituary and still I could open and see it. I have included a link copy and paste. I know the rules have changed since the project started, because I been one of the few that were on the site from it's conception. I get my upgrades for free by contributing to the community by adding obituaries or reading the headstone photo's transcribing them. If you do upgrade by $$ its to expedite your ticket requests.
https://billiongraves.com/obituary/Cleopha-Cleo-Kinderknecht-Anderson/102911861
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Jordi Kloosterboer -
I like find a grave to a degree, but I don't because of it's association with Ancestry.com. Ancestry has sold out many times. Although it was promised to always keep it free by the original creator. The new ownership is always trying to make $$. I have a bad feeling one day it's not going to be free anymore. Since billiongraves has a working relationship with Family Search and the LDS Church. I have more trust in them to keep things going for those who can't afford to pay high subscription rates. Far as obituaries, I'm having way to many issues with families, and with people who think they own the cemetery dead. I been sent nasty email about copyright to. Instead, of just being grateful that someone found and posted a rare obituary find. People tend to have so much time on there hands on find a grave to email and complain to sabotage what I been trying to do. I made the decision to remove all my headstone photo's and obituaries, and keep it free for all. I noticed ancestry users are not given a hint to visit billiongraves.com when they used to.
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