I want to index portuguese church reccords

claudiadsouza

I have been researching records for the last 9 years and have thousands of records downloaded. I was thinking of making them available online and then a friend told me about indexing and I think it's a brilliant idea as it would make the records available to others worldwide. I also think I could get others to help me and in time add more and more records to the index

Is this something I can do here?

Melissa S Himes

Hello Claudia! Thank you for thinking about how you might help to get more records to people.

Unfortunately, there is no way in FamilySearch to create a program for indexing records that you have collected. The process is very complicated and most importantly, FamilySearch must have permission to publish the records and images. Here is a training article from FamilySearch about requesting records to be published. https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/can-i-make-an-indexing-request-for-records

However, there are currently 5 Portuguese projects that need indexed in the FamilySearch program. To learn more about Indexing, I highly recommend watching this video: Getting Started with FamilySearch Web Indexing - BYU Webinar Kathryn Grant (YouTube) and this short clip: FamilySearch Indexing - How It Works (YouTube)

These 5 projects are labelled advanced. You might want to try them out since you are experienced with Portuguese records. Although it might also be good to start with a few of the other beginner or intermediate projects just to get used to the program.

I also encourage you to join the Indexing Chat Group where 1500+ indexers and reviewers are asking and answering questions. https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/100-indexing-chat

Finally, I will tag @Dennis J Yancey as he has some excellent projects that he has created which may be like the one you are describing.

Dennis J Yancey

Keep in mind "indexing" in its formal sense within FS - is NOT where people upload items that have and then other people tag them.

Indexing is a formal program where FamilySeach prvides documents, software and traing and a ton of support system to allow item THEY HAVE DIGITIZED - and such items are indexed by volunteers.

That being said

If when you were talking about what you wnated to do - - you were thinking about uploading items you have (in digital format) and then you (and / or others ) tagging/linking such items to the corresponding people in FamilySearch Family Tree - then THAT is indeed possible. BUT does not come undere the official "INDEXING" program - rather it is an option you have using the FamilySearch Memories feature - and the tagging option within that.

Tell us more about the time period and location of most of your record?

Id be happy to give you some guidance in the area.

Here is a sample project - That I head - which is similar to what you are envisioning.

It is a project to upload thousands of Family Bible Records to FamilySearch memories and then tag/link them peope in FamilySearch Family Tree.

I do occassionally call it "indexing" - but for the most part prefer to NOT use that term - so as to avoid confusion with the formal Indexing program which is totally dijsoint and does not use FamilySearch Memories.

http://yanceyfamilygenealogy.org/genealogical_service_project.htm

feel free to email me directly at djyancey1965@gmail.com

claudiadsouza

All the records I have, are available free online and digitalized from their original parish records. I would like to see all those parish records eventually indexed as searching through the books is very time consuming. Furthermore, because they are in Portuguese it may be hard for non portuguese people to access and understand them

in this link you can see how they are available online

Digital representation - Batismos - Arquivo Distrital de Braga - Archeevo (uminho.pt)

you can actually download the whole books

Shannon Potter Wilcox

@claudiadsouza I would like to refer you to the Indexing Chat group. Ask this question to Heather Jacobs who is over the indexing and she might be able to help you know how to contact the church to see if this is something they might be able to do.

https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/100-indexing-chat

claudiadsouza

Thank you Shannon, I shall go there now