How to access a particular microfilm, Number 069362, or equivalent digital version.

PJWetzel

Hi - I'm entirely new in this discussion forum and am perhaps being lazy, but I expect this will be the quickest way to get an answer. I did voluminous research back in the early 1990's at Family History Libraries, mostly the big one in Silver Spring MD. My work resulted in a family history book, which I published in 1993, then haven't done much research until now, with the idea of doing a second (850th anniversary) edition of the book.

I did donate a copy of the book to LDS Family History library and they microfilmed it, but it became unavailable long ago because the book lists loads of information about still-living people (including myself). Image of the cover attached.

So back in the early '90's at LDS family history centers, we used to be able to request microfilms to be kept there for extended periods, and there was one particular microfilm of a German church book that I found had dozens of ancestor listings. Unfortunately I did not make paper copies of most of the entries relevant to my family. It would have been too expensive for my limited resources back then.

So now, after a 30-year hiatus, I'm hoping to regain access to this particular microfilm and/or perhaps its digitized version. Of course the COVID situation appears to complicate things, as apparently Family History library centers are closed, right? (yes, that's how little I know at this point--it's like I've been under a rock for thirty years). So what might it be possible to do?

The specific microfilm I looked at was film number 069362, Muchow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany Ev,angelical Church parish register book (birth, death, marriage) 1666-1803.

Rather than try to navigate my way around the Family Search web site to find the answers myself, I expect there are some friendly helpful folk here who can cut through the electronic maze and point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

PJ Wetzel

Paul W

If you go to https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/248372?availability=Family%20History%20Library you will find a link to that microfilm's details. Unfortunately, you will find that - regarding availability of the material it contains - this message is produced:

Images Available

To view these images do one of the following: You may be able to view this image by visiting one of our partners' sites or the legal record custodian (fees may apply).

In other words, you will have to check-out the possibility it can be found on one of the pay-to-view sites (e.g. Ancestry) or find out who holds the originals.

Fortunately, many years ago I ordered a number of microfilms to be held on permanent loan at my local FHC. These are still available to view in London, England - at one of the seemingly dwindling number of locations that still has microfilm readers! Unless you find yourself in s similar situation (i.e. the film is still held at a FHC fairly close to your home), I'm afraid you will not be able to access it through FamilySearch any more.

MaureenE123

I am a non LDS church member and I get the same message as Paul W above. However, if you have any friends who are LDS church members, get them to check out what restrictions, if any, they see for this digitised microfilm.

I suspect that LDS Church members may in fact be able to view the record on their home computer, but this does not help you if you do not have friends who are LDS church members

For records restricted to LDS church members only, see the comment by JeffWiseman 24 February 2021 (scroll down) "....the following mandate is documented in the members version of the knowledge article ID:951 that X24mom and MaureenE123 provided:

 "Consultants should not sign in to allow members of the public to access restricted images. Such sharing can violate contracts between FamilySearch and the records custodian and can cause the records to be removed from FamilySearch"

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/233122/#Comment_233122

So unless you have friends who are LDS church members, as Paul W commented above, you will not be able to access the digitised microfilm through FamilySearch any more.

PJWetzel

Very disappointing answers, but thank you both for taking the time to respond.

Whatever happened to advancing technology making genealogy work easier? Baffling, really.