PHOTO DUPLICATION REQUESTS ON FAMILY SEARCH – PLUS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LEGACY AND EVERNOTE

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED BY FAMILY SEARCH - EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 5, 2014.  YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT IN THIS POST 

 http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2014/11/photo-duplication-service-to-be.html

You know what they say “you learn or should learn something new every day.”  Well, count this day a success as I’ve learned about a really wonderful source for getting copies of records that you cannot get online.

I belong to several Facebook groups for genealogy.  I’ve written about the incredible advantages to belonging to these groups/pages on Facebook and this is another great example.  Here is a link to my post - Facebook - How it can be very useful in your research

Not too long ago Deidre Erin Denton, mentioned, on the Detroit Genealogy Facebook page, that she had just received 5 records she had requested via Family Search.  I thought to myself “I didn’t know you could do that.”  Apparently, you can request up to 5 records per month.  And the best thing – it’s FREE! Thanks for the info Deidre.

Today, on the same Detroit Genealogy page I was bemoaning the fact that we don’t have images for the Michigan Death Certificates 1921-1952.  I’m thankful to have the indexed transcriptions, don’t get me wrong.  But, you know how it is.  You want to see the actual document.  

Another nice member of the group (thank you Nancy) reminded me that you can request photo duplications of the certificates or any other record not available online or in a book. 
I decided today was the day and I have completed submission of requests for 5 death certificates I’ve been wanting.  I’ll walk you through the process, which is very easy.  This process can be used for records from anywhere, any state etc.  Here is a link to the page on Family Search that explains the criteria - Photoduplication Services on familysearch.org  

You can read for yourself to see if the record you may be wanting will qualify.

I knew that the records I wanted were from the Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952.  I also knew that those images were not yet online and, to my knowledge, not in any book.
Let’s walk through the process.

NOTE:  I have received several comments via Facebook and this blog, regarding the death certificates for Michigan.  Some people say that the 75 year rule for privacy will only allow them to release images of deaths prior to 1939.  Others say they have received later years.  Please be aware of this when you are ordering Michigan Death Certificates and probably any other vital records from other states.  
Also, be aware that the Seeking Michigan site is scheduled to release the images for the Michigan Death Certificates 1921-1952, some time this year.  Will they release images for all of them or only up to 1938?  I don't know the answer to that at this time.

Once you are on the Photoduplication Services page click on the green icon that says Photo Duplication Request Form.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)



What you will see next is the actual form for you to fill out.  You don’t even have to print it, you can just fill it out right online and submit it from there.  I always appreciate that.



When you find a record on Family Search you see the indexed transcription.  Sometimes there is a little camera indicating there is also an image for that record.  In the case of the Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952, there is no little camera.  However, I had already copied the indexed information from the records I was looking for, into my Legacy database.  

It’s in that indexed information that you will find the Microfilm number and other information you need in order to complete this form.  

Here is what I have from the index for my grand aunt, Ellen Pickard.  I have indicated in RED the items that I need from this text to fill out the request form.
NOTE:  The numbers I am using (ie. GS, Digital Folder etc.) may not be the same ones you have on whatever record you are trying to request.  I would just fill in whatever you can.

Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952

Name: Ellen Pickard
Event Type:Death
Event Date: 31 Mar 1927
Event Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 39
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 01 Apr 1887
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Birth Year (Estimated): 1888
Father's Name: Wm Lindsay
Mother's Name:    
GS Film number: 001972982
Digital Folder Number: 005362579
Image Number: 02341

Here is a copy of the completed form, highlighting certain areas.  I’ve left my personal information out, but, please remember to fill it in when you submit your form.



TIP: I didn’t see an item number or call number in the indexed text, so I submitted the Digital Folder No. instead.  In the space where they ask for Title of record or book and name of parents.  I learned, after my first couple of submissions, that you can put more in that box than just what fits in the space.  I wanted you to see what I submitted so I made a box below the entry area for demonstration purposes.  I didn’t have a page or item number so in that box, I submitted the image number. 

Now, just click on submit request and you’re done. 
  
They say it can take 4-6 weeks.  I’ll be waiting………………

HOW DID I KEEP TRACK OF THE RECORDS I REQUESTED?

In my Legacy 8 database for each individual I made a note of the date & what I had done.  To learn more about Legacy 8, please click on the Legacy icon on the top right of this blog page.

Here is a screenshot of Ellen Lindsay’s Individual Information.



I will click on the plus sign (+) for death notes.  You can see that I copied and pasted the index information from Family Search for the Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952 for Ellen Pickard.  And, you can see my note about submitting the photo duplication request.



NOW I WILL MAKE A NOTE IN EVERNOTE FOR ALL THE REQUESTS I SUBMITTED.

This will allow me to keep track of every request I submit and I can even set a reminder in Evernote to tell me when I might start expecting to see the records in my email.  I can also find this note easily (in case I forget where I’ve filed it) because Evernote has such incredible search capabilities. For more information about the use of Evernote for your genealogy research please see my post Evernote - A Very Useful and Free Tool to Help You Organize Your Genealogy and Everything Else



Now the waiting begins.  I will let you know when I receive the records.  Will they send me all 5 of them?  Did I give them all the correct information?

READ THIS POST TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS
FOLLOW UP TO PHOTO DUPLICATION REQUESTS

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

BIRTH RECORDS WITH INCORRECT NAMES–WHAT WOULD YOU THINK?

As genealogists we all know that not every record we find will match “exactly” what we have or know about a particular person.  

We gather as much evidence as we can and compile a record of someone’s life. 
I’ve been searching for about 8-9 years now for the birth record of my paternal grandmother, Marie Lindsay, born 1888 and her sister, Ellen Lindsay, born 1887, both in Detroit, Michigan.  

I’ve found their two siblings, Bessie Lindsay, born 1892 and William Lindsay, born 1894 in Detroit, Michigan.

Since family search has the Michigan Births, 1867-1902, you would think the births would be there.  That’s where I located the birth records for their siblings, Bessie & William.

How many ways can you conduct a search?

• All information filled in
• Last name only
• Last name with first initial
• Last name with full first name
• Last name with parents first names
• Last name with only one parent’s first name
• Last name with year of birth or range of years and state or country of birth
• First name only with parent’s first names
• First name only with year of birth and parent’s names

Well, you get the idea.  There are so many ways for us to search.  I had tried all of those listed and several more.

So, what was it today that allowed me to find, what I believe, are the records for my grandmother, Marie and her sister Ellen?

NOTE:  My grandmother, Marie, lived with us when I was in my late teens.  We had always lived close to her, so I spent a lot of time talking to her.  I know that she always told me she was given the name Mary at birth and later changed it to Marie because that wasn’t as common as the name Mary.

Today I decided to conduct a search on familysearch.org and really try to find this birth record.

I used just the first name “Mary” and the year 1888, plus Michigan as the place of birth.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)



I certainly thought I was going to get so many hits that I’d never find anything.  But here is what came up in the search, right on the first page:



This was exciting as that is her EXACT date of birth and her parent’s names are William & Bessie.  

But wait!!!  That last name is OLENDOSEY, not LINDSAY.  Yes, I know.

I looked at all 316 hits on this search.  The ONLY other Mary born on 8 October 1888 had parents named William & Alice who were born in Canada & Michigan.  So we know that’s not my grandmother, Marie.  

Let’s click on the image of the birth record and look at the actual entry in the birth record.

Page 1                                                                        Page 2
       

Page 1 – Birthdate of Oct. 8, 1888, female.  I see the name Mary and then I see Olendosey, which is exactly how the indexer transcribed it.  I compare another capital “L” on this page in an entry for Lillie Ficher and then for Hazel Lamb.  Certainly not the same.  Now let’s look at the next page of the record.

Page 2 –  Parent’s names are William Olendosey and Bessie Olendosey, both living in Detroit and both born in Scotland.  He is a Laborer.  The first names of the parents are correct and the birthplace and residence are a match.  My great grandfather did work as a Laborer and later as a Machinist.

CONCLUSION:  I have a social security application (SS-5) that gives my grandmother’s birthdate as Oct. 8, 1888 (signed by her), as well as her death certificate, California Death Index and the Social Security Death Index.  Plus, I know that’s the day we celebrated her birthday.  My great grandparents immigrated from Scotland to the United States between 1882 and 1886.  They married in Detroit, Michigan on 21 May 1886.  Having recently (just this past May) traveled to Scotland, I do know that the Scottish brogue of some people we spoke to was so thick that, even though they were speaking English, we were unable to understand what they were saying.  Is this what happened with this record?  Did they give their names when they filed the report and the person taking down the names, just misinterpreted them?  I honestly don’t know.  

However, other than the last name this record is a perfect match.  And coincidentally the last name on the record ends with “sey” which is another common ending to Lindsay.  I believe this is my grandmother’s birth record.  

Tell me what you would think?

A quick look at her sister, Ellen Lindsay’s birth record.

Page 1                                                                           Page 2
    

For this record I don’t have as many pieces of evidence as for my grandmother.  Her sister, Ellen Lindsay Pickard, died in 1927.  I don’t have the death certificate.  There is no Social Security Death Index record for her and no SS-5.  I do have a record from Michigan, but not image.  On this birth record, her father & mother’s names are correct as is their place of birth.  And, it lists his occupation as Laborer, which matches the birth record for her sister, Mary/Marie the following year.  I also know that Nellie and Ellen are names commonly used for each other, like Bessie and Elizabeth.

Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952Name: Ellen PickardEvent Type:Death
Event Date: 31 Mar 1927
Event Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 39
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 01 Apr 1887
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Birth Year (Estimated): 1888
Father's Name: Wm Lindsay
Mother's Name:    
GS Film number: 001972982
Digital Folder Number: 005362579
Image Number: 02341

I’m still going to be looking for other evidence of the birth of Mary/Marie & Ellen.  But, given the years of their birth, there probably won’t be other birth records available.  Maybe a baptismal record?  In the meantime, I will put these records with the other records I have that provide evidence of their birth.  This is just another piece of the puzzle.

What do you think?  What conclusion would you come to?  Have you found records like this?

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

AMANUENSIS MONDAY - BIRTH RECORDS - WHAT INFORMATION DO THEY REVEAL? 

VITAL RECORDS - HOW TO REQUEST THEM & KEEP TRACK OF THOSE REQUESTS 

SURPRISE! A BIRTH RECORD WHERE IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE 



Happy hunting,
 

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION