Hello Every One,
I just wanted to pass this info on as I do know this to be very true. So it
might be wise to print this page out if you are useing the LDS sit for your
information. Because it is not proven info. But can be helpful in giving us
leads where to look.
Sheryl
Subject: Correcting erroneous information in the LDS Ancestral File
Several people have made comments on various lists regarding erroneous
information in their lineage data through the LDS Beta Testsite.
In speaking with the "powers that be" in Salt Lake just now, I was given
instructions on how corrections are to be done.
1. Currently, it CANNOT be done on the testsite. Once the site is up and
running on a permanent basis, you would click HELP then FAQ, then FEEDBACK
OPTION which will give you an e-mail address to write to.
2. The current procedure is as follows:
Write to: ANCESTRAL FILE, Operations Unit, 50 E. N. Temple Street, Salt
Lake City, Utah, 84150, and write CORRECTIONS in the lower left corner.
HOWEVER. The Operations Unit PREFERS to have all corrections submitted on
disk as paper submissions
require them to enter input by hand which takes a great deal of time over
downloading a disk.
If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, any Family History Center will
show you how to edit and create your disk for mailing. Be CERTAIN you
verify, document and site your sources in your corrections as they are
intending to include documentation at some point on their website. Citing
your sources against submissions which have no documentation gives you a
much better chance to have your data override what they have.
It was explained that they receive millions of names and data every week.
There is no way they can verify ANY of that information. It is up to the
genealogist (researcher) to be certain they have substantiated everything
they possibly can before submitting data. Too many have not done that in
the past and are not doing it now. This has to change if we want accuracy
in these records. The church is only a clearing house for information: they
have no way of knowing if what you send them is accurate: that's our
job!
They also recommend that one person in a family be designated as the FAMILY
HISTORIAN so all information must be cleared through that family member who
does the submitting or returns data for documentation to that family member
who sent it. This is not always easy as many "distant cousins" unknown to us
are also doing submitting from other places. Forming a Family Organization
really helps cut down on errors adding living relatives as you locate them.
Last night, I spent 3 hours scrutinizing data I knew was in the Ancestral
File from previous trips to S.L. Many others, strangers to me, had also
submitted information that was FAR removed from what I knew to be accurate.
Even some of the information I MYSELF had submitted had been entered
incorrectly. First, I will attempt to contact the other submitters to find
where they got their information and work with them to correct that which is
wrong. Secondly, I will make every effort to see that the data is
corrected in the Ancestral File, a little at a time. Should we leave it as
it is, our descendants will be in total confusion and not know what to
believe.
I would hope the LDS church will tighten their rules of submission and
eventually have a method of cross-checking data for accuracy. That's asking
for the moon but the day will come, I'm sure.
For further information or assistance, call the Family History Library at
1-800-346-6044.
I surely hope this is of some help to those of you who have found such
frustration with incorrectly submitted data. Good luck in your
efforts.......
____________________________________________________________________
Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at
http://webmail.netscape.com.