Family Tree Connection

Are You Wondering Where Our Resources Come From? Are You Concerned about the Integrity and Security of FTC Archives?

Let's face it. The Internet is a blessing to researchers. You have immediate access to information, statistics, opinions, and images that were out-of-reach just 10 years ago.

But ... it's easy to get information that is erroneous or where the source is not cited. I've been to many sites where citations are not noted, and therefore the data is questionable, haven't you?

Because of this, I'm sure you have issues about credibility, security and source validity, too. Any genealogist of merit would be! You can't afford to be dealing with any sources that are not guaranteed to be genuine. And, if you can't rely on your archive director to handle materials in a way to ensure longevity and reliable retrieval ... then what's the point of using that archive?

Let me assure you, we here at Genealogy Today care as much as you do about these issues. Since the early days of collection, we've strived to initiate and maintain a rigorous program of data gathering, storage, protection, and primary source integrity.

What You Need to Know About Our Archive Materials

Family Tree Connection has several thousand items in our collection at this point, and we're growing. Every month we add an average of 200 resources. We travel around the country to obtain these resources, and consider it our duty to take care of them. We at Genealogy Today are caretakers of the past, and we take that role seriously.

Early on, we required a long-range preservation plan akin to those instituted in major libraries like the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian. After all, we're commonly dealing with documents, photographs and town hall records, and family documents over 150 years old! The care of old newspapers, books, and photographs can present problems to anyone not trained in archival maintenance.

So, that's exactly what we did: we created a preservation plan that took into account our long-term preservation needs and charted a course of action suited to those needs. It was critical to carefully evaluate locale storage facilities, taking into consideration the sources of potential damage from exposure to light from windows or light fixtures, water and temperature hazards. We use a climate-controlled environment to store our original documents, and monitor conditions regularly.

Policies and procedures to prevent damage to the archived materials must be incorporated into any plan of action. We at FTC are trained in the care and handling of collected materials. Whether they are photographs, newspapers, court or church documents, or family-based records, each item is stored and handled in such a manner to ensure its viability. This is not to say that some items don't come into our collection already heavily damaged. In that case we do our best to inhibit the processes acting to damage the item, and act to preserve it in the state in which it arrived.

Still have a question regarding archival integrity? Write our Archive Director, who will do his best to answer your questions to your satisfaction.

We're Dedicated to Both Protecting the Past and Serving the Professional Genealogical Community

As part of our long-range plan of action, we rigorously follow the criteria below:

Genuine Data Sources: We use only document originals in the data base-building process. Acquired through dealers, and shows and through credible online sources, our primary source materials are verifiably authentic. Every item in the online database is displayed with the source information, including the collection, source title, year of the source, and page number. When the title is lengthy, it is abbreviated, and subscribers can link to a profile of the source for the complete title.

All items are tagged, catalogued and scanned. As part of the cataloging process, we verify both that the item is dated, and the original location of the item. Each item is assigned a unique catalog number, which is used in the scanning process as well as in archive storage.

Consistent Data Entry: All data entry personnel follow a set of data entry guidelines to ensure that all items are entered consistently. One of the major tenets of the process is that we do not change any information, including correcting obvious typographical errors in the original. Editorial comments, noted with square brackets ("[]") are added stating our belief that an error exists in the source.

Quality Control Review: An independent expert, who verifies accuracy, reviews each data entry spreadsheet. In addition the data upload program performs several quality checks to ensure dates and locations are entered according to guideline specifications.

Data Storage: All items not currently being processed are stored in a secure, climate-controlled offsite facility and are readily available to retrieval should an item in one of the scanned images proves to be illegible.

Data Protection: All scanned images are routinely backed-up to a local storage on our network. This storage area is not accessible on the Internet, and therefore not susceptible to tampering or corruption. They are also regularly backed-up to CD-Rom and stored offsite, at a facility separate from the original items.

Data Integrity: Every effort is made to avoid damaging items during the cataloging and scanning process. Some items are in terrible condition when we receive them, however, we are extremely careful when handling each and every item that passes through our collection doors. Integrated pest management (IPM) is key to maintaining archival integrity. This approach relies primarily on non-chemical means (controlling climate, food sources and building entry points) to prevent and manage pest infestations.

Here at FTC we strive to serve the professional genealogist, and provide the best small resource archive available anywhere. We guarantee that you'll be more than satisfied with our collection acquisition, data entry and storage procedures. In fact, you'll be more than satisfied, you'll be delighted with our attention to the details of archival preservation.

Put aside any concerns you have, because they don't relate to the holdings at Family Tree Connections. Our support staff is here to assist you in any way we can. What more can you ask for?

Sign up today for a subscription to the most unique collection around, Family Tree Connection. For only pennies a day, you have our guarantee of validity, accuracy and preservation of our collection. You owe it to yourself, and your clients (if you're a genealogy professional), to include FTC in your genealogical resource toolkit!