Federation of Genealogical Society Announces New Blog for War of 1812 Fundraising

Preserve the Pensions Blog Provides Key Updates on Community Project

February 1, 2013– Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the creation of the Preserve the Pensions blog to assist in its efforts to preserve and digitize 7.2 million pages of War of 1812 Pension Records with the help of the genealogy community.

This new social media asset joins the family of other FGS blogs and websites, all which keep the genealogy and family history community updated on progress of FGS activities including fundraising projects and records preservation.

The bicentennial of what’s been called “America’s Second Revolution” began on June 18, 2012 and over the next three years, the public will turn its attention towards key anniversary events including the Burning of the White House and the Writing of the Star Spangled Banner.

The National Archives reports that the War of 1812 pension files are among the heaviest requested materials. With that level of use, these valuable records, available in no other format, are in danger of grave deterioration.

• Free to the Public: As these valuable historical documents are digitized, they will be made available to all at no cost, and the original pension files can be retired to much less active use.

• Digitized Images Now Available: Completed images and associated indexing are posted incrementally. Genealogists, historians, teachers, patriotic societies, and history buffs all have access to the images that have been digitized right now. Images will be offered for free at Fold3 indefinitely.

FGS thanks the Preserve the Pensions partners including the National Archives, fold3 and Ancestry.com who have generously donated time, money and resources.

Visit the Preserve the Pensions blog at http://www.preservethepensions.org/blog/ for updates, success stories of researchers using the War of 1812 Pension Files and more.