NEW PENSION IMAGES HAVE ARRIVED

PRESERVE THE PENSIONS ANNOUNCES NEW IMAGES AVAILABLE AT FOLD3.COM

Austin, Texas  – The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce new pension images available at our hosting partner, Fold3. As we detailed in August of this year, conservation had resumed and digitization would shortly follow on War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. This new release of images is the first installment on the promise made by FGS, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Ancestry to complete the project we started and to which you all have so generously contributed. Additional images will follow as the Ancestry digitization team continues to refine their process and achieve full capacity in accord with NARA protocols.

The War of 1812 pensions are among the most frequently requested set of materials within NARA’s holdings, yet had never been microfilmed or digitized. Through a fundraising effort unprecedented in the genealogical community, more than 4,000 individuals, 115 genealogical and lineage societies, and industry leaders such as FamilySearch helped FGS secure the funds, matched by Ancestry, to preserve and share this invaluable genealogical resource. The images already captured, as well as those soon to be, are hosted at Fold3 and available for free at https://go.fold3.com/1812pensions/

 “The Federation remains grateful to our partners and our supporters for their commitment to this important project. We are as excited as our community to reach this milestone.” – Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

"Accelerating public access to our holdings is key to successfully meeting NARA's mission and we are extremely pleased to see this project contribute to that overarching goal." Pamela Wright, Chief Innovation Officer, NARA

 “We are excited to have images flowing to the Fold3 site again and look forward to completing the collection as quickly as NARA’s process will allow.” Brian Hansen, GM Fold3

The Federation is committed to seeing the entire collection conserved, digitized and freely online at the earliest possible date. We will continue work with our partners to complete the current project plan in a timely manner and to secure a project plan for the remaining portion of the War of 1812 Pension files.

Document Conservation Resumes for War of 1812 Pension Files

Message from the President

Today, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announced the resumption of conservation of the War of 1812 Pension Files.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce National Archives staff have recently resumed document conservation of the War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. Document conservation is the essential first step in digitizing these files. Our digitization partner, Ancestry.com, has scheduled image capture of these newly conserved documents to begin the second week of September 2017. As capture resumes, new images will be added to Fold3.com on a rolling basis. The Federation and the dedicated volunteers of the Preserve the Pensions project have worked tirelessly for well over a year to negotiate a resolution to the work stoppage. This portion of the project plan is expected to be completed by third quarter 2018.

Many in our community have expressed frustration with the lack of new information on the status of the Preserve the Pensions project, ongoing negotiations and the safety of donated funds. As incoming President, I had an obligation to hold any response to those concerns until I could evaluate the history, speak candidly with the Preserve the Pensions team and meet with our partners. From the outside, and with perfect hindsight, it is easy to see a few opportunities missed to share more with you, our supporters. I stand behind the Preserve the Pensions team even so. They have worked incredibly hard to bring this unprecedented fundraising and preservation effort this far.

As frustrating as it may be to hear, FGS is limited in how much it can share with the community at large regarding ongoing negotiations with partners. As an organization, we most certainly may not reveal the internal discussions between our partners. That simple fact of business leaves you, our funding supporters, at times without satisfactory answers to your questions. While I will do everything in my power as FGS President to keep you apprised going forward, I will likely never satisfy your questions completely. With that in mind, and with the current project plan in place, I am able to share with you a very brief outline of events.

A security incident at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility in St. Louis led to a work stoppage of digitization projects for security review. This incident was unrelated to the Preserve the Pensions project in Washington D.C., however, our project was impacted.  The Federal bureaucracy is a slow-moving beast, as many of us have experienced outside of genealogy.   The completed review led to new security and project protocols. These protocols imposed new cost, space, and completion date constraints on the project. Neither conservation nor digitization could resume without a renegotiated project plan. These negotiations were difficult and time-consuming as each partner fought for their organization’s priorities. Ultimately, each partner compromised where they could to bring this important preservation project back online. The negotiations, however, are not over. The project plan above is a test of both the new project protocols and the compromises each of us made. It is a proof of concept. As this new project plan is put into practice, NARA, Ancestry.com, and FGS will continue to work together to evaluate the process with an eye towards negotiating the project plan for the final phase of conservation and digitization of surnames R-Z.

I can assure you, the funds you have so generously contributed to this effort are secure. In accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), funds donated for a specific purpose must be separate from general operating funds. Your donations were deposited into a restricted fund. Any monies FGS provided for matching campaigns were moved from our operating capital into this restricted fund. Digitization and other project expenses were spent from the restricted fund.

While the total value of the project was originally projected to be $3.456 million, FGS was responsible for raising only half that amount - $1.728 million - due to the very generous match by Ancestry.com. This valuation was based on a projected 7.2 million pages in the War of 1812 Pensions collection at a total cost of $0.48 per page image. The new project plan has added to the total cost of the Preserve the Pensions project.  However, the number of images for the first half of the collection was less than originally expected.  We anticipate this trend will continue in the second half of the collection. Therefore, FGS stands by its decision to close community fundraising for the project.

On behalf of the board of the Federation and the dedicated volunteers of the Preserve the Pensions team, I have heard and acknowledge your concerns. Your support of this project has been both overwhelming and inspirational. As a first of its kind effort to crowdfund preservation of a genealogically-valuable collection, there was no roadmap. The Preserve the Pensions team is dedicated to seeing this project through until the very last page of the very last pension is online. We will evaluate the successes and shortcomings of the project as implemented before proceeding to a new project. In the meantime, we will work to regain your trust by being as forthcoming as the realities of these sensitive negotiations will allow.

FGS remains grateful to the community for your contributions; this project would not have been successful without the energy of all of you behind us. I welcome your questions or concerns at president@fgs.org.

--Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

PRESERVE THE PENSIONS ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION OF DOCUMENT CONSERVATION AT NATIONAL ARCHIVES

DIGITIZATION SOON TO FOLLOW

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce National Archives staff have recently resumed document conservation of the War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. Document conservation is the essential first step in digitizing these files. Our digitization partner, Ancestry.com, has scheduled image capture of these newly conserved documents to begin the second week of September 2017. As capture resumes, new images will be added to Fold3.com on a rolling basis. The Federation and the dedicated volunteers of the Preserve the Pensions project have worked tirelessly for well over a year to negotiate a resolution to the work stoppage. This portion of the project plan is expected to be completed by third quarter 2018.

The War of 1812 pensions are among the most frequently requested set of materials within the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), yet had never been microfilmed or digitized. Through a fundraising effort unprecedented in the genealogical community, more than 4,000 individuals, 115 genealogical and lineage societies, and industry leaders such as FamilySearch helped FGS secure the funds, matched by Ancestry.com, to preserve and share this invaluable genealogical resource. The images already captured, as well as those soon to be, are hosted at Fold3.com for free, forever.

 “We are grateful to our partners Ancestry.com and NARA for their support and willingness to continue working with us towards this successful outcome. We appreciate their recognition of the unique nature of this project and the community who worked so hard to fund it.” – Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

The Federation is committed to seeing the entire collection conserved, digitized and freely online at the earliest possible date. We will continue work with our partners to secure a timeline for the remaining portion of the War of 1812 Pension files.

1812 Society Matching Campaign Challenge

You've been challenged!

We are challenging each member society of FGS to a society matching campaign! We are asking each of you, as an FGS member society, to engage in at least a $500 matching program to raise funds for the 1812 Preserve the Pensions!

If each society will raise at least $500, we would be able to raise $600,000 in 2015 toward our goal of $800,000 to complete the project. The FGS Board has just approved a $25,000 matching amount.

So, the first societies to let us know that you have committed to do a matching campaign, will have your donations matched by FGS as well as Ancestry. Email us your commitment.

These are some suggestions:

• You can play the YouTube video with Josh Taylor, entitled Preserve the Pensions and Societies, at the beginning of your society meeting, and collect funds at each meeting. (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hRXzI57Cwo  

• Plan a meeting with the program entirely devoted to the War of 1812 and Preserve the Pensions project! There is an 1812 Powerpoint which you can present at your meeting. But there are four videos on YouTube where FGS officers talk about the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions.
• A helpful way for societies to raise funds is to establish a society “seed fund” which can then match individual donations turned into your society. A seed fund could be created by holding an event, such as a yard or garage sale just to raise that seed money.

What suggestion do you have? Your society help is needed to raise the funds so that we can make the Preserve the Pensions a reality and reach our goal!!

Elaine Hasleton

Preserve the War of 1812 Pensions Volunteer

For more information about the Preserve the Pensions Project or to donate, please visit PreservethePensions.org.

Sponsor a Celebrity Walker in the Preserve the Pension Fun Walk at #FGS2014

Which celebrity will you sponsor?

Thank you Judy Russell. Your promotion of the Preserve the Pensions Fun Walk and the generous offers of sponsorship you have received have inspired us.

We are changing things up!

Instead of a group walk, we have four sponsored walkers for you to choose from: Judy Russell of The Legal Genealogist, D. Joshua Taylor and Kenyatta Berry on behalf of Genealogy Roadshow and Ed Donakey of Family Search.

These four walkers will be competing for your sponsorship to see which of them can raise the most funds for the Preserve The Pensions campaign.

And while we hope those of you who intended to walk will get out and enjoy all that San Antonio has to offer, we ask that you commit to sponsoring one of our celebrity walkers instead.

Judy, Josh, Kenyatta and Ed will walk Saturday morning August 30^th at 6:30am. (That’s right Judy, you’ll still have to get up early, that hasn’t changed!)

If you happen to be up at what Judy lovingly calls “oh dark thirty” I hope you’ll consider seeing them off from their starting point at the front of the Henry B Gonzales Convention Center.

Every dollar raised in support of our walkers goes directly to the Preserve The Pensions fund.  Every dollar is matched first by FGS, then again by Ancestry. Every $25.00 sponsorship becomes a $100.00 contribution to the preservation of this incredibly important collection of War of 1812 pensions.

Now all you have to decide is which of these four amazing individuals will get your support!

Details: 

Show attendees, please stop by the Preserve The Pensions booth 506, 508.

Donate $25.00 to sponsor your favorite walker and pick up your T-Shirt.  (Shirts available while they last.)

For those not attending the show, please visit our donate page at https://www.preservethepensions.org/donate

You’ll see a section marked “Honor and Tribute” where you can select the walker you’d like to sponsor. After the convention we’ll coordinate with you on T-shirt size and shipping.

Second Chance to View War of 1812 Webinar Series

If you missed the War of 1812 Webinar Series that FGS offered in Summer 2013, then mark your calendar to visit the FGS website beginning Friday, February 28, 2014 through Sunday, April, 27, 2014. These informative and entertaining webinars can be viewed for a limited time so don't delay.

"Discovering Local & State Militia Record” presented by J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA

Take a closer look at the wide variety of records documenting our local militia companies. From annual muster to supplies and appointment of Officers, learn how these records may be used in your family research. Learn more about the military organization of citizens called for the purpose of local defense, who served this country from the Revolution through 1812 and on to the development of the National Guard.

"Researching in the Post War Records of 1812" presented by Craig Scott, MA, CG

This lecture will focus on the records created by the War Department after the War. It will include compiled military service records, pensions and pension payments.

FGS 2014 Conference Donation Package To Benefit Preserve the Pensions Project

Over $1000 Prize Package To Be Awarded at FGS 2013 Conference

15 August 2013 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies 2014 Conference Committee announces an exciting fundraising effort to benefit the Preserve the Pensions project: the 2014 Conference Donation Package. This amazing prize package consists of the following items:

• One (1) full conference registration for the FGS 2014 Conference in San Antonio, Texas, August 27-30, 2014.
• Four (4) nights at the Marriott River Walk Hotel (during the FGS 2014 Conference), donated by the Marriott Hotel San Antonio.
• Riders On the Orphan Train by Alison Moore (FGS 2014 keynote speaker).
• Rider On the Orphan Train Music CD by Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster (FGS 2014 keynote speakers).
• First Families of Texas, donated by the Texas State Genealogical Society.
• Our Heritage Recipes, donated by the San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society.
• Texas water bottle and mug, Texas salsa and barbecue sauce, tortilla warmer, stone mortar and pestle, and San Antonio Classic Dessert cookbook all in a San Antonio bag donated by the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The total value of this package is approximately $1,000. Attendees at the upcoming FGS 2013 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana can enter the drawing by making any of the following donations:

• 1 ticket - $5 donation
• 5 tickets - $20 donation
• 12 tickets - $50 donation
• 25 tickets - $100 donation
• 55 tickets - $250 donation
• 110 tickets - $500 donation
• 225 tickets - $1000 donation

Donations may be made at the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall. The FGS 2014 Donation Package winner will be announced Friday evening, August 23, 2013, at the Allen County Library Social Event (donors do not need to be present in order to win).

FGS Webinar Recording Now Available - Researching in the Post War Records of 1812

The recording of this past Tuesday's webinar Researching in the Post War Records of 1812 presented by Craig Scott, MA, CG is now available to the public. Click here to view the recording or use the embedded version below.

Researching in the Post War Records of 1812



Description: This lecture will focus on the records created by the War Department after the War. It will include compiled military service records, pensions and pension payments.

Presenter: Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 4,900 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than twenty-eight years, he specializes in the records of the National Archives, especially those that relate to the military. He is the Coordinator of the Advanced Military Track at IGHR and SLIG.

FGS Announces Two Free Genealogy Webinars

The Federation of Genealogical Societies announces two new webinars focusing on the use of military records in genealogical research.  These webinars are FREE and open to the public!

• Discovering Local & State Militia Records
  Presenter: J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA
  Date: Tuesday, 16 July 2013, 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central
  Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/934226718
  
  Take a closer look at the wide variety of records documenting our local militia companies. From annual muster to supplies and appointment of Officers, learn how these records may be used in your family research. Learn more about the military organization of citizens called for the purpose of local defense, who served this country from the Revolution through 1812 and on to the development of the National Guard.
  
  J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA a full-time professional researcher & educator, formerly APG President and FGS officer. You will find him researching for clients including Who Do You Think You Are?, African American Lives or Biography’s uneXplained. With his love for teaching, you will see him at SLIG, IGHR, numerous webinars or at your local society.
  
  

• Researching in the Post War Records of 1812
  Presenter: Craig Scott, MA, CG
  Date: Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central
  Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/663333166
  
  This lecture will focus on the records created by the War Department after the War. It will include compiled military service records, pensions and pension payments.
  
  Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 4,900 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than twenty-eight years, he specializes in the records of the National Archives, especially those that relate to the military. He is the Coordinator of the Advanced Military Track at IGHR and SLIG.
  

Image: Survivors of The War of 1812, 23 October 1861 via MediaWiki Commons.

Win a One-of-a-Kind War of 1812 Commemorative Quilt!

Genea-Quilters, founded by Pat Richley-Erickson, Gena Philibert-Ortega and Tami Osmer-Glatz, have created a one of a kind War of 1812 commemorative quilt in support of the Preserve the Pensions project. In order to maintain the old timey feel, the quilt was pieced together using patterns of the time period of 1812-1900, when most of the War of 1812 pensioners’ wives and mothers would have been making quilts.

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.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies Forms the Society of Preservation Patriots

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the creation of a new society to promote the preservation of records in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): The Society of Preservation Patriots. This new group recognizes donors who have contributed $250 or more to the Stern-NARA Gift Fund or the current Preserve the Pensions initiative, a project to digitally capture the 7.2 million images from the 180,000 pensions of those who served in the War of 1812.

Recognition for members will include a new pin designed especially for the society. The pins will be mailed directly to contributors. The names of members of the society will also be listed on the FGS website.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies has posthumously named Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern as the first member of the newly formed Society of Preservation Patriots for his vision and leadership. As chair of the Genealogical Coordinating Committee, he established the NARA Gift Fund, later named the Stern-NARA Gift Fund after his death in his honor. It was Rabbi Stern’s efforts that led to collecting money to then microfilm and distribute copies of high value records for genealogists to the regional National Archives Branches records that were held at NARA in Washington, DC. Long known for his tireless efforts, he challenged member societies of FGS to ask each of their members to contribute $1 per year toward the fund, a request that still stands today.

Over the years, through the generous donations of the genealogical community, numerous records have been microfilmed and made available to genealogists. A few examples are:

• M1359: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston, Texas, 1896-1948
• M1878: Records of the Sultana Disaster, April 27, 1865
• M2019: Records Relating to War of 1812 Prisoners of War
• M2014: Burial Registers for Posts, Camps and Stations, 1768-1921
• M2025: Registers of Applications for the Release of Impressed Seaman, 1793-1802
• M1846: Record Cards of Carriers Separated from the Postal Service, 1863-1899

FGS invites you to become a member of the Society of Preservation Patriots by contributing your gift of $250 or more to the Stern-NARA Gift Fund or the Preserve the Pensions project. Visit http://www.preservethepensions.org or http://www.fgs.org/cstm_STERN-NARA.php for more information.

FGS Member Society ISGS Raises Over $40,000 During War of 1812 Records Preservation Campaign

Preserve the Pensions Project to Digitize Important Pension Records and Provide Free Access to the Public

December 11, 2012 – Springfield, IL. The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) is proud to announce that it has completed its recently launched $10,000 War of 1812 Pension Match Challenge with strong support from ISGS members as well as the genealogical community.

On June 18, 2012, the 200th anniversary of the declaration of the War of 1812, ISGS announced its $10,000 War of 1812 Pension Match Challenge. ISGS made a commitment to match any contribution (up to the first $10,000) made to the Preserve the Pensions project before December 31, 2012. In addition, Ancestry.com announced that it would also match all monies donated during the campaign, resulting in all contributions being quadrupled. A total of $40,000 to be donated to the Preserve the Pensions project will result in 88,888 additional pages of the War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files being digitized over the next few months.

The Preserve the Pensions campaign (http://www.preservethepensions.org), sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (http://www.fgs.org) along with Ancestry.com, Fold3 and the National Archives, seeks to raise over $3.7 Million needed to digitize the War of 1812 pension files that are currently stored in the National Archives and make them freely available online. With over 180,000 Pension files in this historic record set and over 7.2 million pages, access to these records will benefit not only genealogists and family historians, but a variety of researchers. In addition, the digitization project will help preserve and halt further damage to these historical documents. The files are being digitized as funds become available and many files are already viewable by visiting http://go.fold3.com/1812pensions/.

ISGS President Jane Haldeman notes: “The ISGS board made a strong commitment to the preservation of the War of 1812 Pension Records when it issued the fundraising challenge earlier this year. ISGS thanks all who contributed, especially those members of the genealogy community who are not members of ISGS. Digitizing these records will benefit ALL genealogists and hopefully result in more people locating information about their ancestors.”

About Illinois State Genealogical Society

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was formed in 1968 through the cooperative effort and forward thinking of Illinois genealogical society representatives, who envisioned a statewide genealogical organization. ISGS is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian, educational organization. ISGS was established for the following purposes:

• To stimulate an interest in the people who contributed to the establishment and development of the State of Illinois.

• To seek, preserve, and make available data pertaining to individuals, families, and groups who lived in Illinois and to events which took place therein.

• To inform people of the value of, and need for, preserving family and local history for posterity.

• To encourage the formation of local genealogical societies and to coordinate and disseminate information.

Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ILgensoc), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/ILgensoc) and on our blog at http://ilgensoc.blogspot.com.

War of 1812 Pension Digitization Fund Receives Generous $250,000 Donation

FamilySearch Adds to Genealogy Community Fundraising Effort

November 27, 2012 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce that the War of 1812 “Preserve the Pensions” Digitization Fund received a generous donation this week of $250,000 from FamilySearch, a nonprofit organization and world leader in the genealogy community. The donation helps move the Fund closer to its goal of $3.7 million in donations to digitally preserve and index the War of 1812 pension and bounty land records.

The War of 1812, often called the “Second Revolution,” was a pivotal moment in our Nation’s history. Individual states struggled to become one nation after a long-fought Revolution, and the “American Experiment” was still at a precarious stage. The strength and courage of the patriots who fought in the War of 1812 ensured that our American Revolution did not end up as a mere footnote to British history and conquest. Instead, valiant farmers, merchants, seamen, fathers, and sons became soldiers to fight for what they and their fathers had believed in: their American home.

Now, two hundred years later, the War of 1812 “Preserve the Pensions” Digitization Fund celebrates their success, honor, and memories by digitally preserving the veterans’ pension records and making them freely accessible to all online. The initiative will digitally preserve the 180,000 War of 1812 pension records (7.2 million pages) located at NARA, and create a searchable index online. Currently, NARA receives over 3,000 patron requests per year for copies of soldiers’ files.

“The Federation is extremely grateful to FamilySearch for their generous support of this enormously important endeavor,” said Curt Witcher, vice president of development for FGS. “Linking the genealogical community, marshaling that community’s resources, preserving and making accessible records that document our heritage—all are central to the Federation's mission. FamilySearch’s very generous pacesetting gift helps ensure that this 21st century preservation and access project is a reality.”

David Rencher, chief genealogy officer for FamilySearch, said, “FamilySearch publishes over 400 million images of historic documents online for free each year, and is honored to support community efforts like the War of 1812 ‘Preserve the Pensions’ Digitization Fund to preserve and make additional high priority historic records more widely available.”

The War of 1812 files are very valuable to family historians and genealogists because they contain rich information such as:

• Veteran’s name and age
• Residence
• Widow’s name and maiden name
• Service history and dates
• Military rank and organization
• If Bounty Land was granted and information on those warrants
• Marriage information
• Death dates for soldiers and widows
• Additional names of neighbors and comrades

Anyone can donate to the project at www.preservethepensions.org. Each pension page costs $0.45 to digitize. Each dollar of contribution digitizes two pages. Every little bit helps. To view the FREE images already online, go to: http://go.fold3.com/1812pensions.

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org.

FGS Announces $135,000 Donation to War of 1812 Pension Project

Estate of Jon Stedman To Help Digitize Important Family History Records

June 25, 2012 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the donation of a generous gift in the amount of $135,000 from the estate of the late Jon Stedman in memory of his mother, Ardath Stedman. The donation to the Preserve the Pensions – War of 1812 Pension Digitization Fund will be used to help preserve and digitize War of 1812 Pension records.

Hollace Hervey, executrix of the estate, indicated that Jon Stedman was "always interested in preservation and bringing information to the front" so genealogists could more easily use it. Besides caring passionately for facilitating genealogists doing good research, Stedman had a deep love and affection for his mother who was a genealogist in her own right. The Preserve the Pensions project is just such a preservation and access endeavor, and FGS is honored in receiving this generous donation.

The $135,000 donation is a significant lead gift to the Preserve the Pensions project as FGS ramps up its fundraising efforts during the bicentennial of the War of 1812 which started on June 18, 2012. Members of the genealogy and family history communities as well as the general public are invited to learn more about this important record preservation project by visiting the Preserve the Pensions website at www.fgs.org/1812 and assist with honoring our nation’s heritage by preserving the records of our past.

About the Preserve the Pensions – War of 1812 Pension Digitization Fund

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is committed to projects such as Preserve the Pensions – War of 1812 Pension Digitization Fund that link the genealogical community by advancing the cause of preserving records and making them more accessible to the public.

In conjunction with the National Archives & Records Administration (www.archives.gov), fold3 (www.fold3.com) and Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com). FGS is helping to digitize 180,000 pension applications representing an estimated 7.2 million pages of War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. The collection will be available for free on fold3’s website at www.fold3.com/title_761/war_of_1812_pension_files/.

The multi-year project consists of scanning the pension files at the National Archives in Washington D.C. and creating a searchable index to the digital images. FGS has targeted the War of 1812 Pension Applications as a high priority project based on the value of the content for genealogists as well as the importance of preserving the fragile records.

FGS is proud to be leading the national fundraising to support this project and is actively seeking donations from genealogical and historical societies, patriotic and military heritage societies, as well as interested corporations and individuals. Ancestry.com and fold3 are providing a dollar-for-dollar match of each donation through a provision of services. To learn more and contribute to the Preserve the Pensions project, visit www.fgs.org/1812.

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org.