What Do Numbers and Letters on Family Search Mean

Family History Library

Introduction [edit | edit source]

The Family History Library has used a few different methods to number its books and films since the library started in 1894. These sometime numbers for books and films are no longer used so the current numbers for the books and films must exist determined.

In that location have been two systems for numbering books and iii systems for numbering films.

Volume Numbers [edit | edit source]

Previous book numbering system [edit | edit source]

The first numbering system for books used a topic code or a geographic code and a number, such equally:

R8A21 (reference books began with an 'R')
NY 134 (a book well-nigh New York)
Eng 369 (a book about England)

The numbers were assigned in the order the book was received into the library'due south drove.

Family histories were grouped into classes 'A' or 'B', such as:

A5D8
B15A139

There was no straight corrolation between any of the letters in the telephone call number and the surname of the family whom the volume was well-nigh.

Current volume numbering organisation [edit | edit source]

The electric current book numbering organization is based on the universally recognized Dewey Decimal system, with only slight alterations. The Dewey Decimal system designator for histories is the 900 series. Since the majority of the library's books are historical in nature, the 900 series is used near in the library. Other designators seen in the library are:

000 series for general works (such as 030 for encyclopedias and 040 for biographies)
200 series for organized religion
400 series for language (including dictionaries)

The 940 series is for European histories. These include:

941 British Isles (in the Family unit History Library this is for Scotland and 941.5 for Ireland)
942 England & Wales in particular
943 Central Europe; Germany
944 French republic & Monaco
945 Italian Peninsula & adjacent islands
946 Iberian Peninsula & next islands
947 Eastern Europe; Russia
948 Northern Europe; Scandinavia

For the United States and Canada, these are the designators:

970 General history of North America
971 Canada
972 Middle America; Mexico
973 United States
974 Northeastern United States
975 Southeastern The states
976 Due south fundamental United States
977 Northward central United States
978 Western United States
979 Great Basin & Pacific Gradient

All of these designators are used in the Family History Library with slight additions and variations. Within a region, such as 974 for Northeastern Usa, an added period (.) and additional number designates a state within that region, such every bit 974.vii for New York state. Additional numbers after the .vii farther narrow the designation to a county within the state. Another example would exist 942.1 for the county of Middlesex in England.

The numbers may be followed by a slash and a letter and number, such as /A1. This last part indicates a city or boondocks within a canton. An example would exist 942.one/L1 = London, Middlesex, England.

The remaining office of a book number indicates the subject of the book and the proper noun of the author such every bit:

H2ab for a history past Benjamin Allen
X22b for a census alphabetize created by the Bedfordshire Family unit History Society

Microfilm Numbers (GS) [edit | edit source]

Microfilm numbers are too referred to equally "GS Numbers" referring to The Genealogical Society of Utah.

First Numbering System [edit | edit source]

The showtime numbering system for films used an F (for motion picture), then F.H. (for family unit history) or a geographic code, and then a number or a letter of the alphabet and number and ofttimes a office number. A office number designated a dissever flick in a film series. Examples:

F F.H. 441
F Ga. vii
F Me. 11 pt. 289
F Pa. C 9f pt. i
F Mass. H3
F N.Y. C 16b
F Vt. W 25a pt. 2

2nd Numbering System [edit | edit source]

The second numbering organisation was merely numbers, starting at number 1, oftentimes with a part number attached. These numbers were likewise called "red numbers" considering, for a number of years, the numbers were printed in red ink on the picture show boxes. Once more a part number designated a carve up film in a series of films. Examples:

1448
2756 pt. 356
7079 pt. ii
2745
14505 pt. 1059

The tricky part of this organization is how to know if a number without a part number -- such as 2745 -- is an old, red number or if it is a electric current number. Old, ruby numbers stopped at nearly 60,000, and then any by that are current numbers.

3rd Numbering Organisation [edit | edit source]

The current numbering system started over with number 1 and new films are assigned the adjacent sequential number. No messages or part numbers are used. As the library now has over ii million films in its collection, zeros are sometimes added on the front of a film number to brand information technology a 7-digit number, but they are not needed. Numbers are expert with or without the leading zeros. For example:

0000001
4821
20589
490682
2087254

Blocks of numbers were assigned to regions and past moving-picture show size (16 and 35 mm). Considering of this you volition find that sequential numbers may be from the aforementioned country but not from the same projection.

The Parts Of a Microfilm [edit | edit source]

Title Boards [edit | edit source]

Originally championship boards were used to identify the microfilming project number and sequential film number in the project. Presently afterward microfilming began boosted details were added to the title board indicating where the records were filmed, the records being filmed, the camera operator, and the week-ending appointment.

Title board without projection information, 1975 filming
Project and ringlet target, 1975 filming

Item Numbers [edit | edit source]

Several different records may be included on a single roll of microfilm. When this was done a title board was filmed to indicate the beginning of the next detail on the pic. The very early microfilming did non contain sequential item numbering, but these item numbers were added later on.

Title board with detail number, 1982 filming.

Targets [edit | edit source]

These are documents added either at the beginning of the detail being filmed, or on the image beingness filmed, to communicate details about the record which may not be immediately apparent. At that place are 2 types of targets used, technical and quality.

Technical targets gave information about the microfilming processes. Amidst these were:

Get-go of curlicue
Continuation to some other curl of pic
Stop of curl
New item (title board)
End of item

Quality targets indicated the status of the document. These included:

Tight binding
Smeared ink
Bleed through
Damaged document
Torn pages
Soiled document
Water damage

Microfiche Numbers [edit | edit source]

Some microforms in the Family History Library are microfiche. These material have numbers in the 6,000,000 range. About microfiche contain an "eye-readable" section at the acme of the fiche. This may take a paint stripe backing to facilitate readability. Microfiche are 105 10 148 mm in size and in some catalogs are identified every bit "105 mm".

Digital Filming Numbers [edit | edit source]

When the Genealogical Society of Utah began acquiring records digitally these images were assigned numbers in the 4,000,000 range. In 2014 new digital acquisitions were assigned numbers in ten,000,000 range. These are generally referred to as "DGS" (Digital Genealogical Society) numbers.

As existing microfilms were scanned they were assigned numbers in the four,000,000 range and afterwards in the 7,000,000 range. Current acquisitions of new material are now in the 10,000,000 range.

Converting Old Film Numbers to New [edit | edit source]

Here are several ways to convert the old GS film numbers into the electric current Family unit History Library picture show numbers.

Employ the "Onetime microfilm number conversion" charts in this wiki.
Search the The FamilySearch Catalog by the locality or writer of the record on the picture show.
Consult List of all motion-picture show call numbers in the Genealogical Society from 1938 to Apr 1958, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Genealogical Society, Library Division. Available on fiche.
Use the old CD version of the catalog in the DOS version of FamilySearch. This version is bachelor in the Family unit History Library in Salt Lake Metropolis and may be bachelor in a family history eye near you. The heart staff can help you convert the number.

Another way to decode old Family unit History Film Numbers

If the quondam picture show number starts with an F and looks something like this, "F Pa. ten" you have the starting time picture show numbering system, become to Step ii. If the onetime pic number consists of a one to 5 digit number with no letters in information technology AND it doesn't match what is in the current FHL Catalog you accept the old "Crimson" file number, the second numbering system, get to Step 3.
Go to the FamilySearch Catalog entry List of all film call numbers in the Genealogical Society from 1938 to April 1958. You may have to sign in to Family unit Search. There are three files covering all the very erstwhile film numbers. Click on the file name that has the entry you lot want. In this new file, observe the entry that near closely matches what you currently have. Write this number downwards. Information technology is the old "Crimson" file number, the second numbering organization. Go to Step 3.
Become to Old microfilm number conversion wiki article. Click on the number range hyperlink that contains the "Scarlet" film number. In the new file, scroll down to the "Red" film number yous have. If the "Red" picture number citation or the commencement numbering arrangement number commendation y'all have contains a part number you may need that information here. On the row containing your "Ruby" file number and the part number, if applicative, discover the new film number. Go to Step iv.
If you are in the Family unit History Library, notice the motion picture and start looking at it. If you are working elsewhere, run the new motion picture number through the FamilySearch Catalog to see if information technology has been digitized. If so, click on the digitized copy and start having fun. If not, you will accept to travel to Salt Lake Urban center and go the Family unit History Library.

If you need to catechumen an onetime GS book number, consult one of these resource, most of which are available on film or fiche.

Changed call numbers, Great Uk. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-mean solar day Saints. Genealogical Society. Library Division.
Changed numbers of American publications and United states of america. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Library Partitioning.
Inverse numbers of Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Church building of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Library Partition.
Changes of family history "A" group call numbers. Church building of Jesus Christ of Latter-solar day Saints. Genealogical Social club. Library Division.
Changes of family history "B" grouping telephone call numbers. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Library Division.
Contact the Family History Library.

Come across Also [edit | edit source]

Converting Old FHL Film Numbers to Current Numbers
Category:Former microfilm number conversion (links to conversion tables)
Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog
FamilySearch Catalog Places Search
FamilySearch Catalog Surnames Search
FamilySearch Catalog Keywords Search
FamilySearch Catalog Titles Search
FamilySearch Itemize Flick and Fiche Search
FamilySearch Itemize Authors Search
FamilySearch Catalog Subjects Search
FamilySearch Catalog Call Number Search (for books and other printed materials)

Etheridge Pasto1975