Extraction Program

In 1978, LDS Church President Spencer W Kimball introduced the extraction program to members of the Church. President Kimball said: "(W)e are introducing a Church-wide program of extracting names from genealogical records. Church members may now render second-mile service through participating in this regard in extracting these names in this program supervised by the priesthood leaders at the local level, where you will receive further details."

Muriel became actively involved in the extraction program. As far as I can remember, she would look at reels of film in the Stake library and would record the names and information so that it would be readable for others looking for the information. She became very expert at reading and transcribing Swedish records. Probably she did extraction from other records, but I remember her talking about learning to read the archaic writing in the Swedish records. She also had enough command of the language to translate the information into English. Before she died in 1982, she became a worker in the temple in the Seattle area. Although she continued to work at the railroad company, she found time in her free time to serve in the temple.

Last March our bishop challenged our ward to become involved in the indexing program that has replaced the extraction program. I tenatively started working on the computer and learning how to read Scandinavian and Germanic names in unreadable handwriting. And fortunately some that is much easier to read such as this draft registration card. Currently cards are available from both New York and New Jersey.

No longer do people wishing to contribute to the work of Family Research need to go to a library. I can open my laptop computer wherever there is the internet available. Whether I am at home or traveling, it is convenient to spend a few minutes or an hour doing some indexing work for the Family Search website.

Today I received this email from the Family Search newsletter:

Good-bye to Family Record Extraction

This month’s newsletter is dedicated to the thousands of workers who participated in family record extraction since it was introduced by Spencer W. Kimball in 1978. Some extractors participated early in the program, transferring the information from paper or microfilm to printed forms. Later extractors typed the information directly into a computer program. The workforce continues to grow, and the use of technology continues to accelerate as we transition from family record extraction to the online FamilySearch indexing program.

FamilySearch is deeply grateful to all who were dedicated to making family record extraction so successful. Some workers have moved on, others have served faithfully for years, and some are newcomers. Regardless of experience or position, each participant labored to accomplish this great task of sharing family history information.

Over 100 groups, including six correctional facilities who devoted themselves to the extraction program, have now made the switch to FamilySearch indexing. We know this was not an easy change for some and we thank you for your patience and dedication to this extraction, and now indexing, initiative. If you or someone you know worked with the extraction program and need help to make this transition, please contact FamilySearch.