From: 6175190@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Subject: Copy of FamilySearch Notice
Organization: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 92 14:19:39 GMT

Following is information which was made available to Genealogy Club members on
America On Line. I've not (intentionally) edited anything. Terry Ann is a
Genealogy Instructor on that BBS and would not post rumours. FYI!

*****************************************************************************
Subj:  FamilySearch for Home Use News:       92-09-07 10:59:26 EDT
From:  Terry Ann2

I got this message from Dick Eastman, who asked that we spread the news:

 Apparently there have been messages on several on-line services claiming
that the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City will soon start selling
CD-ROM disks to private individuals. One such message was recently posted
on CompuServe's Genealogy Forum. I contacted the Family History Library
for confirmation and received the following reply. I was asked to forward
it to others on CompuServe and also to other on-line services. Please feel
free to re-post this elsewhere as you see fit:
    Dick, There has been a lot of comments on other BBS's concerning access to
FamilySearch information on-line".  Recently there has been interest here
concerning this topic.  To answer and quell these rumors, the Family
History department has issued the following announcement.
     Could you please post this to all?  We are not sure the best way to
get the information to the correct people or in the correct way.  If you
could assist us in this matter, it would be greatly appreciated.  If there
is another way for us to handle this (besides through you), please let
us know.


Sincerely,
Family History Department
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
*************************************************

27 August 1992
To Whom It May Concern:
Subject:  Availability of FamilySearch~ Software for Home Use

       FamilySearch, a genealogical program that includes a number of
large databases, has been available since April 1990 in the Family History
Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake
City and in over 1,000 of the Church's family history centers in the United
States and Canada.

       In 1992 the Church made arrangements with Dynix Corporation, Inc.,
to distribute FamilySearch to nonprofit libraries and archives in many
parts of the world.

       The Church has received many inquiries regarding the availability of
FamilySearch for use on home computers. Some internal discussion regarding
such availability has occurred, but no formal proposal has been presented
and nothing has been decided.

       Unfortunately, some persons have taken it upon themselves to issue
statements on electronic bulletin boards about what the Church may or may
not be planning in this area. Some messages have even listed the names of
employees of the Church's Family History Department and suggested that
they be contacted.

       This has resulted in many telephone calls inquiring about the
Church's plans for FamilySearch. While such callers have provided valuable
information, the volume of inquiries has begun to distract employees from
other pressing work.

       An official announcement will be made on the networks when public
availaility of the software has been decided.

Sincerely,
Family History Department
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU