Using IGI and SSDI for Support – Training Sandbox 26

International Genealogical Index (IGI)

How Do I Find Original Images in IGI?

Website:
- - Sign in to FamilySearch.
  - Click Search > Records.
  - Scroll to Find a Collection and type International.
  - Select International Genealogical Index (IGI).
  - Enter search terms and click Search.
  - Click the person's name in the results.
  - If available, click View Original Document.
If Image Unavailable:
1. - Click Document Information.
  - Copy the microfilm number.
  - Click Catalog > Film/Fiche/Image Group Number (DGS).
  - Enter the microfilm number and click Search.
  - Click the title in the results.
  - Scroll to Film/Digital Notes and find the film number.
  - Click the camera icon to browse images.
Mobile App:
1. - Open the FamilySearch Family Tree app.
  - Tap the 3 lines icon (top-right on Android, bottom-right on iOS).
  - Tap Search Historical Records.
  - Follow steps from the website instructions.

Note: The catalog is not available through the mobile app.

What are the Types of IGI Records?

Community Indexed IGI: Transcribed from historical documents (1500s-1885).
Community Contributed IGI: Submitted by LDS Church members, often without documentation.

How Do I Search the Indexed IGI?

Website:
- - Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  - Click Search > Records.
  - Scroll to Find a Collection and type International Genealogical Index.
  - Select International Genealogical Index (IGI).
  - Enter search terms.
Mobile App:
1. - Open the Family Tree mobile app.
  - Tap the 3 lines icon.
  - Tap Search Historical Records.
  - Scroll to Find a Collection and type International Genealogical Index.
  - Select International Genealogical Index (IGI).

How Do I Search the Contributed IGI?

The IGI has over 430 million records contributed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, each containing one event like birth, baptism, marriage, or death. The quality of this information varies, so always verify it against primary sources.

Steps (website only):

Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
On the home page, click Search.
Click Genealogies.
Scroll to Explore one of our collections.
Click the right arrow until you find International Genealogical Index.
Click Search for a Person.
Enter your search terms.

How Can I Correct Errors in the IGI?

The message "This extracted IGI record was used to create this person" means that the information about the person in Family Tree comes from an older indexing project. FamilySearch used this indexed information to identify people and published it in the International Genealogical Index (IGI).

In November 2014, FamilySearch added these extracted records to Family Tree and attached them as sources to existing records. Usually, this process worked well, and the details in the extracted record match or are similar to those in Family Tree. Sometimes, an extracted record might be attached to the wrong person because of incorrect merging. If you find such an error, you should follow these steps to correct it:

Copy the extracted IGI source to your source box.
Undo incorrect merges in Family Tree.
Attach the correct IGI source to the new record.

For Church members

If you have an ordinance issue, please contact FamilySearch Support.

How Do I Access the Social Security Death Index (SSDI)?

Website:
- - Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
  - Click Search > Records.
  - Scroll to Find a Collection and type United States Social Security Death Index.
  - Select the full name when it appears.
  - Enter ancestor's information and click Search.
Mobile App:
1. - Open the Family Tree mobile app.
  - Tap the three dots (bottom-right on iOS) or three lines (top-left on Android).
  - Tap Search Historical Records.
  - Scroll to Find a Collection and type United States Social Security Death Index.
  - Select the full name when it appears.
  - Enter ancestor's information and click Search.
  - Family Tree Lite:
  - Historical records search is not available. Use the full website.

How Do I Correct Errors in the SSDI?

Call 1-800-772-1213.
Visit the Social Security Contact Page.
Go to the local Social Security branch with documentation.

Your concern about the use of Social Security information is understandable. Please know that FamilySearch respects the privacy rights of individuals and adheres to relevant laws governing the protection of personal data.

The U.S. Social Security Administration ("SSA") is legally obligated to release death information. This information—known as the SSA Death Master File or U.S. Social Security Death Index (“SSA Death Index”)—is a public record and is not protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, as that Act applies to living persons only. [See 20 CFR Ch. III (4-1-09 Edition) §401.190.] Because this information is a public record whose disclosure is authorized by federal law, displaying such information is also permissible under state laws protecting an individual’s personal data.

FamilySearch acquires the SSA Death Index through public subscription. The database is not owned or administered by FamilySearch. It is owned, produced, and distributed by the SSA. In subscribing to the SSA Death Index, FamilySearch has agreed to abide by SSA requirements that include posting the most current updates from SSA regularly without making modifications. (See http://dmf.ntis.gov/requirements.html .) As a subscriber, FamilySearch is authorized to post the SSA Death Index at FamilySearch.org.

The SSA Death Index may have inaccuracies, and neither FamilySearch nor the SSA guarantees its accuracy. The SSA recommends that complaints and corrections be submitted to a local Social Security office or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. The SSA may remove the data or update the SSA Death Index. These changes will then be reflected in the copy posted at FamilySearch.org.

Many other organizations use the SSA Death Index. For example, government, financial, investigative, credit reporting, medical research, and other industries use it to verify identity, prevent fraud, or enforce the USA Patriot Act. The SSA Death Index provides quick and easy notification that a person is deceased and has proven to be a key deterrent of identity theft. It enables health care providers and researchers to track patients and study subjects. It helps pension funds, insurance companies, and governments determine when payments to annuitants or retirees should cease. And genealogical societies use it to help individuals search for deceased loved ones. The SSA Death Index provides vital data on deceased individuals from 1970 to the present and acts as a national death registry akin to the death indexes published by the British government as part of that country’s civil registration system. You will find that the SSA Death Index is posted on most major genealogy websites, in addition to FamilySearch.org.

It is not the intention of FamilySearch to cause you anxiety. Hopefully, these details help alleviate your concerns regarding the protection of personal information and the compliance of FamilySearch with federal and state law. Please feel free to contact the SSA if you believe there is an error or other circumstance warranting a change to the information of your loved one in the SSA Death Index.