This presentation, titled "Where do the records come from? The FamilySearch record acquisition process," details how FamilySearch evolved from a collection of 300 books in 1894 to a massive digital repository containing over 16 billion searchable names. It explores the global network of partnerships with over 10,000 custodians, including government archives and religious organizations, as well as industry alliances for data sharing. The slides explain the technical workflow of record preservation, from onsite camera teams using DCam workstations to high-speed digitization, AI-powered handwriting recognition, and final storage in the Granite Mountain Records Vault. Ultimately, the presentation highlights how this nonprofit organization utilizes technology and volunteers to make historical records freely accessible to families worldwide.
