I'm sure this may seem to be a silly question, but...Can someone please explain why an individual is listed three times on family search with the same film number on all three entries, but two different batch numbers. Also, two of the entries have reference numbers, but they too, are different. What exactly do the referernce numbers refer to? I'm hoping the information/explanation can help tear down a brick wall in my research.
Thanks so much for your help. Alice
Batch Numbers Help
Alice,
One of the reasons why some individuals have have more than one batch number or reference number is because. Some of the microfilms in the Family History Library, have been extracted more than once. And then some areas have been filmed more than once also.
As for how you can have 2 different batch numbers, for the same film number. that depends on when it was extracted. Because in the early extraction, the information was sent to the IGI. And the program was trying to use the same record template for all types of record collections. So for the Mexico and Latin America collections, they were trying to apply, an US record template to the records. Such as, on a christening record, the extractors were told to only extract the name of the child, christening date, and the names of the parents. They were told to disregard all other information in the record (such as birth date, birth place, names of grandparents, etc.). Then came along other record collections, such as the Vital Records Index, and they began to at times, to reextract the information, from the films. And at times, they used the same batch number, but at times they created a second batch number. Also, during this time of record extraction, there began to emerge batch numbers beginning with the letter "I". The "I" stood for Index, and usually with the "I" there was not a reference number given. And trying to figure out which film it corresponded to, was like pulling teeth. But it was possible.
Now, we have the indexing program, and instead of a film number, they are referencing the digital images collections now. So the film numbers are being left out.
This is assuming that we are looking at a extracted record. Also, there are entries in the IGI, that have come from non extracted entries (such as Members of the LDS church). And those entries, have been givien their own batch numbers. So a person may have several batch numbers for the same event.
I hope that this has helped. If not I would suggest going to the following links for more information: http://mexicoigibatchnumbers.wetpaint.com/ and https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/IGI_Batch_Number_Descriptions
thanks,
Jonathan Walker
Batch Numbers Help
Jonathan,
Thank you! The reason for the different batch numbers makes sense now. Although they both started with a C, only one worked in a batch search. I was hoping that the reference number referred to an additional resource beyond the film itself. Thanks again for your help.
Alice
--- On Mon, 5/9/11, jonathan@mexicanfhr.com wrote:
From: jonathan@mexicanfhr.com
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Batch Numbers Help
To: research@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
Date: Monday, May 9, 2011, 9:10 AM
Alice,
One of the reasons why some individuals have have more than one batch number or reference number is because. Some of the microfilms in the Family History Library, have been extracted more than once. And then some areas have been filmed more than once also.
As for how you can have 2 different batch numbers, for the same film number. that depends on when it was extracted. Because in the early extraction, the information was sent to the IGI. And the program was trying to use the same record template for all types of record collections. So for the Mexico and Latin America collections, they were trying to apply, an US record template to the records. Such as, on a christening record, the extractors were told to only extract the name of the child, christening date, and the names of the parents. They were told to disregard all other information in the record (such as birth date, birth place, names of grandparents, etc.). Then came along other record collections, such as the Vital Records Index, and they began to at times, to reextract the information, from the films. And at times, they used the same batch number, but at times they created a second batch number. Also, during this time of record
extraction, there began to emerge batch numbers beginning with the letter "I". The "I" stood for Index, and usually with the "I" there was not a reference number given. And trying to figure out which film it corresponded to, was like pulling teeth. But it was possible.
Now, we have the indexing program, and instead of a film number, they are referencing the digital images collections now. So the film numbers are being left out.
This is assuming that we are looking at a extracted record. Also, there are entries in the IGI, that have come from non extracted entries (such as Members of the LDS church). And those entries, have been givien their own batch numbers. So a person may have several batch numbers for the same event.
I hope that this has helped. If not I would suggest going to the following links for more information: http://mexicoigibatchnumbers.wetpaint.com/ and https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/IGI_Batch_Number_Descriptions
thanks,
Jonathan Walker