SCOTTISH family history giant, brightsolid, today launched a major genealogy service in the United States.
The company, based in Dundee where it operates two data centres as well as managing several leading family history web services, announced the beta launch of www.censusrecords.com at a major genealogy show, RootsTech 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The site will allow customers to search all US census records currently available, and is the first product of its kind in the US market to offer access to records on either a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis or via the subscription model that is currently the only choice offered by other sites.
“Americans researching their family histories will now be able to choose which payment method best suits their needs and their budget,” said Chris van der Kuyl, CEO of brightsolid, announcing the site’s launch at RootsTech 2012.
“In short, censusrecords.com offers greater choice and affordability.”
The new site will also house the 1940 US census records, when they are released later this year, one of the most eagerly anticipated developments in family history research of recent years.
Adds a spokesperson: “The involvement of findmypast, part of brightsolid’s online publishing division, represents a major investment in the North American market for the group. The census will be released by the National Archives and Record Administration of the US (NARA).”
Continues van der Kuyl: “The launch of censusrecords.com is just our first offering to the US market. It will be followed later this year by the launch of findmypast.com, which will be our flagship American brand.
“We know that there is a global demand in family history for the sort of accurate data, innovative search and customer focus that we are known for providing. We are excited about the big year we have ahead of us as we look to provide fresh choice and value to Americans interested in researching their ancestry.”
The 1940 census includes the records of many Scottish expatriates who immigrated to the US between the wars. Many of them, and their descendants and relatives back in Scotland, will be looking forward to the publication of key family history information. This generation lived through the Great Depression, the New Deal Era, and America’s entry into World War II.
brightsolid, which operates the ScotlandsPeople site, owns the leading UK genealogy site, findmypast, which launched an Irish and Australian service last year. The new censusrecords.com site is being launched in beta form, and brightsolid will invite user feedback and suggestions as the site evolves.
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