Posted 2009-10-29 9:36 AM (#4963) Subject: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
Veteran
Posts: 290 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Hello,
The news about Footnote adding the entire US census, digitized and indexed, that has me wondering: Will people drop Ancestry.com and move to Footnote? (I've got some questions in to Footnote about the timeline of the additions and how Footnote's pricing might be affected.)
Right now, Ancestry.com is the only place to get the entire census digitized and indexed, a big draw for a lot of researchers. If Footnote can offer the digitized and indexed census, too, will that be enough to make you switch?
Posted 2009-10-29 12:21 PM (#4965 - in reply to #4963) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
Veteran
Posts: 152 Location: Chicago, IL
If Footnote were to give access to their databases say to public libraries like Ancestry does with their 'Library' edition I might consider it, since that's the only way I currently have access to Ancestry is through my library. Ancestry and most of the other 'pay/subscription' databases are too expensive for me. I've always had good success with finding census records at Ancestry as well as other information at the site, and I didn't think that much of Footnote when one of their databases was 'free' for a couple of weeks a few months ago.
Speaking of that, I usually find out too late when one of those sites is offering one database or another 'free' for a brief time and if I do find out about it, its usually the last day and by then its too late to do lots of research. The last 'free' period for a database was for the 1930 census, I think it was Footnote, and unfortunately the site was so overloaded that I gave up on it. It would be nice to get a head's up about the 'free' trials so that I could try them out, even if I never subscribe to them, which is the other thing I don't like, the sites that offer a 'free trial' and then say 'well you have to sign up and/or subscribe before you get the free trial.' No thank you.
Posted 2009-10-29 1:04 PM (#4966 - in reply to #4963) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 3
I absolutely would use it, in addition to Ancestry.com. There are many, many transcription errors on Ancestry and consequently there are numerous families I haven't been able to find, except when I luck out and come up with some wierd way to spell the name. Hopefully, Footnote.com's census indices will be superior.
Posted 2009-10-29 1:24 PM (#4967 - in reply to #4963) Subject: RE: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 1
For me the main appeal of the Ancestry census is the detailed advanced searching. We know that often a name is misrepresented either on the census or in the index, so it's awfully handy to be able to search by first name, birth year, birthplace, et cetera--and the "Soundex" search is indispensable.
I have subscribed to both Ancestry and Footnote in the past. I found a few valuable things at Footnote: Civil War records, TX birth certificates, newspapers, the occasional city directory. But I have no idea how many records I missed by not searching for obscure spelling variations.
Besides the searching, I have found more useful records (marriage, death, WWI draft registration...) at Ancestry. So even with a complete census at Footnote, I would probably stick with Ancestry on that account.
In short, I would be reluctant to switch to Footnote for census records. But when it comes time to renew my subscription to Ancestry, it might be a matter of "who's cheaper?".
Posted 2009-10-29 1:38 PM (#4968 - in reply to #4963) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 1
Since I already subscribe to both services, my question is what will it do to my subscription rate. I use both sites on a regular basis. Both give me information that I can use. I use Ancestry more often, though.
Posted 2009-10-29 2:03 PM (#4970 - in reply to #4963) Subject: RE: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 4
I am currently a subscriber to Ancestry and Footnote.
I'm glad that Footnote will now have the census information, because I do like the way you are able to narrow down their searches.
However...
The advantage that Ancestry has over Footnote is the ability to easily print the information along with the source information. I have tried to find a way to print Footnote's source info, but the only way I've found is to copy and paste to Word. It takes more than one operation, since you can't copy the entire source info from Footnote in one step. Even then, it is not attached to the specific information that you've located on Footnote.
If anyone knows of a better way to print the source info from Footnote, I'd love to hear it!
Posted 2009-10-29 2:46 PM (#4971 - in reply to #4963) Subject: RE: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
Member
Posts: 5
No. I might use Footnote (if I could afford their annual fee) for the census but I can get the census on Ancestry in addition to other things that Footnote doesn't have yet.
Posted 2009-10-29 3:06 PM (#4973 - in reply to #4963) Subject: RE: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
Member
Posts: 16
I subscribe to both, but its hard to imagine continuing to do that if Footnote has all the Census records as well. I've been an Ancestry subscriber since 2001, and although they offer a number of different things, I still use it primarily just for the Census records (probably 90% of the time I use Ancestry, its for Census searches). If Footnote comes in with the same records, just as easily searchable, and for a lower price. I might just keep that subscription.
Its a smart move for Footnote though, if I'm any example...because if Footnote WASN'T adding all the Census records, THEIRs is the subscription I'd more likely not be renewing (since I don't search their other records all that often). It will probably just come down to which site gives me access to the Census records for a lower price.
Posted 2009-10-29 3:50 PM (#4974 - in reply to #4963) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
Member
Posts: 15
I had to let my Ancestry subscription go after almost 9 years because the cost was just too high! I think I went through "withdrawals". It was so nice to be able to check a record really fast on my home computer after work. I don't take the time to get to the library or Family History Center to use it. I decided to subscribe to Footnote which has been great! It may not have everything Ancestry has, yet, but it has some things Ancestry doesn't have. I have found quite a few records, and I'm just getting started. I would certainly stay with Footnote for the Census records. Ancestry is way too expensive.
Posted 2009-10-29 7:28 PM (#4978 - in reply to #4963) Subject: RE: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 4
I have access to the census thru Galieo and I love the indexes, and the final copy, and this is free. Also my library has free access to Ancestry. In this day and time I really have to watch my pennies.
Posted 2009-10-29 10:13 PM (#4979 - in reply to #4965) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 1
I already subscribe to both Footnote and Ancestry - Enjoy both of them as they have been a tremendous help.
Public library's have to pay a hefty price for the library addition of Ancestry. Our genealogy society helped our library pay for this - and it is free to the users. It has helped boost our gen soc membership.
Footnote also has a subscription version for libraries that 'tan't cheap, but cheaper than Ancestry... Our society is working to get this for our library.
Both have free email notices [like Familytree magazine] to keep you up on their news.
You can do a free full name search at either one and you don't have to register... you just won't be able to see the actual document.
They both have their strong and weak points.. I prefer the way Ancestry does the census- Now, if Footnote would come up with a much better index for the census, it might be worth the switch, if it's only the census you are interested in! For now, Footnote is also cheaper.
Posted 2009-10-30 12:12 AM (#4984 - in reply to #4963) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
Regular
Posts: 97
I think the functionality of the Ancestry.com census information is superior to Footnote.com but I agree Footnote is far more economical. I make use of the more extensive availability of data from Ancestry so it is worth it for me. I have delayed at times in resubscribing to Ancestry if I've wanted to focus on data in other database subscriptions.
I'm puzzled by Tricia's comment "you keep breaking up family tree magzine i.e. PLUS? I won't be continuing with it either." PLUS is a digital subscription to the paper form of Family Tree magazine with accessibility to back issues. You have a choice to subscribe to the paper form of the magazine OR PLUS OR purchase both paper and PLUS subscriptions. Personally, I have have not subscribed to the magazine. I've either picked up the magazine at newstands or purchased the downloaded version of the magazine. Although I have chosen to delay a subsciption to PLUS for another month, I intend to subscribe as I'm a big fan of searchable digital products. PLUS is a great idea!!!
Posted 2009-11-01 12:35 AM (#4989 - in reply to #4963) Subject: Re: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 4
Hi,
FYI, regarding transcription errors on the US Census online....Those errors were made by the people who originally transcibed them & not by the people who digitized them. The first rule of transcription (and data entry) is write (key) what you see. If it looks like a T to you then Sally may well become Tally in the final version. This method has worked well for catching errors in proposals, etc. as the writers must go back into their work & make corrections when there are transcription errors. It does not work well with census reports because no one is going back over them to correct unknown mistakes.
It is an imperfect system at best. However, I will stay strictly with Ancestry.com. I feel they have the best, broadest & easiest to use databases in the industry. I have tried others with very little satisfaction. I generally find what I'm looking for or a clue to finding it whenever I use Ancestry.com. They get an A++ in my book. Most of the others are just to difficult to navigate or too limited in their offerings.
Posted 2009-11-03 10:06 AM (#5002 - in reply to #4963) Subject: RE: Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
New User
Posts: 1
My footnote subscription just came due this month and I chose not to renew. Although I spend most of my research time on the internet I found Footnote to be difficult to use. I have been a subcriber to Ancestry.com for many years and will keep that subscription.
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Would you switch to Footnote for the census records?
