August 19, 2011 by Gordon | 41 Comments
Thank you to everyone who has responded so passionately with comments and questions about the change from Footnote to Fold3. The fact that so many have responded is a positive reminder that many of you have grown to love the site and the content we offer. It would have been much more discouraging if no one had cared. Here is some additional clarification to address some of the concerns we’ve seen posted:
August 18, 2011 by Peter | 153 Comments
Today we announced our intention to create the finest and most comprehensive collection of U.S. Military records available on the internet and changed the name of the site from Footnote to Fold3.
July 28, 2011 by Peter | 13 Comments
Adding millions and millions of images to the site has finally caught up with us. Our servers have outgrown their home and we need to move them to a larger facility.
We’re planning to make the move in the morning hours of August 4, and it may take up to 12 hours to complete. The Footnote website will be unavailable from midnight through about noon Mountain Time on August 4. We’ll use our twitter account to post any updates to the schedule as we work on the move.
We’re sorry for this inconvenience, but are looking forward to having the space to keep adding images to Footnote by the millions.
June 2, 2011 by Laura | 2 Comments
Henry L. Wyatt, the “first Confederate soldier slain in battle,” died at the Battle of Big Bethel, in Virginia, on June 10, 1861. His service record confirms this, and that he was 19 years old when he enrolled as a private in Company A, 1st North Carolina Volunteers, less than two months earlier. It also includes a petition from his mother to “obtain the pay due him” of $35.63 ($922.15 in 2011 US dollars source).
William B. Taylor, a corporal in Company C, 1st N.C. Volunteers, was also at the battle. Taylor drew a descriptive and colorful “Plan of the Battle of Bethel” which is archived at the Library of Congress, and available in the Civil War Maps collection at Footnote.
In his “Topographical sketch of the Battle of Bethel, June 10th, 1861,” Taylor honored his mother by presenting the map to “Mrs. M.E. Taylor with filial respect by her son Wm. B. Taylor.” He also paid tribute to Henry L. Wyatt by marking where Wyatt was killed and noting the “Blacksmith’s shop burned by Wyatt who was killed here.”
Taylor drew Confederate and Union flags on the map depicting where each set of troops fought. He also included details of woods, breastworks, and marshes. His comments identified a howitzer that “arrived late not used” and the spot where “Col. Winthrop of the N.Y. 2d. Reg. [was] shot while standing on the fence flourishing his sword.” Winthrop, actually Major Theodore Winthrop, of the 7th New York, was one of the first Union soldiers killed in the Civil War.
William B. Taylor was initially a corporal in Company C of the 1st North Carolina Infantry. He enlisted on April 20, 1861, and mustered in on May 13, less than a month before the first battle. The 1st North Carolina later became the 11th North Carolina (Bethel Regiment) Infantry.
What was it like to head to war in 1861? Union officer Theodore Winthrop, identified in Taylor’s map above as another casualty of Big Bethel, was also a respected author. In “Our March to Washington” Winthrop relates his regiment’s trek southward in April 1861, at about the time that Wyatt and Taylor were enlisting. A few weeks later, their paths would tragically meet.
May 12, 2011 by Blake Scarbrough | Comments Off on The Looted Art of World War II
US soldiers load painting of Lovers and other valuable art found in Göring’s Secret cache.
During World War II, the Nazis looted everything from major artwork found at national museums to privately-owned Jewish ceremonial and personal items. Fortunately, Nazi records were very meticulous. Our partnership with the National Archives has made it possible to explore these records today on Footnote. During the month of May, all documents from the Holocaust Assets Collection will be free to access. One of the most popular collections at the National Archives, this provides a picture of the Holocaust that many are unaware of.
What’s in the Holocaust Assets Collection
Notes
Archives launches database of looted Nazi art – AP article
Holocaust-Era Assets – National Archives
The Holocaust Collection
Collaboration with Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Archives Offers Free Online Access to Records
Lindon, UT (May 10, 2011) – Footnote.com is pleased to announce the first online publishing of the War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications. In cooperation with the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the National Archives, Footnote.com is currently digitizing millions of War of 1812 records and making them available on its site free of charge. The initial 1,400 images are available today and the collection will continue to grow weekly as the digitization process progresses. When completed, the collection will encompass 7.2 million images that will detail the histories of soldiers who fought in the War of 1812 and their families.
While the project is currently underway, its long term completion is dependent on the availability of additional funding. FGS is proud to be spearheading a national fundraising effort to ensure the completion and expedite this valuable endeavor. The organization is actively seeking donations from genealogical and historical societies, patriotic and military heritage societies, and any interested corporations or individuals. iArchives, Footnote.com’s parent company, is providing a dollar-for-dollar match of each donation through a provision of services. To learn more and contribute to the project, visit www.fgs.org/1812 or www.footnote.com/1812pensions.
“This is just the first step in a multi-year journey to bring the War of 1812 documents out of the National Archives and into the digital world,” said Brian Hansen, General Manager of Footnote.com. “We are privileged to bring such historically rich documents online, so they can be accessed in schools, libraries and homes where they can be available free for future generations.”
Footnote.com’s database of Revolutionary War Pension Files has proven to be the most popular set of records available on the site. It is anticipated that the War of 1812 Pension Application Files will create similar interest from family historians, genealogists and military researchers. The War of 1812 Pension Application Files include extensive details of the lives of these 19th century veterans. The information may include:
About iArchives
iArchives is a leading digitization service provider and subsidiary of Ancestry.com (NASDAQ: ACOM). The company operates Footnote.com, the leading U.S. military record resource on the web with more than 72 million records online. The site provides searchable original documents, providing subscribers with a view of the events, places and people in the conflicts that shaped the American nation and the world. For more information, visit www.footnote.com.
About FGS
The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), founded in 1976, links the genealogical community by serving the needs of its member societies, providing products and services needed by member societies, and marshaling the resources of its member organizations. FGS represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies and engages in projects that help genealogical societies strengthen and grow as well as call attention to records preservation and access issues. FGS can be found on the web at www.FGS.org.
About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration, an independent federal agency, is the nation’s record keeper. Founded in 1934, its mission is unique — to serve American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. It supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives meets a wide range of information needs, among them helping people to trace their families’ history, making it possible for veterans to prove their entitlement to medical and other benefits, and preserving original White House records. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at http://www.archives.gov/.
John Muir
John Muir, naturalist and “Father of the US National Parks Service” was born on this day in 1838 in Dunbar, Scotland. His family immigrated to the United States in 1849 where Muir grew up, attended college and developed a love for wilderness.
In a 1903 passport application, Muir gives details of his birth, immigration, naturalization and profession and also swears an oath of allegiance.
The application also contains a physical description of Muir and his iconic beard:
John Muir, physical description from 1903 passport application
