World Archives Project

As some of you wrap up your holidays, some of us are just beginning ours.  And all of us are facing the end of 2009 and the New Year just around the corner.  This time of year is frequently busy – mostly with good things – but I am still amazed (and grateful!) at the time that many of you find to keep keying and arbitrating as you contribute to this meaningful effort.

I didn’t think I’d have the time to keep up with you these last couple weeks of the year.  After all, I have a houseful of out-of-town family that has begun to arrive for the holidays and more coming this week.  Even so, I found myself sneaking in some arbitration on my laptop as I sat and watched a movie with them this weekend.  I quickly realized just how much I can contribute in a couple hours of time here or there.  I’ll likely do that again one or two nights this week and hope you’ll do the same.

So, to help keep us all motivated – and with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore – and no offense intended to any of you – I wrote a little something that I hope inspires you – or at least makes you chuckle!

Twas the end of the long year, when all through the world

In front of computers, contributors curled

The Ancestry World Archives Projects they keyed

In hopes that their ancestors’ names they would see

Or at least save those records for somebody else

‘fore the writing on pages is ruined or pales

They thought of the brick walls their help would help shatter

These records they’re saving they really do matter

In 94 countries, from the U.K. to Spain

In all U.S. States from Hawaii to Maine

In six different languages records they found

As they opened the Keying Tool without a sound

Arbitration and keying the tasks are at hand

Which project to work on sometimes is unplanned

Pick a Project for Me or more City Directories

Marriage Registers with no record of dowries

Census from Germany, small but important

Swedish Household Exams, you might wish you hadn’t

Postcards and Postcards and Postcards keep coming

British Postal Appointments, they’re really rolling

Naturalizations, Illinois is now done

Which one next will they work on?  How ‘bout Washington?

One point two million records keyed this December

You might wonder if any of them ever slumber

“We’re saving the records of the world can’t you see

Ancestry World Archives Project and Me!

So, key away, key away, key away all

You want to help? Register, download and install.”

We’re so grateful for all that you do out of sight

Happy Keying to all and to all a good night!