Ancestry.com is one of the most popular genealogy websites. I often wonder if this has something to do with how often they offer free access to certain parts of their collections. Right now, they are giving away fifteen days of free access.
Every so often, Ancestry.com gives genealogists free access to some of the collections that are usually only available to people who have become members, and who are paying a membership fee. Typically, they will make a specific collection, (or group of related collections), free for a few days, or for a weekend.
Usually, the website chooses collections that are relevant to the nearest holiday. If I remember correctly, I think they offered free access to most of their military collections around Memorial Day one year. I think this was their way of celebrating the holiday, honoring the people who served in the United States military, and increasing their customer base, all at the same time.
This time around, Ancestry.com is doing something different. They are offering fifteen days of free access. This is how Ancestry.com is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. It started on October 1, 2011, and it will continue through October 15, 2011.
Each day, there will be a new collection that genealogists can access for free. Each one will remain accessible for the entire fifteen day celebration. In other words, if you just found out about this free offer today, you can rest assured that you haven’t missed anything yet.
On October 1, 2011, Ancestry.com gave free access to its Social Security Death Index. On October 2, it opened up its “Ireland, Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864” collection. On October 3, the California Marriage Index, 1960 – 1985, became available for free. On October 4, they started giving free access to their “Bavaria, Germany, WWI Personnel Rosters, 1914-1918” collection. That collection is in German. Today, October 5, 2011, genealogists can begin enjoying free access to the 1920 U.S. Federal Census.
What else will be offered during the remaining fifteen days? You have to come back to the Ancestry.com website each day to find out. Another collection will be revealed each day, until the celebration ends.
While you are visiting the website, you may want to enter the “15 Days of Discovery Sweepstakes”. They are giving away 15 daily prizes. Today, October 5, 2011, the daily prize is a $500.00 Southwest Airlines Gift Card. Tomorrow, it will be a different prize. One Grand Prize winner will get a trip to California, to go behind the scenes of NBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” show, with Executive Producer Lisa Kudrow.
Image by Lincolnian on Flickr