Yes, we do use family history files and the easiest way to obtain one is to search in MOP in the cemetery section for the family name of interest and in most cases there is a 'FILE' designation with a downlink capability. That file will download as a GEDcom file, which has a universal transfer format that allows any genealogy program to IMPORT it. You need to know that the file you download may not be current, but if you email us and request the current version we can send it.

Similarly you may not find a reference you can use, so again, email with a request and we will send anything relevant we have. If you receive a file in this manner - from anywhere - we strongly recommend that you re-name your version (perhaps add a numeral) so that we cannot get multiple files in the universe with the same name but different content.

Feel free to advise us of any corrections and we will incorporate thes into our own version. Thanks in advance.

The main MOP menu has various choices, many related to headstones, ships, voyages etc. There is another option simply called SEARCH that will look into all the iterations of yout target word or phrase and include META TAGS in that search. Typically a list will appear showing the user all the places that word or phrase will appear. This can be used in a number of ways

In most cases however the user will arrive on site with a name of a ship or person in mind, and can use the defined section to find the target, if it is on the system.

Inside the MOP live database we now have a books section. It shows many of the reference volumes we have including books written by family members (several families) from which a lot of information is drawn. Most of these are simply book covers and descriptions, but several have attached PDF versions that can be downloaded.

Also embedded in the MOP system are historical records relating to ships and people.

In the case of the TRACES menu option, you can initiate a standard search apparently based on a surname, but the pull-down menu alongside the target box also allows other variations.

Simply filling out SUBRITZKY in the box will cause a list to appear that includes events that have happened to individuals in that family.
If on the other hand the pull-down is used to define a PROJECT as well as the name, an entirely different list is produced incorporating family events as a timeline.

This function is not limited to people and can be used to assemble historically significant events in Whaling, for instance.

We no longer host family files. We do have them, however, as mentioned at the top of this frame. We use them as part of our research operations and in many cases you can see the file reference quoted in our MOP live database reports.

Thse files are no longer monolithic; that is to say, they are now made up of multiple threads bundled together rather than as a bloc of data. This is because we use the files to help us find and track family members as we list passengers and headstones.