Book and Film Numbers Used by the FamilySearch Library

Introduction
The Family History Library has used a few different way to number films and books since the library started in 1894. These numbers are now mostly found on old family group sheets for the sources for the data on the sheets. These old numbers for books and films are no longer used, so the current numbers for the books and films must be found.

There were three old numbering systems for books and three old numbering systems for films. After determining if you have an old film number or an old book number, click on one of following for instructions on how to find the current number:

• Converting Old FHL Film Numbers to Current Numbers

• Converting Old FHL Book Numbers to Current Numbers

1. First numbering System
The first numbering system for films used F (for film), then FH (for family history) or a geographic code, then a number or a letter and number and often a part number. A part number meant a separate film in a film collection. Examples:

F F.H. 441

F Ga. 7

F Me. 11 pt. 289

F Pa. C 9f pt. 1

F Mass. H3

F N.Y. C 16b

F Vt. W 25a pt. 2

2. Second numbering system
The second numbering system used a number with often a part number. These numbers were also called "red numbers" because the numbers were printed in red ink on the film boxes. Again a part number meant a separate film in a film collection. Examples:

1448

1379 pt. 4

2756 pt. 356

7079 pt. 2

2745

The tricky part of this system is it is hard to know if the number is an old, red number or a current number if the red number does not have a part number. Old, red numbers stopped about 8000, so any past that should be current numbers.

3. Third numbering system
The current numbering system started over with 1 and new films are assigned the next sequential number. No letters or part numbers are used. Zeros are sometimes put in front, but they are not needed. For example:

0000001

4821

20589

490682

2087254

Step 1
Find the old number in the following films or in green books called Microfilm Numbers (List of All Film Call Numbers in the Genealogical Society from 1938-1958). These are arranged by the first film numbers and give the second (red) numbers.

Step 2
With the red number:

1. Go to the DOS version of the Family History Library Catalog,

2. Select Film/Fiche Search.

3. Type C.

4. Type the old (red) film number.

5. Type the part number if applicable.

6. The current film number will be shown under Converted to Film Number.

Films with the Old Film Numbers List (Old Locality Film Shelf List):
Current    Old Film Numbers Film #s

470962    F F.H. 1-2207

F Gen. Hist. 1-11

F Am. Pub. A to F Fla. S2

470963    F Ga. pt. 1 to F La. W2a

470964    F Me. 1 to F N.C. Y2

470965    F N.D. 1 to F Vt. W37a

470966    F Va. Pub. A to F Wyo W2

Example: If you found an old number F Vt. W 25a pt. 2, in the green books (or on film), you would find that the red number was 7079. The part number (pt. 2) would stay the same for the red number. Then go to the old Dos version of the Family History Library Catalog.

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