During the past couple of days, there has been a bit of grumbling about the recently updated PRDH website. PRDH (Programme de recherche en démographie historique / Research Programme in Historical Demography) is a subscription and public database that many genealogists use to research their French Canadian ancestry. The updates took place November 11.
PRDH asks subscribers to be patient as they get used to the changes, but we all know genealogists. We are not a patient bunch — and we rarely like change. (Remember the outcry when Ancestry did away with the old search?)
In 1966, PRDH at the Université de Montréal undertook the monumental task of reconstructing the population of Quebec from the beginning of French colonization in the seventeenth century. The result is an impressive database and resource.
The most visible update is the introduction of drop-down menus and improved navigation to meet current internet standards. The update, however, has led to other changes, and Facebook and message boards about Quebec research have been abuzz ever since.
Among the complaints are that people are experiencing difficulty finding ancestors they had previously found in the database. One long-time user wrote that she could no longer see the witnesses at a marriage or baptism.
The good news is that PRDH is already responding to the complaints. Bertrand Desjardins, one of the driving forces behind PRDH and newly retired, wrote, “Not displaying the witnesses was not intended, and we will have them back as soon as we can.” It appears that some of the problems are a result of the transition and PRDH is working on them as quickly as possible.
Among the few positive comments, one message board member wrote that it appears we will soon have access to the Genealogie Québec index and Fichier Origine. Others like the new look.
PRDH explains the updates on its website:
This updated version of the database includes corrections or additions made between December 2012 and November 2014. They consist of corrections that we found or that were brought to our attention by our users; one must understand they concern but an infinitely small portion of the information in the data base, given it numbers millions of items. Also present are some records found by our researchers or by collaborators. Some adjustments have also been made to some name standardisations.
Hubert Charbonneau has finished the identification of the place of origin in France of immigrants married under the French regime. Also, information from the Fichier Origine project up to its version 45 of October 15 2014 will be found in the data.
If you have never used PRDH, it is recommended you start with the free access section to see if your ancestor is listed there. Then, if interested in pursuing, go to the pay section.
Information about the fees appears at the top of the Site Map. The website is available in English and French.
This is a wonderful and essential website for researching in Quebec. I am sure that things will sort out soon.
I agree. After all the work that has gone into this resource through the years, I expect the issues are related to the update.