Basics on Australasian Genealogical Computer Index (AGCI)
AGCI (pronounced 'Ag-See') has been developed as an indexing standard to be used by family history societies throughout Australia and New Zealand to compile indexes to genealogical information.
The project was set up in 1984 when computer indexing of information was becoming affordable for genealogical societies. It was recognised that if all societies indexed their material using the same standards, this index could be shared on a cooperative basis, while each society maintained its own collection of unique resource material.
At the initial meeting it was agreed that the Society of Australian Genealogists would manage AGCI on behalf of societies throughout Australia and New Zealand. The first set of AGCI microfiche was released in 1988 and the project has subsequently grown considerably. In 1996 Series 3, containing 1.9 million entries, was released.
In 2004 an initial CD-ROM version was published, offering considerably enhanced search facilities, and 3.9 million records. To buy or to obtain further detail, click here. The CD contains data submitted by 39 societies around Australia and New Zealand, and many others are currently working on material for future CDs.
A second CD of AGCI material was published in 2005, containing entries extracted from the New South Wales Government Gazette, 1832-1863. To buy or to obtain further detail, click here. All of this material was contributed by a team of indexers from SAG.
How can AGCI help researchers?
AGCI is a one-line index to genealogical information. Sorted by name on fiche, but completely searchable on CD, it is designed to guide the researcher to sources of information of interest to them. It is essential to remember that AGCI is only an index. Finding an entry in AGCI is only the first stage of the research process. It is then necessary to check with the organisation which submitted it to AGCI to determine what additional information may be available. This page explains how to do that.
What does an AGCI entry tell you?
An AGCI entry will show:
- The surname and given name of the person to whom the entry relates
- The place where the event occurred
- The date of the event
- Whether the entry is a cross reference
- What type of record contains the entry. For example, the entry may come from a cemetery transcription, government gazette, newspaper or a parish register.
- The exact reference for the entry. This directs the researcher to the organisation which submitted the information to AGCI and gives the exact location of the information within that organisation. AGCI CDs facilitate seeking further details, by automatically inserting the organisation address and reference into a form letter requesting further information and a copy of the indexed record, if available.
What type of material is contained in AGCI?
AGCI contains entries that predominantly relate to Australia and New Zealand, but some overseas entries are included. Entries relate only to individuals. There are no listings under place names, companies, ships or broad subject headings. Some of the main records indexed on the first AGCI CD (Volume 1, published 2004) include:
- cemetery transcriptions, especially for NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand.
- newspaper cuttings
- Irish Transportation Records 1788-1868
- shipping into New South Wales and South Australia
All the entries on the second AGCI CD (Volume 2, published 2005) were extracted from the New South Wales Government Gazette 1832-1863.
Indexing continues, with more than a million further entries in hand at December 2006. These will be published in due course but no publication date has been set.
How to access AGCI
Copies of AGCI, on fiche and/or CD, are held by contributing societies, all major libraries and many others. The CDs may also be purchased from our bookshop.
SAG also operates a document retrieval service that provides an economic means of obtaining copies of most items indexed in AGCI.
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