The NMIP is continuing at a reasonable pace, but unfortunately owing to negotiations between the Genealogical Society of Utah and the South African Department of Home Affairs to obtain an extended agreement of usage, the project leader, Adrian Rowe, was instructed by GSU to stop offering to do look-ups. This Agreement has now been signed and it is hoped that our Index will be available on the Internet, linked to the marriage certificate images during the course of 2010.

The Indexes are however available for the use of patrons at the Durban Family History Centre.

The Index contains a total of 277,538 names at the end of November 2009, relating to Natal marriages between 1845 and 1939.

The Indexing team has increased, but volunteers are still needed.
(Please contact the project leader, Adrian, on 031-764-4721 a/h or at NMIP Indexing Team NMIP Indexing Team.

As we now have the films in digital format, Indexing may be done at home, but owing to the size of the transcription packets, and the difficulty in electronically transmitting them to transcribers, regrettably they need to be resident in South Africa, but preferably in greater Durban. The requirements are that you have a little spare time (about 7 hours per month), a computer and software which can open digital images and MS EXCEL.

OF INTEREST:
At a ceremony in early July 2008, Lyn Paul, the NMIP's star transcriber, was presented with a letter of appreciation by Ray Holder, a Councillor of the Durban, South Africa, Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Jenny Harries, director of the Durban Family History Centre, on behalf of the GSU. Lyn, who has been assisting the transcription project since December 2005, is currently transcribing in excess of 6,500 names each month. This is a tremendous effort considering many of the names are difficult to read and are representative of all the local race groups.

LYN and RAY

ADRIAN ROWE, RAY HOLDER, LYN PAUL and JENNY HARRIES