2011-08-18 Ancestry renames Footnote to Fold3

Footnote

The combined message seems to be that Ancestry.com is for civilian records, and Fold3 is for military records.

Fold3

Footnote has just been renamed to Fold3. An About the change link on top of the page brings up a pop-up box. If you have JavaScript enabled, it pops up as soon as you visit the site.

Footnote is now Fold3

Footnote is now Fold3

Why the change? As we refocus our efforts on gathering the best online collection of military records and stories we wanted a name that would reflect military history and honor.

So what does it mean?

Traditionally, the third fold in a flag-folding ceremony honors and remembers veterans for their sacrifice in defending their country and promoting peace in the world.

There is Don't show this message again checkbox in the lower right corner of the box and a Learn More button in the lower left corner. That Learn More button leads to the Footnote is now Fold3 entry on the Footnote blog, now known as Fold3 HQ.

Footnote is now Fold3

The second part of that blog entry is about the name change. Peter writes

Footnote becomes Fold3

One change that won’t impact how things work, but is significant and will probably get a lot of attention, is the site’s new name. Footnote has been a great name, but it doesn’t relate to military records and can carry a connotation of insignificance which doesn’t seem appropriate for a site focused on records related to the great sacrifices associated with military service.

We wanted a name that would show respect for the records we are working on and for the people who have served in the armed forces. The name Fold3 comes from a traditional flag-folding ceremony in which the third fold is made in honor and remembrance of veterans for their sacrifice in defending their country and promoting peace in the world.

We are excited for this new focus and name because it will help us continue to improve the site and bring you records that will help in your research.

If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions, please let us know.

What marketing genius thought that a doctored image of their brand new logo being painted onto a WWII era plane will build trust in the original documents that Fold3 offers?

What an awful name

Notice the last line: If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions, please let us know. They want your feedback and questions.

The first thing I thought was What an awful name and reading the explanation did not change that. The new name is awful. Truly horrendous. Just my opinion. You're welcome.

I have a question too. Nothing significant, mind you, just a minor detail I wonder about. What marketing genius thought that a doctored image of their brand new logo being painted onto a WWII era plane will build trust in the original documents that Fold3 offers?

military

The pop-up box tells us that Footnote Fold3 refocusses on military records. The first line of the blog entry is Today we announced our intention to create the finest and most comprehensive collection of U.S. Military records available on the internet and changed the name of the site from Footnote to Fold3. That sounds like wonderful news for those interested in military records.

The second line of the blog entry is This announcement isn’t a complete change from what we’ve been doing. So, they are refocussing, and they stress it isn't a complete change. The obvious question then, is what has changed. Stressing that adding more military records isn't a complete change doesn't make census.

When you think census, you think Ancestry.com (Tim Sullivan can contact me for the rights to that slogan).

census

Ancestry.com bought iArchives, the parent company of Footnote.com, on 2010 Sep 23. Reactions from the geneasphere were mixed, as the market was losing an Ancestry.com competitor. Genealogists are particularly enamoured by Footnote's Interactive Census, and it was about a year earlier, on 2009 Oct 29, that the Footnote blog announced that Footnote will digitize every American census.

Footnote became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ancestry.com, but continued to operate as an independent consumer brand. The 2010 Oct 21 Footnote blog entry Ancestry.com and Footnote.com by Blake Scarbrough even stated that The plan is to continue to run Footnote.com the way we have always run Footnote.com — continuing to do what we believe is best for our brand, our customers, and our business..
Yesterday, Ancestry.com announced that it will not only offer the U.S.A. 1940 Census when it becomes available in April of 2012, but that it will also be free to access throughout 2012. That's good news. Note that this census will be available on Ancestry.com, and that making it free throughout 2012 not only gets the Ancestry.com / census association out there. When you think census, you think Ancestry.com (Tim Sullivan can contact me for the rights to that slogan).
Despite Footnote's intention to digitise every American census, Footnote did not make any announcement about the U.S.A. 1940 census. Footnote's Interactive Census Project is not gone. It is still there, and it known as Fold3's Interactive Census Project now.

Fold3 Interactive Census Project

civilian

technote: links

It is not necessary to update your footnote.com links.
All footnote.com links are automatically redirected to the new fold3.com domain.

I don't think Ancestry.com is planning to kill Footnote's Interactive Census project. On the contrary, I think it was a major factor in their decision to buy Footnote.com.

Yesterday Ancestry.com told us to look for the U.S.A. 1940 Census on Ancestry.com. Today they tell us that Footnote Fold3 refocuses on military records.
The combined message seems to be that Ancestry.com is for civilian records, and Fold3 is for military records.

I will not be surprised if Ancestry.com rebrands the Footnote Fold3 Interactive Census Project as the Ancestry.com Interactive Census Project.

updates

2011-08-18 instant update

In an update to the already existing blog post, Peter states that there are no plans to remove non-military content from the site. Content may be copied between Ancestry and Fold, but the records would be copied, not moved, Fold3 content added to Ancestry will still be available on Fold3 and vice versa..

2011-08-19 Fold3 Q & A

A new Fold3 HQ blog post reiterates the points made in the update to yesterday's blog post.

2011-08-24 Fold3 name based on myth

Ancestry changed the Footnote name to Fold3 because the third fold is made in honor and remembrance of veterans.... The chosen name is meant to show some respect, but the stated reason for the name actually shows lack of research, as it is a myth. The flag was folded that way long before anyone tried to assign meaning to each fold.