Just passing this on.....hope it helps someone! <g> Diana ----- Original Message ----- From: "Justin Masters - FMEC" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 2:29 PM Subject: [IOWA-OLD-NEWS] While not old, a newspaper suggestion for genealogy help I wanted to pass on a suggestion for newspaper related genealogy research. 5-6 years ago I went on a cross-country trip for 9 weeks. Genealogy and sight seeing were the main reasons for planning the trip. About 2 months before I went, I placed a few advertisements in the smaller town newspapers with a "query". Some of the considerations I made in doing this were: 1. My target audience was primarily older folks who would have remembered these people. 2. The newspaper is a weekly edition. 3. Older folks are typically home-bound, and usually read the paper from cover-to-cover. 4. Advertisement was 2-3 columns wide, 4 inches high. Text was large to accomodate seniors' eyesight. 5. Plan your ad well. I was very concise. It was something like this: NEED HELP WITH FAMILY TREE Name (year range of life) m. (wife's name, year range) Children (year range, spouse info) Children (year range, spouse info) g-Children (year range, spouse info) Added known info here, adding any "memorable" information that might spark a time-worn memory. (Known as "seven sisters"... Ran grocery store at... whatever) CONTACT INFO!!! Address, Phone numbers for home, work, cell phone. 6. Drop by the newspaper office in person! I paid my bill in person (shocked them, that's for sure!) and found out that a few people had actually left their name/number at the newspaper office. If you're not going to be in the area, ask that they hold any locally delivered info and you'll call back. 7. Run the ad for 2-3 weeks. The newspaper will work with you on good design, placement, etc. if they are getting an ad for a few weeks. They also do this for a job, they can also make suggestions, and even ASK them for suggestions. Again, I tried to "trigger" memories and use a font size that would ensure that seniors would be able to read it and fought with concise layout and putting enough info to get more responses. It might seem expensive, but what price are you willing to pay to get TIME with people who know, or who have resources you'd never find out about otherwise? 8. Follow up with those who contact you IMMEDIATELY, to arrange a time to visit with them or call them. THANK THEM for responding! Get acquainted with them, especially if you're going to be meeting them later! Get past the awkwardness now. Be prepared with questions that will generate lengthy answers and not simply a yes/no. "Tell me what you remember about ...." or "What kind of person was...", "What did you like to do with them?", "What talents/skills did they have?", "What's a funny thing you remember about them?" etc. 9. If visiting in person, take a tape recorder that has good batteries, has been tested for picking up sound, has a fresh tape (carry backup tapes/batteries!) and ASK for permission to tape. I try to make it a small pocket recorder that doesn't attract attention to the size, because after awhile, they start to forget the recorder is there and become a little more candid. Check to make sure you're picking up their voice! Be aware of nearby power cords, medical equipment, etc. that can blur the sounds. Bring paper/pencils/pens to jot down notes that you can go back to for clarification when time permits - don't interrupt them! BRING PHOTOS!!! Nothing brings back a memory like a photo! 10. If calling by phone, arrange a time that is good for them, and takes into account any time zone differences. Allow for an hour or two, be willing to pick up the phone tab. It's a requirement by law that if you record it, you ask them for permission first. And I would have that tape running when you're asking for permission, so that it cannot be denied later if it ever comes down to that. 11. Don't interrupt them... Let them talk. You're asking them to go back through their memories and sometimes the darnest things come out. :-) 12. Go over the notes/interview immediately, so that things are fresh in your mind, and you can get back to them with more questions. 13. Be cognizant of their age, attention span, disabilities, illnesses, endurance, etc. Treat them like your grandma/grandpa (assuming you're on good terms with them. :-) 14. Be sure to ask them if they know of anybody else who might have information on the people you're seeking. You never know who might be known to have a photo collection stashed someplace, or might have missed the article. This could include local historians, museums, family historians, crazy aunts that would keep tabs on the family. 15. Followup with a thank you! If visiting in person, perhaps take them out to lunch or ask if you could drive them to the locations that pertain to the people being discussed. It gives you a chance to ask more questions, but also to have them reminisce about the olden days. (One took me to his wife's grave... It was really spooky standing there looking at HIS gravestone, and having him stand next to me. There was no death date, but still....) If they take you to a graveyard to show you graves, throw other names out there... They may suddenly remember other folks, and where they're buried! And the stories behind them! Well, I can't think of too much else. Let me just say that I was *VERY SUCCESSFUL* using this method of using a large ad for a few weeks in small-town papers. As I said, it's not in the "OLD NEWSPAPER" dept, but you CAN make the paper work for you... Justin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Justin Masters (Systems Programmer) PH: 916 356-6735 Intel Corp. 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