If any of you want a census look-up, you might want to subscribe to [email protected] It is a list sponsored by the USGenWeb Census Project...and is for folks who need lookups. To subscribe, send an email to: [email protected] with (as usual) the single word SUBSCRIBE in the message. The completed transcriptions of the USGenWeb Census Project can be found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgwcens/ There is also a web page which offers look-ups.. it's at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~uslookup/ Thanks, Kay Mason National Coordinator USGenWeb Census Project (and Bray-L listowner) Date forwarded: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 17:38:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Byron Bray <[email protected]> Date sent: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 17:40:25 -0700 Subject: [BRAY-L] Regarding look-up requests To: [email protected] Forwarded by: [email protected] > Today, I read a look-up request from a subscriber to one of the lists > that I subscribe to. It is by no means the first such e-let I've seen, > but I'd like to do what I can to make sure it's the last. ("E-let" is my > self-coined term for "e-mail letter") > > I've omitted the details, because my objective, here, is not to embarass > anyone, but to point out a problem that I'm finding to be increasingly > common. The request essentially said: > > > Need a census look-up for 18xx and 18xx for Such-and-such > > county for the XYZ Surname. My relative was an XYZ. > > > > Albert XYZ > > In this age of computers and e-mail, it's very easy to allow ourselves to > become more and more impersonal and it's something we need to guard > against. The attitude that this request conveys is: > > "Look this up for me." > > No "please"; no "thank you"; no background information that might make > this process interesting for the person who might be able and willing to > perform such a look-up. As a help-list volunteer for my county > genealogical society, I wanted to take this opportunity to pass along > some rules for help-list and look-up etiquette that I think some people > really need to hear. For the rest of us, a refresher probably won't hurt. > > The first and foremost golden rule for look-ups and help-list requests is > to remember that there is a PERSON at the other end of your request. That > person has a limited amount of time and energy, in this life, just like > you. They may be willing to make the time and effort to look up > information, for you, but the very least they deserve, in exchange, is > some recognition that they are people, too, and some treatment more > friendly than a peremptory "look this up for me". > > Most of us who do look-ups on an on-going basis are interested in the > history and genealogy of our areas, in the stories of pioneers and their > families and descendants and other lore that adds to the sense of history > that our research is uniquely privy to. You may not know these things, > but you can certainly say a few things about yourself and your ancestors, > which will let the person whose efforts you are recruiting know that > they're dealing with a friendly person who has something interesting to > offer in exchange, even if it's only a token gesture. > > Your information lets us know that you're serious about the information > you seek and that you're not just asking for look-ups for every XYZ in > the state, hoping to find one you recognize (and, believe me, you'd be > surprised how many people DO that!!). Your anecdotal information may even > help them find the data you're asking them to check out; and, who knows > you may have information of interest to THEM. > > You don't need to write a novel; just a sentance or two that lets us know > that you have a history and a personality and that you appreciate the > time and effort we're expending. If you can help us narrow the field of > inquiry, that's helpful, too. Those who write to say "Do you have an obit > for my great uncle Oscar XYZ?? I think he died between 1875 and 1900 in > the western part of the state", have never spent 6 or 8 hours trying, > unsuccessfully, to find this information for someone. And a simple > "please" and "thank you" wouldn't hurt, either. > > I am fortunte enough to belong to an area and a society with a lot of > volunteer spirit and, when we set up our Linn County, Oregon, help-list > page, I had 7 volunteers to start out with. In the two years since then, > only one has dropped out, but almost every one of us has had occasion to > complain about these kinds of unthinking practices by those submitting > requests. And they're not mean people; they're just not thinking about > the person at the other end. > > Also, when you're using a help-list or look-up web-site, only place a > given request to ONE volunteer. Some people post their requests to > several volunteers, because they think it gives them a better chance of > getting the information. I strongly discourage this practice. The people > who do this sort of work are volunteers and their time is as valuable as > anyone else's. When you ask several people to look up one piece of > information, you cause them to spend their valuable time doing work that > is completely redundant because someone else is already looking it up. > It's a waste of valuable time that could be spent looking up other > information. And, believe me, we talk to one another about these > requests, to try and get the best possible information to those who seek > our help. How would you feel if you did several hours of research only to > find that someone else had to do it, too? What chance do think there > would be of that same person getting ANOTHER look-up from us?? Instead, > write to ONE volunteer and then be patient. If you haven't heard anything > in a week or two, write them again. > > Don't be pushy; remember they are doing this on their own time and they > have lives to lead, as well. Most volunteers will help you relatively > quickly (i.e. within a couple of days or weeks of your request). If you > get no positive response, in another week or two, or if they seem > reluctant or overburdened, check to see if there's another volunteer for > that county/year. If there is, and if you feel that you're getting > nowhere with the one you wrote to first, write to that first volunteer > again and ask them how your request is coming along. If nothing's > happened with it, tell them that you feel they may be too busy or that > you feel you need to get the information more quickly than they may have > time for. Let them know that you're seeking the information elsewhere. Be > nice about it. They may very well just not have enough time to help you. > I know (who better?) what it's like to volunteer for a number of efforts > with the best of intentions and then find that it's hard to fulfill them > all. We all know that, to one degree or another. Be merciful. > > Anyway, I didn't mean to get into a long-winded lecture, here, so those > of you who have fallen asleep during this e-let can wake up now!! I just > wanted to remind you that we're all people and we should all be treated > with appropriate respect. Genealogy depends on all of us giving and > helping each other. That's a lot easier to do when people know that their > efforts are valued and appreciated and not squandered. > > With the best of wishes to all of you and my personal wish that you > succeed in your Quests, I remain, > > Sincerely Yours, > > > > Byron Bray > Vice-President, Linn Genealogical Society > Linn County, Oregon > > Listowner: > BOVEE-L list ([email protected]) > COVERT-L list ([email protected]) > > [email protected] > > USGenWeb Census Project http://www.usgenweb.org/census/ http://www.usgenweb.com/census http://www.usgenweb.net/census/ Montgomery County Mississippi http://www.rootsweb.com/~msmontgo/ Rock County Nebraska http://www.rootsweb.com/~nerock/