In a message dated 11/06/2004 01:06:02 GMT Daylight Time, marcher51@sbcglobal.net writes: > I was given by a friend who had no use for it, a collection of large charts > of different families. It looks like a large volumn, but when you open it, > it is two pockets, one on each side that holds the folded charts. The charts > are abt. 4x legal paper. I think they are comparable to ahnentafel > outlines or reports that we see nowadays. Any comments appreciated. > The problem with charts is that there are (presumably) no sources, and thus no evidence that the relationships depicted are anything more than, at worst, wishful thinking. Alexander Cowan could be the most meticulous of researchers or the type who wants to be linked to landed gentry and has amassed a list of dates chosen to make his theories fit. What to do with them? To be honest unless you've been inundated with requests from 'cousins' on the list I'd bin them (all nasty comments can be sent to me off-list <LOL>) Without sources the charts are not worth the paper they are written on. Your FHS won't thank you for them. Almost all FHS have limited storage space and anything in the filing cabinets has to earn its keep by being of use to the members of the FHS and without sources and an index these charts are worthless. One option could be to key the data into a database and upload it onto a genealogy site like rootsweb..making clear where it came from and that there is no one to contact for further information. Irene

And if he was 'the most meticulous of researchers',he may have intended it for his own benefit and so didn't list his sources. Nontheless it is a lot of work to be simply tossed in the bin. If anyone can see a name from their own tree listed therein it could at least offer a clue that,somewhere,there may be material that may help prove a point. After all what of the stories that you might have heard from your father or grandfather which are only so much heresay with no listed proof.From my point of view everything pertaining to my family whether hearsay,rumours,and even downright lies,I want to know. Ian Ritchie ----- Original Message ----- From: <Lowlandscot@aol.com> To: <DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 7:25 PM Subject: Re: [D-G LIST] re: family records > In a message dated 11/06/2004 01:06:02 GMT Daylight Time, > marcher51@sbcglobal.net writes: > > > I was given by a friend who had no use for it, a collection of large charts > > of different families. It looks like a large volumn, but when you open it, > > it is two pockets, one on each side that holds the folded charts. The charts > > are abt. 4x legal paper. I think they are comparable to ahnentafel > > outlines or reports that we see nowadays. Any comments appreciated. > > > > The problem with charts is that there are (presumably) no sources, and thus > no evidence that the relationships depicted are anything more than, at worst, > wishful thinking. Alexander Cowan could be the most meticulous of researchers > or the type who wants to be linked to landed gentry and has amassed a list of > dates chosen to make his theories fit. > > What to do with them? To be honest unless you've been inundated with > requests from 'cousins' on the list I'd bin them (all nasty comments can be sent to > me off-list <LOL>) Without sources the charts are not worth the paper they are > written on. Your FHS won't thank you for them. Almost all FHS have limited > storage space and anything in the filing cabinets has to earn its keep by being > of use to the members of the FHS and without sources and an index these charts > are worthless. One option could be to key the data into a database and upload > it onto a genealogy site like rootsweb..making clear where it came from and > that there is no one to contact for further information. > > Irene > > > ==== DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY Mailing List ==== > ********************************** > YOU HAVE ENTERED A FLAME FREE ZONE > ********************************** >