> From: GNicresearch@aol.com [mailto:GNicresearch@aol.com] > Sent: 26 February 2004 09:13 > > However, if you want to know whether > there are any > references to a name etc in a document there is no substitute > for line-by-line > searching to find out. Yes, it will take longer and no, it > will not be as exciting > as the instant gratification of an index, but instant > gratification is not > what historical research is about! Painstaking, careful, > thoughtful, research > is more to the point. I recently purchased the 1861 Durham Census from Archive CD Books, which is also unindexed. I would argue that it was actually _more_ exciting when I came across a family I was looking for having had to search through line by line. The value of searching through oneself is that of finding things I would probably have missed if I'd only looked at an index ... like finding cousins or future wives in neighbouring properties. And no, I'm not retired with endless time: I work full-time, study with the Open University, play in a quiz league, support a football team, have friends and relations to visit ... but a methodical record of where I've searched and using the odd 15 mins here and there gradually gets it all done. Karen