This is for you folks out there that are complaining about county web sites that are mostly links... The archives are searchable. Therefore, I think every available bit of info should be there. I might be looking for some info on a particular person and I think he is in one county when really he is in another. The search feature of the archives handles that. If anyone were to take a look at the contributors of the stuff on the McDuffie archives page they would see my name a lot. They can not say that I am not doing anything buy providing links! I have persoanally surveyed 27 cemeteries in less than a month. If they want to be so petty about it, I could always pull all the cemeteries I have surveyed off Rootsweb completely and give no one access to it. I could write a cemetery book and get paid for it. The whole purpose of GenWeb is to make genealogical info free and accessible to genealogists worldwide. Have they forgotten this? I had no idea at all that GenWeb was so political!!! I have been using the info on the pages for several years, at least 6. I have always wanted to be a part of it. This is really starting to get ridiculous. Michele Lewis McDuffie Co, GA P.S. But just to satisfy you people that oppose the links... I do have some stuff on my web site that is not on the archives. For example, James Malone, who can do great custom graphics, has drawn me a great map of McDuffie which shows all the old place names that aren't in existence anymore but you will find in old records. That won't go to the archives because it is not searchable. Another thing that is not on the archives is the list of lookup people which I hope to increase. I think doing lookups for other people is very important. Another thing that I am working on is a list of surnames that are being researched in McDuffie Co with names and email addresses of the researchers so that you can hook up with other people working on your lines. It is STUPID to have a copy of the material on the archives page AND the web site. It just takes up valuable space on the server. We are supposed to be one big happy family. This is not supposed to be a territorial issue. The info on the archives is for everyone and I am happy to provide links to it so that people can find the info they need.

Although I am not mad about it, I agree with Michele that the Archives has a very important part in our project. I personally would like to see more state-wide files and the Archives is a good substitute for that. In addition to being searchable, we as developers of the files do not have to maintain them if they are in Archives. I have most all the large files - census - marriages- cemeteries- tax digest - etc in Archives and provide links to those files from the Haralson County and Monroe County pages. With them managing the files, I can proceed to develop others. I have never understood the animosity toward Archives. I have contributed the files for PERMANENT records for the counties I work with. My sole reason for participating in this project is to get records on line for ALL RESEARCHERS, not to build a personal cache. I am in the process of transcribing the 1870 census for Monroe County and the thought occurred to me that the enumerator had no idea that 133 years after he took this census that someone would be trying to decipher his handwriting. I hope that the work I am doing today will be available 133 years in the future and I want that work preserved. When I retire from the coordinator position, I will pass on what I have on the pages to the next coordinator, however, I do not want the preservation of these records to be at the whelm of that coordinator. I want them there to stay. The GaGenWeb project is so important to preservation of our history and I desire nothing more than to be able to participate in the project in an enjoyable environment with support from other coordinators as well as our regional and state coordinator. I have never had a complaint from a RESEARCHER regarding the links. Most of them are very appreciative of the fact that we have worked so hard to provide the information for them. There is a place here for both "home pages" and archived files. Liz Robertson Coordinator HARALSON AND MONROE COUNTIES, GA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michele Lewis" <frugalmom@earthlink.net> To: <GAGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 8:06 AM Subject: [GAGEN] Ok, now I am mad This is for you folks out there that are complaining about county web sites that are mostly links... The archives are searchable. Therefore, I think every available bit of info should be there. I might be looking for some info on a particular person and I think he is in one county when really he is in another. The search feature of the archives handles that. If anyone were to take a look at the contributors of the stuff on the McDuffie archives page they would see my name a lot. They can not say that I am not doing anything buy providing links! I have persoanally surveyed 27 cemeteries in less than a month. If they want to be so petty about it, I could always pull all the cemeteries I have surveyed off Rootsweb completely and give no one access to it. I could write a cemetery book and get paid for it. The whole purpose of GenWeb is to make genealogical info free and accessible to genealogists worldwide. Have they forgotten this? I had no idea at all that GenWeb was so political!!! I have been using the info on the pages for several years, at least 6. I have always wanted to be a part of it. This is really starting to get ridiculous. Michele Lewis McDuffie Co, GA P.S. But just to satisfy you people that oppose the links... I do have some stuff on my web site that is not on the archives. For example, James Malone, who can do great custom graphics, has drawn me a great map of McDuffie which shows all the old place names that aren't in existence anymore but you will find in old records. That won't go to the archives because it is not searchable. Another thing that is not on the archives is the list of lookup people which I hope to increase. I think doing lookups for other people is very important. Another thing that I am working on is a list of surnames that are being researched in McDuffie Co with names and email addresses of the researchers so that you can hook up with other people working on your lines. It is STUPID to have a copy of the material on the archives page AND the web site. It just takes up valuable space on the server. We are supposed to be one big happy family. This is not supposed to be a territorial issue. The info on the archives is for everyone and I am happy to provide links to it so that people can find the info they need. ==== GAGEN Mailing List ==== Have you added something signifigant to your website? Advertise it on this list!