Gaila & other interested compilers: >> I hadn't considered doing it because I know the great people that did work on them were in Houston County. If I could do it from Sydney, then I would be willing to do so. Can you give a bit more information. << Uh oh! Now you've got me started.... Info about the R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation can be found on their website at: http://www.taylorfoundation.org Basically, the Foundation will pay for the non-labor costs to publish your compilation. Then, they will buy 33 copies back from you for cost. The rest are yours to sell at whatever price you want. Usually, they will fund anywhere from 150 to 300 books to be printed. Most grants are from $1500 to $4000. It makes no difference where someone lives if they want to become involved with these court record abstractions. Unless it is convenient for you to travel to a local LDS Family History Center, I would suggest purchasing the microfilm directly from the GA Archives. There are several ways to view microfilm at home. The best way would be to purchase a new reader via Everton's Genealogical Helper magazine, for about $400+. You can also manipulate the microfilm to be read in a regular microfiche reader, but it may be sideways. And, you can actually view the microfilm in a regular film strip project, since most microfilm is 35 mm film. But, the film would need to be projected upon the wall, and would be huge. Since I live near the courthouse, I am currently abstracting the info from the original record books. It gives me a sense of connecting to a tangible link from the past. I have a microfilm and microfiche reader at home, but for the time being, I'll stick with the original record books. Also, any of my future projects regarding Houston Co., GA records, will be with the ones which *haven't* been microfilmed yet. Even if you don't live in the U.S., it is not a big concern with the shipping of the books. If you have someone in the U.S. who could warehouse your books for you, that would work out better. The main problem with this whole concept of publishing books, is that there just aren't enough people who will purchase the books once they are printed. There are about 50 genealogy libraries which will buy almost anything that you have compiled about Houston Co., GA. But, most individual researchers don't buy books. All in all, you can make about $1500 to $2000 on your books within the initial buying market. From there, you may end up using them as stepping stones across your garden. Since the total time invested in doing all phases of a publication project is about 400+ hours, that adds up to about minimum wage, *if* you are keeping count of your time invested. Unless, of course, you are really fast at it. For those who are interested in preserving a portion of their ancestors' history, you can really make a difference with these publications. Immediately upon receiving my new publications from the printer, I send one to the LDS Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and give them written permission to microfilm it. That way, I can be assured that my works will be accessed for many years to come. I am only a human being. I came into this world with nothing, and I won't be taking any possessions with me. I've never seen a U-Haul trailer being towed behind a hearse. If my efforts to help preserve some of Houston Co., GA's history can make a difference to help researchers to find their roots, then I have done what I have set out to do. Today's society is living in such a face-paced world, that they are seeking to find out *where* they came from, and gain a greater sense of *family*. Gaining this sense of family, may be all that it takes to help an entire generation have a greater *appreciation* of their *heritage*, and make a real difference in their lives. It is my ultimate goal to spread around the findings of what I find at the courthouse, and to also *plant* the seeds for others to pursue this same course. I've learned a lot about compiling court records in the last 15 years, and I want to spread that knowledge around. It was basically gained at the "College of Hard Knocks". If I don't share this knowledge with others, it may go to the grave with me. I may be run over by a truck tomorrow. If I can sow, fertilize and water future potential preservers of Houston Co., GA's recorded history, I will feel that I have made a real difference. If you are wanting to know what types of records need compiling and published, here you go: 1. Annual Returns. 2. Appraisements & Sales. 3. Inferior Court Minutes. 4. Superior Court Minutes. 5. Tax Digests. 6. Estray Dockets. 7. Proceedings in Equity. 8. Confederate Pension Records. 9. Houston Home Journal Newspapers. 10. This, that & the other. It's not necessary to own any fancy equipment to publish books. I currently use WordPerfect 5.0 for DOS. I use this primarily because of the excellent indexing features. Plus, that's what I started out with, and I'm too lazy to change. I can index between 500 and 800 names per hour. Try to equal that with *any* sort of indexing or other word processing program. Most of the later model ink-jet printers will be sufficient for "camera-ready-copy" of your books. But, I highly recommend a laser printer. I don't have *either*. I send the diskettes of my work directly to the printing company in Kentucky. He has a 1200 dpi laser printer, and does an excellent job. One suggestion that may help others to know "who is working on what", would be a webpage link on the Houston Co., GA webpage. I am currently working on the 1821 to 1851 Administrators & Guardians Bonds. If you are wondering how in the world you will format or lay out your book, I would suggest that you take a look at some other county publications. Generally speaking, there is no particular format that is used by all abstractors. Personally, I like to devise my own formats. I'll bet there are a lot of creative minds subscribed to this Houston-L list. Also, please keep in mind, that the Taylor Foundation financial grants are available for *all* Georgia counties. I think I have covered some of the basic aspects of compiling & publishing, but if there are any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Take care & happy hunting! William A. Mills Perry, GA [email protected] ==============>>> On Wed, 10 May 2000 09:00:42 +1000 "Gaila & Jim Merrington" <[email protected]> writes: Mr Mills How would I apply for a grant to work on some of these records. Would I be able to organise it via mail? I wonder what the money is for - The actual printing? How does this all work and how would I be able to organise it from Sydney, Australia? I hadn't considered doing it because I know the great people that did work on them were in Houston County. If I could do it from Sydney, then I would be willing to do so. Can you give a bit more information. Thanks so much, Gaila ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.