--part1_7c.1d14ef9.25dcaa27_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit --part1_7c.1d14ef9.25dcaa27_boundary Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Return-path: RJones7598@aol.com From: RJones7598@aol.com Full-name: RJones7598 Message-ID: <65.1b8dc02.25dca765@aol.com> Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 20:22:45 EST Subject: Transcribing the Census To: GAWALTON@rootsweb.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 45 I am now working on my 17th Georgia census. My wife thinks I'm a little nuts (maybe more than that), but I hate daytime TV and if gives me something to occupy my retirement and not interfere in her activities. The use of CART I think makes the first census a little easier than using Excel if you do not have much experience with a spreadsheet program (like me). But with practice and a lot of help from my son-in-law I have mastered it as far as using it for the census transcription. I guess the first thing to understand is that the 1860 census usually runs between 6000 and 7000 entries. It does take a while and can't be done in a day. Work on it an hour or two each day, say 5 or 6 census pages. Pick a time when you won't have many interruptions. That is when you make the least errors. And you will have errors, trust me. The proofreading is as important as the transcribing and volunteers will be needed. My suggestion is to make it a group project. When you complete 50 census pages email the transcription or a printout to a proofreader. Send the second 50 page to another person, etc. That way you don't burn out one person and more people gets to play a part in the project. Ross Jones --part1_7c.1d14ef9.25dcaa27_boundary--