I am a retired Respiratory Therapist and have worked in many hospitals in Florida and California and don't know of onw who would destroy records after 6 years. More likely the person asked to look up the information wasnt in the mood for it that day. Try it again, if you cant get it over the phone and are willing to wait for an answer put it in writing to the hospital administrator they are usually most accomodating people. Good luck. Roselyn Shiver

I don't know about old hospital records but lately they seem to be around indefinitely. My experience: I took my son to the ER when he was 19, as I was doing checkin, they said do you still live at ---------? You see, he was born in that hospital in 1976, had NEVER been back again until he ws 19 and they still had the file as current! I was surprised. It may have to do with the computer age but things have changed considerably in that 19 years in computers, from almost non-existant, to the necessary item. Happy hunting. Pam J ---------- From: Michele Wms-Smith[SMTP:wmsmith@ricochet.net] Sent: Thursday, June 11, 1998 1:11 AM To: GenTips-L@rootsweb.com Subject: hospital info thanks everyone for the help. I called Harlem hospital  in new york and after 6 yrs. you need a medical record number from the patient and after 6 yrs there is a great possibility the record could be deleted. ==== GenTips Mailing List ==== Support online research! Donate to the RootsWeb Genealogical Project! See more information at: http://www.rootsweb.com

My very last hope for finding the parents of my g-gmother was the obituary, which was sent from the Denison TX public library. Got it yesterday, and no parents' names, just clues and stuff about how sad the community was, what groups she was a member of, etc. Therefore, I think it's time to hire a professional to physically go there and look. (I can't, as I work full time and take care of my elderly mother). She apparently was Episcopalian, so that at least is a clue to which church might have records. Anyone know a reliable and good researcher near enough to the towns of Denison TX and Mer Rouge LA that the person could easily go there and do some research? Thanks, Francesca Sutton

Hi I wanted to say I agree with Karen,don't give up. My husband and I have been going to church with a nice older lady for six years. She has the same family surname as my husband. When we asked about her family she always said you wouldn't be related because they aren't from around here. Well, yesterday while talking with her son in law my husband discovered that his grandfather and this ladys father where brothers!! We also found out that the granddaughter is working on the family genealogy and we hope to get together to compare notes. You just never know when the break throughs will come. Good luck with your research just remember it takes patience to do genealogy. Gladys Chase <733pend@concentric.net> Kpekar60@aol.com wrote: > Hang in there. They may come around yet. I've been working a little here and > a little there for ten years. Started out "solo", but now more family members > in all four directions( husband-maternal, husband-paternal, my maternal, my > paternal) are interested. Not enough interest by them to do research, but > enough to share photos, fill in gaps, answer questions, etc.

http://www.thirdage.com/news/archive/980227-07.html

http://www.thirdage.com/news/archive/980610-03.html

Hello, Could someone pleawe tell me in what county in Pa. is Rapho Township? Thanks. Ruth R. @aol.com

> In the U.S., Swedish culture is celebrated, among other places, at the > American Swedish Institute, a museum in Minneapolis founded in 1929 > by publisher Swan J. Turnblad. At the Web site, you can check out > Swedish genealogy links and history, browse the books in the > Bokhandel, or consider ordering a Carl Larsson print. > > http://www.americanswedishinst.org >

What works for me, when looking through cemeteries is a video camera. I also take a still camera. Sometimes you think that your pictures are going to be good and they may not be readable. With a video camera, if you can view it through your lens, you have it. You can also read the dates and whatever may be on the stone. You can tell yourself who may be buried next to each other and in general describe the cemetery. My computer and TV are in the same room, therefore I can play the tape and record my dates an other interesting facts. When the pictures are developed, I can insert them into my notebook. Darlene

Double copies: I recommend notes as well as a tape when interviewing. Notes jotted down can remind one to ask about something that caught your ear while they were telling one story and before getting caught up in still another, you can always ask about it. Also, notes provide a backup, just in case you find that the recorder ate the tape. The same is true with cemetery walking. I photograph tombstones that I want the data from, but just in case they don't turn out (can't afford to do instant pictures the way I take pictures in a cemetery), I make sure the data is also hand written. It also serves as a reminder of which cemetery held which stones, in case of visiting several different ones on the same trip/roll of film. Karen

These URLs were new to me and I thought they might me new to someone on this list also. So here they are. Hope this helps someone. Census on-line site - http://www.census-online.com/links/index.html Births, Baptisms, Marriages etc on-line http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5978/Vitals.html Barb Thomas bthomas@wport.com

THANKS for all of the responses to my recent posting "Research Scam?". Each person who responded had a helpful or supportive comment. In case I didn't mention it, the VERY nicest, most generous people I have ever met, I've met through my quest for my family history. Thanks to all, Barb Thomas bthomas@wport.com

Hi Viola, wish you were my family. I'd be thrilled to participate with you. My family is early New England, Mich., S.Dak., Nebraska City, Neb., Wisc., Minn., Calif. My husband's is Prussia, (Germ.), thru Can. to N. Dak., to Mont (1895) to So.Calif. (1931). Best, Gloria Daum ---------- > From: viola seward <olla@eot.com> > To: GenTips-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: BALANCING NEED'S IN RESEARCH > Date: Friday, June 12, 1998 4:32 PM > > i totally understand the money part of research. i have exausted my money > as well. every one tell's me to have the rest of the family kick in. but > there are those who only want, but no giving!!! well they are now the > furtherest down on my mailing list. not out of meaness tho. just because i > can no longer even afford postage some time's. these same down the list > one's do not even share with their own family what i have given them!! > viola. > > > ==== GenTips Mailing List ==== > Support online research! Donate to the RootsWeb Genealogical Project! See more information at: > http://www.rootsweb.com > > >

I am forwarding this info. on because I think you folks will appreciate it. Gloria Daum ---------- > From: MAK <mkuehl@USC.EDU> > To: MI-WI-ROOTS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > Subject: [MI-WI] How to find Military Death Certificates > Date: Friday, June 12, 1998 8:34 AM > > I am finding this thread about military death certificates quite > interesting, but not necessarily factual. If you don't know the answer to a > question, please don't speculate - you are sending people in the wrong > directions. > > I called HQMC this morning and this is the STRAIGHT answer... > > When a Marine dies, a Report of Casualty (DD1300) is issued by the military; > in addition, a death certificate is issued by the State in which the death > occurred. (When overseas, the death certificate is filed in the state of > residency.) The next of kin, is notified in person by a Marine Corps > Officer. Upon written request, the next of kin can request all the > paperwork filed by the United States Marine Corps in the course of the death > investigation (all deaths are investigated as a routine procedure). As part > of the investigation, the death certificate is requested by the > investigating officer from the state and filed with the Marines Offical > Records. The references pertaining to this are 10 USC Section 2271, DODI > 1300.9, and MCO P1741.8. > > The following branches in the Marine Corps can answer your questions > regarding deaths, awards, and service of Marines: Casualty Branch, Awards > Branch, Historical Branch, and the local Veterans Affairs Office. (If you > need the HQMC phone/fax numbers, please email me - local VA is in your > telephone book under government offices.) Another avenue is to write your > congressman, requesting the information and their office will forward it to > the correct branch. A third avenue is to write the question to Marine Mail: > mailm@mqg-smtp3.usmc.mil > > Or you can go to my Finding your Military Ancestors site: > http://www.leatherneck.com/TheStorm/0100/Ancestor/index.html > > I am also told by HQMC, that this works the same way in the other three > branches, except, they have a bigger buracracy than the Marine Corps, so it > is a little more difficult to get information. > > I hope this information is helpful. Semper Fi, R/S MAK > > >X-Message: #31 > >Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 09:15:18 EDT > >From: ABStuart@aol.com > >Subject: MILITARY DEATH CERTIFICATES > > >Someone recently inquired about Death Certificates for members of > >the military who die while on active duty. When a death occurs a, > >from any cause, a standard form, STATEMENT OF CASUALTY, is > >issued to the designated next of kin (during World War II and the > >Korean War it was a Report of Death). This is, for all practical > >purposes, the individual's death certificate. It's universally accepted > >as such by all concerned parties, public and private. If death occurs > >in the U. S. or one of its territories, local authorities DO NOT > >normally prepare a death certificate. Also, the military DOES NOT > >issue a copy of the standard form to local authorities. > > > >If you're seeking info on someone who was KIA or died of any cause > >while on active duty YOU NEED NOT WASTE YOUR TIME (AND > >MONEY) WITH STATE, COUNTY OR LOCAL VITAL RECORDS. > >The fee you pay is, in most cases a SEARCH FEE (i. e., you pay > >for the search, whether you get any info or not). Also, the clerks you > >deal with are EMPLOYEES, not geneologists or researchers and > >may or may not be aware of the above and their principle concern > >anyway is to collect the money your foolish enough to throw at > >them. > > > >REMEMBER, THEY CAN'T GIVE YOU WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE. > > ----------------------------------------------- > List problems? > Check > your WELCOME message FIRST > http://php.indiana.edu/~stephenl/problems.htm SECOND > then contact stephenL@indiana.edu

>Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 20:00:36 -0500 >To: Gentips-L@rootsweb.com >From: Bessie Turley <turley@usit.net> >Subject: Help! > >Hello, > >Hope this is the right list for computer questions. >Can anyone tell me where to find a setup disk for Ms-Dos 6.20? >My computer died and had to have a new hard drive. Got new hard drive but have no setup disk for dos 6.20 so cannot use my old computer.Want to get it to working for my grandchrildren. >any help would be appreciated. > >Thanks >Bessie >

Hi all, So many people have written for the e-mail address of Matt Ellsworth that I decided to post it to the list because, obviously, you're all out there. While looking for his e-mail address I discovered that he now has a web page that includes a fee schedule and a request form, The address is: www.censusgiver.com/index.shtml. Good luck. He really is good and fair. June

Suggestion older relatives generally love to reminse (sp?). I am taping conversations with my 83 year old aunt the last of my mother's siblings and a cousin who will turn 70 this year. My cousin described to me the house my parents lived in before I was born. If you tape you don't have to worry about taking notes you can just enjoy the memories. How I wish I had listened more to my father and mother when they reminsed. Also go over old pictures with them so you can indentify the people and places. We plan on doing that later this summer. Toni Gorman rockall@aol.com

You maybe lucky. I think my cousin is still waiting for certificates she send for at least two years ago. They even cashed her check. It wa for her grandfather who died in the 1920's. Toni Gorman

Hi Everyone: Just a comment about Barb Thomas being billed for receiving help. If the person or persons sending out something expects pay for it, that should be stated before sending it out. This, to me, is one of the big enjoyments of this, and that is to share things with each other, without cost. I have received help on email and smail, and money was not mentioned. Helping each other comes from the heart, not the billfold. I, too, am retired, but if I can't afford to take part in helping and receiving, then I will get off line. Free help is worth more than what the cost could be. I am looking for help on the following names in West Virginia: Halstead Taylor Adkins Atkins Radford I have over 3500 names and will share. Someone sent me a download a few months ago, and I damaged it trying to download it. Now I have learnt how to do it, and would like for that person to send it to me again. I even messed up the person that sent it to me. Barb, HANG IN THERE!!! Ted Halstead

i totally understand the money part of research. i have exausted my money as well. every one tell's me to have the rest of the family kick in. but there are those who only want, but no giving!!! well they are now the furtherest down on my mailing list. not out of meaness tho. just because i can no longer even afford postage some time's. these same down the list one's do not even share with their own family what i have given them!! viola.