St.Anners: here's a keeper for us, courtesy of Martha Costello of the Quebec list: HOW TO ACCESS ROOTSWEB ARCHIVES [quote] Every posting is archived and may be accessed by clicking on http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=quebec and enter your query, a keyword like a name or place, etc. To read threaded postings starting with Feb.1999, click on http://archiver.rootsweb.com/QUEBEC-L/ Likely since it has come up in discussion every newbie that somehow missed it in their welcoming letter at time of subscription to the [Quebec] list has now seen the above -either as a tagline in L mode (receive each message from the list individually) or in the header of each D mode (messages are bundled & sent grouped, once a day) A keyword like a name or place, etc., is all you need! The search engine is fantastic!!! it even compensates somewhat for sloppy subject lines by pulling in key words from the body of archived messages! It does sometimes take some time - one may need to be creative in imagining what subject line may have been used or what keyword may pull in helpful info but I'd hazard to guess there are few general subjects re Quebec genealogy that have not been covered - a few times at least! I know I rarely notice a 'new' topic. There really is a wealth of info right there, just waiting to be accessed......Personally I find it most efficient to use the most specific possible keyword to start - if that is unsuccessful then I broaden to a more general keyword - that brings up a lot that I may not be looking for but at the same time is less likely to miss the ones that would be helpful... For example, the search words "list archives" will net all the past messages on lists that have dealt w/ this specific topic. The word "archives" would pull in every message re all types of archives. Try searching place names, surnames, topics....try a poster's name! This I find most useful when I join a new list -it takes but a few days to learn whose postings might be helpful - I just pull up all their previous postings.....just play around w/ it, get the 'feel' of it - I'm confident you'll like it......might even want to try 'newbie' as a keyword -that too has been covered.... [Generous-spirited though the most experienced listers may be,] in my own case I simply do not usually have the time -or the inclination, really- to give the same info repeatedly....also I think we need to remember it takes actual 'space' to archive every message....that 'space' is not limitless & should be used carefully....& perhaps it is not careful use [to endlessly duplicate certain materials]. Martha p.s. Those who have not explored the Rootsweb homepage may not realize just what a wealth of info/assistance is available right at their fingertips there -you may want to check it out at: http://www.rootsweb.com/ there are a lot of other resourses besides mail lists (every one of which is archived, incidently) -like surname lists, etc-that might be of assistance....M [unquote] Martha's eMail address is <marpat@ots.ca> if you want to send her a thank you. Salut to all, Ginny