This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/xh.2ADE/2060.1 Message Board Post: I'm just wanting to say that I have been getting a lot of queries that are incomplete and it is doubtful that they will get a response from anyone if I print them in the newspaper. Here are some general rules that promote success when posting a query in the newspaper: 1) The minimal information you need to send is the person or family's NAME, what LOCATION (at least the county) they lived in, and some DATES. I take queries from 6 Indiana counties and 2 Illinois counties, so you have to identify where the people were from. 2) If you don't give us your snail mail address, you are greatly reducing the chances of getting a reply to your query. I have people tell me all the time that they saw a query in the paper and wanted to respond to it, but it only listed an e-mail address, so they didn't reply. Many of the readers don't have e-mail. Another reason for including your mailing address is that the local library takes all of the queries posted in the newspaper and files them. Someone several years from now may see your query in the file and want to contact you. If you don't list your mailing address, then there is a good chance that the e-mail address you are using now won't be valid in several years in the future. Finally, anyone who wants to run a query in the newspaper should send them in to my e-mail address, tamszion@yahoo.com. When people respond to my offer on this message board, I don't know whether they're wanting to print a query in the newspaper or are just posting on the message board. Thanks.