How right you are! I live in NYC and have witnessed the same. Some parishes have a part time person, whose native language is not English, to search records. [I engage the person on the phone and have asked and learned this, and always ask their names.] If you do not provide alternative spellings or dates, they do not attempt that on their own. So you as the buyer, you might clearly state what you seek. Also, make it like a simple list, not a long letter. In various parishes the part time research people may work one day per week or, as is the case of a few parishes, from 5-7pm weekdays, doubling as a receptionist. And/or the person may be a volunteer who is their from the goodness of their hearts, but doesn't know what the heck they are doing, or doesn't care, or can't transcribe handwritten original records. Besides, some of these people don't "get" why we are interested. (My opinion.) Once, when a parish mailed me a requested copy, I saw a portion of handwritten information in the margins. Then, I phoned them & asked about the cut off section and found out they had more information about the marrying couple or baptismal parents, than was on the actual certificates, such as the home address of the family, or native origin of the parents. Now, I always ask for all data, beside what was on the documents, and ask cemeteries who purchased the plot, their address, and the date. Let's be frank folks, there are 2 issues involved: money and "man"power. In my experience, if you make it easy for them to retrieve your records, they usually cooperate. You really must be willing to send a "donation." Either include something or phone ahead to ask their preferred amount. In my experience the best Manhattan parish is St. Patrick's Old Cathedral. The second best is the parish who receives requests from now extinct, St. Alphonus German Catholic Church, that was demolished for the buidling of the WTC. It is all a business. Unfortunately, money talks. Can any NYer imagine how many records the Archdiocese of NY has, or that they will ever prioritize digitalizing these records? TVRL524@aol.com writes: > I think a lot depends on who is working on the day you contact them. ************************************** See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)