There is nothing more refreshing to a Southern man than to be "sweet-talked" to by a Southern (note the capital S) LADY. Bob ------Original Message------ From: "lucygilbert" <lucygilbert@email.msn.com> To: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com Sent: February 3, 2001 4:14:58 AM GMT Subject: Re: [Re: [Re: Mississippi Court Houses]] Girls--if I may call us that--harsh words and threatening action can get you records--once--but often results in suddenly lost files on later visits. May I suggest you save the frontal attacks for the ultimate resource? I have been using Mississippi records for over 50 years and I find the old southern charm works most of the time. First, find out who the people are in charge--the elected Clerk in a small county is likely to be related to at least 1/3 of the people of the county---- (The Judge likewise!) Bear in mind that if you have dead relatives with records in a county courthouse in MS you are also likely to have live relatives who have control over who gets into the files. Family goes a long way in MS--ten minutes in civilized chat with the clerk might produce surprising results---I have helped more than one Clerk start her own family tree! Over the years I have had many interesting experiences and have been rewarded with tips on lost records, help in finding data ---contacts with local people, etc. Many of these little towns now have librarians and they are often a source of information and influence--one got me permission to crawl up a 10 ft ladder into a storage attic to search for a file I wanted although the space was off limits to THE PUBLIC. The file was there too! The trick is to never let yourself get into a position where the clerk gives you a flat "NO"--The urge to out smart-talk rude clerks is sometimes overwhelming but keep your eye on the prize--copies of records is what you want ! and sweet-talk that clerk! Just remember the Judge whose office you march to with your copy of THE LAW in hand might well be a cousin of the clerk you just tongue-lashed! Learning the power structure among the living can sometimes be just as much fun as learning about the dead. Kate From: Eugenia <genaerber@usa.net> To: <MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 1:09 PM Subject: Re: [Re: [Re: Mississippi Court Houses]] > > Linda, dear, you are a woman after my own heart! I don't know if the > laws governing public records are the same from state to state, but I > am going to get a copy of the law from the MISSISSIPPI CODE, and learn > exactly what it says, then I shall have "LAW, WILL TRAVEL." > > Eugenia > > > > > > "Linda C Kennedy" <lckennedy@c-gate.net> wrote: > Eugenia, > I understand that these old records will deteriorate; but I do not > understand why some public officials will not allow the use of digital > cameras. What is the problem?) > > Something else: What are public records? I ask a rude Chancery Clerk that > question one time and was told, "Why, they are public records. It is my > responsibility to keep these records for public use." I then informed her > that "her public" was there and if she did not let me look at the "public > records" I was fixing to march upstairs and ask the Judge where the public > records were being kept. > > Linda > To: Linda C Kennedy <lckennedy@c-gate.net> > > > > Date: Thursday, February 01, 2001 4:58 PM > Subject: Re: [Re: Mississippi Court Houses] > > > >Linda, I am butting in on your conversation, but couldn't help laughing. > >The public officials who are uncaring and down right rude is the rule > >rather than the exception. > > > >However, I can take them being rude. I'm quite used to that, but when > >a genealogist can't get copies of the documentation of their family > >history, that's a horse of a different color! > > > >Wouldn't it be nice that these government and county agencies who just > >love to waste our tax dollars on frivilous things would invest in having > >a camera or other alternate method of providing copies of these old > >records. That way, they could kill two birds with one stone. > > > >Eugenia > > > > > > > > > > > > > >"Linda C Kennedy" <lckennedy@c-gate.net> wrote: > >Bobbye from time to time I have also runned into public officials who > >notonly refuse to help me but are also down right rude. I found that a > very > >nice, polite letter to the editor of the county's/city's local newspaper > >ususally does the job. > >Linda > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Bobbye Davis <bobbye@microsped.com> > >To: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com <MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com> > >Date: Thursday, February 01, 2001 10:17 AM > >Subject: Mississippi Court Houses > > > > > >>In doing my research of my home state of Ms. where I also reside I too > have > >>encountered the same problems. > >>In Neshoba county the circuit clerk Patty Duncan Lee absolutely refuses to > >>let you take pictures or copy the marriage license of Neshoba. > >>the same goes for Sunflower Co. > >>On the other hand when I go home to Bolivar Co. the clerk is very cordial > >>and says no matter how old and even if they are hand sewn we can copy > them. > >>I applauded her. > >>Leflore County is always nice to and never charge me. I don't believe I > >>have paid any thing in Bolivar either. > >>I requested divorce records on my grand father and first wife and also on > >>his oldest son and first wife. Lauderdale Co. copies them and mailed them > >to > >>me right away. I sent a check back to cover the cost. > >>I think the Clerks that refuse to help us need to be voted out of office. > >>How else will we get our records together if they don't understand > >>Genealogy? > >>I did write another county asking for copies of the marriage license and > >>this county does not copy but turned it over to a researcher with out my > >>consent and she copied and sent me a bill. > >> > >> > >>==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== > >>Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi > >>where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the mouse. > >> > >>============================== > >>Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > >>Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > >>http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com > > > > > >==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== > >Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi > >where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the mouse. > > > >============================== > >Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > >your heritage! > >http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog > > > > > >____________________________________________________________________ > >Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 > > > ____________________________________________________________________ > Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 > > > ==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== > Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi > where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the mouse. > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > ==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the mouse. ============================== Search more than 150 million free records at RootsWeb! http://searches.rootsweb.com/ ______________________________________________ FREE Personalized Email at Mail.com Sign up at http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup