this one made me smile. you are a true southern sister!!! dusty -----Original Message----- From: lucygilbert <lucygilbert@email.msn.com> To: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com <MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, February 02, 2001 7:19 PM 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/ >