Hi List, I am writing today in regards to the post listed below. I do not understand the reasoning behind not wanting to list Professional Reseachers from Dade County to aide out of town researchers in Dade County. Are they saying that there just isn't any professional researchers available or they do not want the competition. If the Genealogical Society does Look-ups for only those records that they have in the library, then there must be someone available to do the others, ie., the courthouse research, the cemetery visits to take photos and stone rubbings, etc. This would only be a plus to all, especially since it takes so long to get a response from the society. You know, as an added bonus, and to please the society and list, perhaps copies of what is found by these professional researchers with the permission of the researcher that requested the look-up, could be given to the society and also posted to the on-line Dade County site as part of a cooperative resource/source building project. For that matter, also, whenever one of us makes a visit to Dade County and we see something that we think could photo or gather info to share, maybe we should also try to do that as well and contribute it to the site. The one thing that I dislike about genealogy today, is the big business aspect of it. You can't research anymore with first paying somone for the right to. Bev Clark Don & Nancy Beck wrote: > The "Look Ups" by the Genealogical Society are only for records that have > been published in books that they own or those that in the local library. > They do not do "court house research" and they evidently do not have a > professional researchers listed with the society. I have already asked. > > I requested a listing of Professional Researchers from Dade County be posted > to this list and was told it would not be done, as the Genealogy Society of > Dade Co, did look ups . So it would be unnecessary. Most of the State and > County Lists I am on, do post lists of Professional Researchers in their > areas. > > I live in Brownsville, Texas but will be going to Dade County sometime in > mid June on our way back from my husbands High School Reunion in Illinois. > I plan to go to the Dade County Court House for research in Probate files. > I am not familiar with Dade County, Missouri so do not know what I will be > in for when I get there. If I can be of help I will try. If I am not > overwhelmed . > > Nancy Dicus Beck > > ==== MODADE Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe send a msg. to > MODADE-L(or -D)[email protected] > unsubscribe in the msg. area, turn off your signature, > if possible. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hi all, This is in response to those who would like to see a 'list of professionals' who are willing to do research. Although I fully understand the frustration of those of us who are not able to research on site in Dade County [believe me, I am in the same boat, as I live in southern California], I can definitely understand the reason for not posting a 'list' of those willing to do research for a charge. As strange or even ridiculous as it may seem, this is a form of 'advertising', because such a listing would be for the purpose of 'selling' ones' services. Every list, to which I subscribe, does not allow for any messages that request a fee for services [or a product], which leads me to believe that it might possibly be one of the conditions of maintaining a list. I have been on the board of a genealogical society for the past 6 1/2 years, and president for the past 2 years. Our society has always maintained a policy of no advertisements, because there is no way to guarantee the services and/or products of anyone or any business. Once you start publishing lists or offering advertising in publications, there is no way to be selective as to who can or cannot be on the list, or who can or cannot advertise. You have to open it up for all. This can really open up a can of worms. It is my understanding that the National Genealogical Society (NGS) has, or had, a list, which is composed of individuals who have credentials. I don't know if the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) ever maintained such a list. Both of these are national 'umbrella' organizations to which most U.S. societies have memberships. The Family History Library use to maintain a list of accredited researchers, but it is my understanding that they no longer keep one, and they apparently no longer have their own accreditation program. Although, a couple of local societies, with which I am a member, have a research group of volunteers, who look up information, in both cases, it is only from indexed sources, and only from sources which are located in the facility, where they are located. For this service, both societies charges a fee. Because it is an offering of the societies, they will stand behind their own research. I certainly cannot speak for all societies, but many societies, such as these, do the same. I'm certain that they will also agree, that it is extremely difficult to please everyone. When it comes to individuals who research for a fee, please understand that many societies take exactly the same stand. They cannot or will not endorse anyone. No matter how many satisified people there are, there will always be one, or possibly a few, individuals who will not be, and they can cause lots of headaches and ill will. Even with caveats, which many people fail to read, or claim that they never saw, there will be individuals who feel that societies or list-owners who produce such 'lists' are endorsing the services of these people. No list-owner, or society can guarantee the services of these individuals. If you really think about it, each one of us probably has a difference of opinion of what exactly is a 'professional genealogist'. It this someone who is accredited and has the initials following their name, or is this someone who has researched for 20, 30 or 40 years, but is not accredited? Is it someone who has researched for only a few years, but is equally qualified? This is really a 'buyers' beware' situation. The Dade County Genealogical Society, as with most societies, publishes a quarterly journal or newsletter. Most societies allow members to post queries for free, and non-members for a small fee. As a possible solution for this is problem, it would certainly be worth posting a query in the society quarterly, or on a website for that particular county. That way, researchers can contact you, and you can decide who might be the most qualified to handle your particular research problem. Also, you might want to check for copies of the "Genealogical Helper", published by Everton Publishing Co., in Utah. I believe that it is still published 6 times a year. Each issue is filled with 'paid' advertisements by individuals who are willing to do research for a fee, and those people who are seeking answers to their research problems. Once a year, I believe it is in a spring or summer issue, there is a listing of people willing to do research. There are also other magazines such as "Family Chronicle", in which societies, businesses or individuals advertise a research service for a fee. Before you hire someone to research in the county courthouse where your ancestor lived, you might find out if there is a Family History Center in your area, or near by. Many, many land, civil court, probate, and vital records and their indexes have been microfilmed by the LDS Church. They can be ordered on temporary or indifinite loan, to your local Family History Center for a relatively small charge, far less than what it would cost to hire a researcher. Unfortunately, not all areas have a FHC. You can check the Family History Library website at: http://www.familysearch.org for a center nearest you and for the Family History Library Catalog. Keep in mind that the individual county is not the only possible source for information about your family. The state archives and libraries have lots of untapped resources, especially the manuscript files. Each state library should have a list of all of the newspapers that are on microform, microfiche or microfilm, for every county. Most of these can be ordered through inter-library loan, through your public (regional) library. Also remember, if you want someone to research in the MO State Archives and Library, you certainly do not want to hire a researcher in Dade County, as you will be paying for traveling time and expense. Please remember to ask no more than one question per request. Be concise, but be specific. Please do not expect a researcher or research team to look up everything on your family. They just won't do it. Also, indicate which sources you have already checked. You certainly do not want to pay for someone to check & photocopy a source which you already have. Although I cannot guarantee that the success will be the same for everyone, I, personally, have had really great success in my own research, for very little money, by posting queries in society quarterlies, on county websites, and hiring a couple of people through the "Genealogical Helper". I have hired people to obtain information on tax records, photograph headstones, obtain obituaries, and probate records. And, I have had lots of help and have received a lot of information from individuals on 'lists', such as this. I hope that I have been of some help. Happy researching, Sharon Ford Van Nuys, CA In response to message from Bev Clark... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Clark" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 7:07 AM Subject: Re: [MODADE] Researcher Needed > Hi List, > > I am writing today in regards to the post listed below. I do not understand the > reasoning behind not wanting to list Professional Reseachers from Dade County to > aide out of town researchers in Dade County.