For the new folks out there, that just got computers for Christmas and are joining us in your genealogy research, I would like to give you some hints on posting a query. You oldies out there may benefit from reading this also. Good luck to all you newbies and all you "oldies", be patient. We all have to start somewhere. Jackie Posts to message boards, mailing lists, and newsgroups are great ways to connect with researchers with similar interests, to seek information, or to locate long lost cousins. But getting results requires more than just a little luck. It takes a well though out query to get results. Below are some tips for writing an effective query that will increase your chances for success. - Make sure you are addressing your query to the appropriate forum. Familiarize yourself with what is available and then decide where you will most likely find the answers you seek. There are forums for just about any question you might have. For example, FamilyHistory.com (http://www.familyhistory.com) currently hosts over 79,000 message boards on a variety of topics. There are boards for specific surnames, geographic locations, and specialty topics, such as "Naturalization Records," "Mexican Revolution," "Emigration Patterns," "Icelanders in Dakota," or "Cherokee Nation." If a message board currently does not exist for your area of research, it is very simple to start one. Just go to the appropriate section (surname, country/state, or topic) and click "Request a Forum." - Make sure that the subject line is concise and reflects the information you are seeking. "Need genealogy help" is not as likely to get results as a specific subject heading. If the inquiry is about an individual or family, be sure to include the surname (in caps). Other helpful information that can be included might be a date or time frame, location, or other identifying information. A commonly accepted format might be something like: PUBLIC, John Q. 1887-1934 IRL>NYC>OHIO Be creative and make your query stand out to the people that have the information you need. - Get to the point. Most people don't want to take the time to read a long drawn out query. The first paragraph should contain the "Who, What, Where, and When" of your request. Details can be filled in after you have gotten the attention of your targeted audience. - Include only one request in your post. Too many requests may decrease your chances for a response. Other inquiries can be posted separately. - Include places you have already checked for the information. Otherwise you may be wasting other people's time, as well as your own, as you will have half a dozen replies telling you to search the obvious places that you have already checked. - Capitalize SURNAMES so that they are easy to pick out of the post and subject lines. (You shouldn't capitalize an entire message as it makes it more difficult to read and some people consider it the online equivalent of shouting.) - Be careful with abbreviations in your query. Remember that many forums have members from all parts of the world and others may not be familiar with the same abbreviations that we use. So spell it out whenever possible. This will eliminate the possibility for misinterpretation. - Familiarize yourself with online resources so that you don't post unnecessary requests. If you are looking for a geographic location, try some of the online maps that are available to locate an ancestor's town. Some popular map sites are: Lycos RoadMaps http://www.lycos.com/roadmap.html MapQuest http://www.mapquest.com/ USGS County/Location Finder http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html Pam Rietsch's 1895 U.S. Atlas http://www.livgenmi.com/1895.htm Online directories can help find addresses: WhoWhere? http://www.whowhere.lycos.com/ Search engines are also very helpful in locating information, rather than requesting it from your genealogical forum. Lycos.com http://www.lycos.com/ - When posting to a mailing list, check your e-mail settings. Make sure you are only sending plain text to mailing lists. Others may not have the capability to read HTML coded messages and you want your message to be received and readable by as many people as possible. - Do not send your query as an attachment. Many viruses are transmitted as attachments and as a result, most people wisely refrain from opening attachments on email from people they don't know. - Sign your post with your name and e-mail address. Some e-mail readers don't show the address that an e-mail is received from and a recipient with the information you are looking for can't respond to you if they don't have your e-mail address. - Re-read your post carefully before you send it. Check for typos. Did you include all the necessary information? (Remember the 4 W's: Who, What, Where, When) Are all of your facts correct? Have you signed it properly? - Make sure your post is neat, and polite. Manners count online too. - Be careful of what information you post online, particularly when referring to living persons. Be sure to respect people's privacy and keep yourself and your family safe from those who might use information found online for fraudulent purposes. - If you find information worth sharing, post it to the appropriate list and share the source of the information so that others may benefit from your "finds." As you help others, they will be more eager to help you in return. - Always be polite on the lists and refrain from flaming. No one wants to help someone who is constantly complaining or mean to others. - Keep a log of your e-mail messages so you know what requests you have already put out and when. By using common sense and following simple guidelines, you can benefit greatly from genealogical forums. They are a great place to make friends, find relatives, and information. -- *"At the birth of the Sun, and his brother the Moon, their Mother died. So the Sun gave to the earth her body from which was to spring all life, And he drew forth from her breast the stars and he threw them into the night sky to remind him of her soul."* *tsisa udenv gohi iga!* *(MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!)* *Owner/Breeder **Tanimara Great Pyrenees* <http://www.geocities.com/tanimara_2000/> *CC: **Ripley Co MO GenWeb* <http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Emoripley/> *CC: **Harringtongen* <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harringtongen/>* - a genealogy site for Harringtons and collateral lines.*