Hi List, Sorry if you have already seen this message on another list. I received this message from the president of our genealogy society and thought I would pass it along. It does explain what all those little numbers mean you see at the end of some obits. Sue macduff@citrus.infi.net -----Original Message----- From: Bob Bamford <essxbook@citrus.infi.net> To: FLCITRUS-L@rootsweb.com <FLCITRUS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 9:59 AM Subject: Genalogists attention ! >>Return-Path: <dwdole@fishnet.com> >>From: "David W. Dole" <dwdole@fishnet.com> >>To: <essxbook@citrus.infi.net> >>Subject: Genalogists attention ! >>Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 23:27:50 -0500 >>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >>X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 >> >>Citrus County Gene. Soc.: >> >>The following is submitted for distribution to your members, >>discussion at meetings and inclusion in your publications >>... something your members should be aware of - and, >>hopefully, spread the word. >> >>- - - - >>SOMETHING NEW ALL HISTORIANS AND GENEALOGISTS >>SHOULD KNOW OF AND HELP HAPPEN ! >> >>History researchers and genealogists of any ilk - Floridians, >>Americans, Canadians or elsewheres - should have both a passive >>and an active interest in the struggles of one octogenarian >>trying to help all genealogists, researchers and librarians >>everywhere SOLVE AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM: The "clipped" obituary! >> >>You know, that little bit of newsprint from somewhere in >>Wisconsin, sent to your mother by a cousin perhaps 20 years ago, >>which reads: "Susie Smith died at her lake home on Friday. >>Burial from Christ Church on Wednesday" And here you are today >>trying to use the information in your genealogical efforts. >> >>But you have no idea WHAT lake or WHERE in Wisconsin! Nor, for >>that matter, how many "Christ" churches there may be in the >>state! If you only had a clue . . . what's this? Down in the >>corner appears - in 4-point type so you almost missed it - some >>sort of a code - 15-characters long. >> >>Off you go to a reference librarian or a genealogist asking >>"What is it?" And the first one says, "Oh, that's the PGCS - >>Publishers Genealogical Coding Service. Here, look on their >>website at www.obituarycoding.com . Check the first seven >>characters of that code ... the Database on the Website tells >>you the name and location of the newspaper from which the obit >>was clipped! The last eight characters ARE the publication >>date!" >> >>Thus, with the addition of the PGCS code, "clipped" obituaries >>which are often almost worthless, now have real value and will >>live forever! Those who have them, will be able to learn their >>source location and publication date, easily and without charge! >> >>Now, isn't that worth knowing about and worth doing something >>about yourself - to help hurry it up? Even though PGCS has 6 >>local papers and 1 national paper, so far, using the coding ... >>YOUR HELP is NEEDED! Go to www.obituarycoding.com and >>register, identifying yourself and the newspaper to which you >>subscribe and it's editor. PGCS will send you a cover letter >>about PGCS and a letter from YOU to the paper's Editor (ready to >>sign and send) plus an explanatory page about the coding and an >>Application form for the paper to use in starting the coding! >>What could be simpler? >> >>And there's no cost to you - except perhaps for a few stamps, >>envelopes and copies. And the newspaper has but one, small, >>one-time charge for the license to their unique identity >>7-character code. Lets give this all the help we can. Talk it >>up with your fellow historians and genealogists and register. If >>enough of us do it, surely your paper will start using PGCS. But >>remember, WE DO NEED HELP WITH THIS! >>- - - - >> >>So, Floridians, I hope you can use the above to >>alert your members in your newsletter and on-line. >> >>Many thanks. >> >>P. S. A cross-link to www.obituarycoding.com will be most >>welcome. And reciprocated to your site when notified of it ! >> >>P. P.S. This Dole used to be a McDole (grandfather in Ottawa >>1840-1872), McDoel, McDoell (NH & VT 1719-1784), McDowell >>... and still looking for family north of Scotland's Solway >>Firth. >> >>Sincerely >>PGCS, Inc & David W. Dole >>8102 Highwood Dr Apt B125 >>Bloomington MN 55438-1046 >>Phone: (612) 830-9552 >>E-mail: dwdole@fishnet.com >>Internet: www.obituarycoding.com >> >> >Bob > >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ESSEX BOOKS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > "Home of the Essex Antiquarian" >Visit us and order on-line at: > http://www.essexbooks.com > >e-mail: essxbook@citrus.infi.net > > P.O. Box 811 Lecanto, FL 34460-0811 > Phone (CC) Orders: 8 AM - 3 PM - Mon-Fri > (352) 527-2270 Fax 24 hrs. >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >