Back in high school, when students were distracted by weekend plans, football games, and the who's smoochin' who scenarios, teachers had a hard time holding our attention. But, whenever Mr. Martin [Latin 1-4] began with, "A word to the wise..." I perked up and took note. So, here's "a word to the wise" about Brooklyn research, specifically vitals = BMDs = Births, Marriages, Deaths. IGG [Italilan] and GGG [German] genealogical volunteers co-transcribed handwritten BMD records into the wonderful indexes that we access free online today. Sure, an occasional person falls through the gaps, hopefully not the subway gaps the MTA PA system reminds us about. The number of folks who told me they can't track ancestors in Brooklyn is immeasurable. So, after you try a standard search, without results, just go to the IGG section (top left drop-down) titled "Early Kings and Queens records." These "Early" Kings/Brooklyn/Queens BMDs are on *separate films* at the NYC Municipal Archives. By "separate" I mean these films are not the same films that a standard search will not bring forth, NOT via IGG or GGG or Stevemorse.org, no way, no how. So, if your're diving into Brooklyn BMDs, and keep surfacing empty-handed, try these early links. DEATHS: http://italiangen.org/records-search/deaths_early_town.php BIRTHS: http://italiangen.org/records-search/births_early_town.php MARRIAGES: http://italiangen.org/records-search/marriages_early_town.php Barb MizScarlettNY@aol.com