This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.jefferson/9177.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Not every NYS census year still exists for every county. Here is a site with a chart that explains which are available on microfilm: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/genealogy/nyscens.htm This microfilm is at the NYS library. To the best of my knowledge no one has transcribed and put on line for free or for fee any NY state census for any county but I could be wrong on that point. I believe the LDS also has copies. Go to www.familysearch.org for more info on LDS resources. Look up info on thier Family History Centers. There may well be one close to you and you can get the microfilm delivered to the center for a low shipping cost (last I knew it was less than $5). The resources of the LDS are freely available to all - you need not be a member of the church. Going to a family history center (FHC) is much like going to a (usually small) public library. Once the film arrives, they notify you and you use the FHC microfilm reader for your research. There is a time limit that they will keep the film but if no one else is requesting it you can extend the limit. The FHC usually do have evening and weekend hours but call first to confirm. I would encourage donations to them as you are able or willing to for the use of thier facilities. They are staffed with volunteers. The family history centers generally will have many resources other than microfilm. Note that I am replying to an email that had subject line 'Question about birth records blah blah blah'. Note that my subject line reflects the actual question asked. There is a long series of queries 'Question about birth records...' where various surnames of interest were mentioned but not in the subject line. These boards are searchable by subject line and the subject line gives other active members a quick summary of what is (or should be) in the message. To increase the odds of a good reply and possibility of getting replies well into the future, you should use a subject line that matches your query. As a rule, it is better to submit mulitple short queries rather than one long query that might mention several surname or other subjects. Hope this helps - Russ Sprague Kensington, Maryland I used to be from Kensington, MD until someone wrote back once and addressed me as 'Dr. Sprague'!