Note that I have changed the subject of this topic so that those that are not interested can skip these messages. Mary Lee Davis Marchi wrote: > Linda, > We would love to have a copy of your hard work. Several people have > donated their family CD files, so we have started a collection of these > CD's. > I applaud your efforts here, but I hope you are aware of the many. many pitfalls in storing genealogy data in this manner. I think if you knew the facts and took your role seriously in the preservation of these records, you would have a different approach. CD as physical medium to store data seems to have a fairly long life, though we don't know how long yet. DVD now is now pretty much the standard, and there is a new format coming out Real Soon Now. If history talks, the new formats will replace the old and we won't be able to read the old. Does eight-track tape bring back any memories? How about wire recorders? Edison cylinders? Piano rolls? Each of those technologies was invented and died completely within about 2 generations or so. Genealogy data that is readable for only two generations is pretty useless. Then there is the format of the data itself. It's great you've got a backup copy of a genealogy database done in FTM Version 8 or whatever. But I use Legacy Version 5, and the next researcher might use Reunion Version 3 or whatever. So we can't use that data. And in one hundred years FTM Version 113.5 might not be able to read that data either. Genealogy data in any proprietary format is useless other than as a backup. OK, so it should be in a non-propietary format, like GEDCOM. Gedcom isn't bad, but it's very limited. And, quite flawed. It does have the advantage of being "open" and well documented so it will probably [does an honest historical society rely on "probably"?] be readable for a few years. GEDCOM is not the answer, though I admit LDS has been scraping by for a long time on it. But I doubt they'll be able to go another generation. The answer? Print everything you get, and put it in file cabinets. Use archival-quality paper, and archival-quality ink or toner. But you already know that. Just my thoughts. -- Marty Cassidy Seattle, WA USA

Good point Marty. I might add, as we accept CD's for our Family Section we have started asking the donor if they mind if we print off a hard copy as time allows. Believe it or not, we have quite a few people who do not own a computer , so we try to accommodate them also. Even people who have computers enjoy looking at hard copies. I have all of my FTM printed out and I also store it on CD. It takes over a ream of paper and an ink cartridge to print off my information, and I am sure there are people who have much more information than I. I guess what I am getting at is ---- We will take anything and any form someone might offer, and then try to make it available to our researchers in several formats. We even have a volunteer who takes old Mac floppy disks and converts them. Mary Lee Davis Marchi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Cassidy" <cassidym@earthlink.net> To: <OHGALLIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 10:20 PM Subject: Re: [OHGALLIA-L] CD Family records > Note that I have changed the subject of this topic so that those that are > not interested can skip these messages. > > Mary Lee Davis Marchi wrote: >> Linda, >> We would love to have a copy of your hard work. Several people have >> donated their family CD files, so we have started a collection of these >> CD's. >> > > I applaud your efforts here, but I hope you are aware of the many. many > pitfalls in storing genealogy data in this manner. I think if you knew > the facts and took your role seriously in the preservation of these > records, you would have a different approach. > > CD as physical medium to store data seems to have a fairly long life, > though we don't know how long yet. > > DVD now is now pretty much the standard, and there is a new format coming > out Real Soon Now. If history talks, the new formats will replace the old > and we won't be able to read the old. Does eight-track tape bring back > any memories? How about wire recorders? Edison cylinders? Piano rolls? > Each of those technologies was invented and died completely within about 2 > generations or so. > > Genealogy data that is readable for only two generations is pretty > useless. > > Then there is the format of the data itself. It's great you've got a > backup copy of a genealogy database done in FTM Version 8 or whatever. But > I use Legacy Version 5, and the next researcher might use Reunion Version > 3 or whatever. So we can't use that data. And in one hundred years FTM > Version 113.5 might not be able to read that data either. > > Genealogy data in any proprietary format is useless other than as a > backup. > > OK, so it should be in a non-propietary format, like GEDCOM. Gedcom isn't > bad, but it's very limited. And, quite flawed. It does have the > advantage of being "open" and well documented so it will probably [does an > honest historical society rely on "probably"?] be readable for a few > years. > > GEDCOM is not the answer, though I admit LDS has been scraping by for a > long time on it. But I doubt they'll be able to go another generation. > > The answer? Print everything you get, and put it in file cabinets. Use > archival-quality paper, and archival-quality ink or toner. But you > already know that. > > Just my thoughts. > > -- > Marty Cassidy > Seattle, WA USA > > > ==== OHGALLIA Mailing List ==== > Check the address you are replying to before sending your message. > >

> I applaud your efforts here, but I hope you are aware of the many. many > pitfalls in storing genealogy data in this manner. I think if you knew > the facts and took your role seriously in the preservation of these > records, you would have a different approach. For years I kept all my documents in a safety deposit box at the bank, but as everyone can imagine when you've accumulated a certain amount they just won't fit in those boxes any longer. :-) Of course I have the originals and/or copies of originals stored for safe keeping in my home, but I always worry about a fire at home when I'm away. Storing the documents on CD and keeping them in various locations (i.e. the historical society, with family, in a bank vault, etc.) guarantees that should I not be able to get to my records and save them, that they are at least safe in various locations. I'm not intending for these to be long lasting, however, I do want to be able to guard against disaster to the best of my ability. I try to keep up with technology, but my computer doesn't have DVD capabilities, so I use what I have. I didn't offer the idea as a long term solution to storage, but as a means of saving something for many years to guard against a disaster at home, not just fire, but flood, tornado, theft, etc. I think that whatever a genealogist can do to preserve their hard work and prevent having to reinvest literally thousands of dollars in retracing their steps, and/or paying researchers, to refind the documents is well worth the time and effort involved. BTW, I am also scanning photographs and putting them on CD as well. Some of my most prized possessions are family photographs too large to store anywhere and are mounted in large old frames. Now, back to regularly scheduled programming :-) Linda Tope Trent lindatrent@zoomnet.net