Listers, I mailed a letter on March 27, 2001 to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Wilkes Barre, asking for specific searches (i.e., not "anything on John Smith etc."), enclosed a donation and indicated that I would understand completely any delay in responding. Didn't do any good. Received a form letter reply on April 1st with my original letter and check enclosed. The form letter basically said that due to volumne of requests, they don't do genealogical searches and referred me to the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society (WHGS). As a member myself of a small, old Catholic church in Md, (I think St. Mary's would probably be considered a large, old church)I am very sympathetic of their "plight" - lots of records that lots of people want to see and no staffing to accomplish same. All the same, it is very frustrating as a genealogist. A couple of thoughts/suggestions: 1st - I will see what, in fact, the WHGS has for St. Mary's - I would be amazed if they had baptismal etc records, but I'll try to find out when I'm there this coming Saturday. 2nd - I have just become aware that the NorthEastern Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (NEPAGS) has just published a 4 volume set containing all the cemetery records for this parish (its available for sale - the entire set or by volume - they are in volumes by alphbet, not by date) - I don't know if that work has been purchased by WHGS or not. I will try to find that out, too. 3rd - Sometimes, if you can stand the wait, you wait until the paster who put the moritorium on searches, is assigned to another parish and then you make your request again - and hope the new paster can find a way to accomodate your request - sort of like a new administration. 4th - If someone who is genealogically inclined is a member of that parish and has time to donate, perhaps they could speak to their paster about offering to do look-ups for a small donation to the parish (perhaps designate a specific use for the funds, like the homeless or something similar) - a win/win for the parish which would receive charitable contributions in the bargain. And that's my two cents worth! I'll let you know what I discover when I return next week. Regards, Ruth FOLEY RILEY Mt. Airy, MD Researching FOLEY/FOLLY, HOUILHAN/HOLLERHAN, KENNEDY __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/