Dana, You're welcome - that's why all of us are here. Okay - the "genealogy groups" are really genealogy record sites that your asking about. Ancestry and Genealogy.com are the same company. Yes, they charge for annual subscriptions depending on what you want access to. Like all the websites (charging and free) they are always updating records. Many people subscribe to Ancestry.com because it is convenient. The census records are all online there ; they do list source info and you can view the actual pages.They have lots of other categories as well but the sources you have to watch because some are from other researchers (like us) and list no source just as we have discussed. Having said that - Latter Day does have the 1880 census online (free). I also know that many of the genealogy software that we purchase comes with free CD's of records i.e Family Tree. The same type info that are on these CD's are used on the Ancestry website (which they charge for)and as always we as researchers have to decide the validity of the fact found. Some of us researching are in a period of time (middle 1700's to late 1800) and these type of records are not online as yet. But people are working on it all the time. The records for this time frame will usually takes a cousin volunteer going to the courthouse in the area and coming back and sharing with us on the list. Which is another reason we (PRA) chose Earlham College for the Pennington Archives. Every once in awhile, Ancestry.com has a free two week period and opens their data bases to everyone. I watch for that and use it when they offer. But, reality sneaks in and bottom line - I can't afford it right now. So, I prioritize a list and wait for the free-use at ancestry. Many of us are budget hampered. So, again I set a priority on a family link that I am in doubt of and order the record I need to prove the line. Needless to say - my list is very long but everytime I scratch one off as completed, I really feel like I am making progress. So, my humble advise, Watch for the free two-week trial and try it out and make your own decision. When I know of the free trial, I try to post the news on the list so people can take advantage. My loves currently are - history, genealogy, and the judicial system. The digging I can't do now-a-days. Well, gang, sorry this reply is so 'windy' but the questions are loaded. Have a nice evening. Rene'e Davis ARD, Family Groups PRA - Group 9 Pennington Research Association, Inc. www.penningtonresearch.org ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 6:10 PM Subject: Re: lds > Thanks so much for all the LDS info and the words of encouragement in your > other emails. I will definitely write down what I find on the LDS site before I > trek down to the library. That's great advice! Do they actually have old > documents on file, too? That would be sweet. > > As for genealogy sites that charge, I was thinking of sites like ancestry and > genealogy.com. It seems that they charge separately for access to each and > every little thing. If I had a money tree in my yard, that wouldn't be a prob. > Also, every time I want a document from a state gov archive, I have to dust off > the old checkbook, or else pay twice the amount to order online with a credit > card. I sure wish they would put that stuff on the net for a nominal fee. > $15-$30 for every document adds up after a while. I'll check rootsweb and > cindislist, too. Haven't been on either in quite a while. > > I've been an archaeology buff since I was a kid, too. That and astronomy. Am > a total sci-fi geek. Even worked conventions in CA when I was younger and the > Renaissance Faire! Can you believe it? > > Well, thanks again. Have a great rest of the week! > Dana > > In a message dated 7/7/2004 5:45:16 PM US Mountain Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > Yes, there is a LDS located in Mesa. The address is 41 S. Hobson, Phone > 480-964-1200, Open M and Sat 9-5; Tues - Fri 9-9. Take 60 to Mesa Dr. exit > left on Mesa Dr. to main St. Right on Main to Hobson (next stop light), > there's an Arby's on the corner. Take a right on Hobson and the Library is > next to Arby's. > A suggestion: Get organized. Stick to the archives first. You will save > a lot of time by going on online to www.familysearch.com and do a library > search. If your looking for census - do a search for the state. If your > looking for will/land, look for the state and county if you have it. If you > find something on film, write down the film #'s and take it with you. By > searching the state you will have a large list of everything that is > available on film.You can go directly to the film library and pull the films > and start looking for relatives. Many people go in there not prepared and > are blown away at the sources available, spend their time bouncing from one > wall to another and really accomplishing very little. Believe me, that was > my first time experience - I accomplished only that I loved it and nothing > more. Above all - stay focused on what you went after.It's easy to get side > tracked there is so much there. > As far as online sources for genealogy that are reliable - > www.rootsweb.com; www.cyndislist.com ;are starting to publish public records > online. Some cost, others don't. But this is something that you have to > check almost daily because they are adding things as we speak. > There is a big controversy that we as researchers should not have to > pay for public records unless of course we go to the court house for > something. By a genealogy group - you mean - can you give me a example? I > can't even think of one - so let me know, okay? > The PRA is not really a genealogy group but a one-name study and a not > for profit org. that's why your donations are deductible. All of our money > is put back into the education of our rather large Pennington family, and > the Pedigree publications. > Talk soon - hey, I envy you going on a dig. A couple of years ago I > visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in VA. and they were digging, I sure > wanted to get in the dirt with them. I have been interested in archaeology > since I was a pup. > Later.. > Rene'e Davis > ARD, Family Groups > PRA - Group 9 > Pennington Research Association, Inc. > www.penningtonresearch.org > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 9:07 AM > Subject: lds > > > ==== PRA Mailing List ==== > ==== PENNINGTON RESEARCH ASSOCIATION ==== > To sign up to use the archive features, go to --> http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ and follow the instructions. > Pennington Research Association Web Site > http://www.penningtonresearch.org > >