Hi Paul and All, I would like to address the LDS records you mention. Records stored by the church are gathered in several ways and I understand that some of these records are in the process of being made available online. The Ancestral File is a compilation of records submitted to the church by anyone wishing to submit them. You do not have to be a member to have your material archived by the church in the Ancestral File. Some people submit their records, knowing that they will be preserved and available(free) to any one doing research. Information on any living members is not published, so you will find 'Living' listed where their info would appear. The International Genealogical Index (IGI) is material, from all over the world, that is collected in various ways including extraction and member submissions. There is a code listed on the microfiche, indicating the type of info in the records: B-birth, M-marriage, N-census, etc. There is also a column titled Batch/Film that can provide a clue as to the source of the info. If there is an M in that code (M703182) it indicates that the record is an extraction made by someone who has seen the original in a courthouse and not just information that a member has submitted. At one time, especially the 1930's, the WPA collected records in an effort to provide jobs/income for people devastated by the depression. This was a project of the federal government, not the church. Many of the cemetery collections were also part of this work. Copies of those records have been preserved in Salt Lake City to be used by anyone doing research. You may not find any of your family records there, and you may also find conflicting info, such as two marriage places. It is important to know where that info came from. In the case of my great grandparents, I found their marriage list as occurring in both KY and OH. I had been unable to locate that record, but since the OH record was an extraction of the original, I was able to locate the original and thus verify their marriage. As with all research, you need to take what you find in any extraction and use it, as a means of helping you, in your own research. Most people are not aware that there is also a card catalog available for the extensive library of the Salt Lake records. You can order copies of these, through your local FHC, and view them at your leisure. I hope this info is useful to some of you on the list. 'til later, Phyllis Morefield [email protected] ICQ # 3285456 Listowner: [email protected] [email protected]'til later, -----Original Message----- From: Paul Griffith <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 9:25 PM Subject: Re: [VAWISE-L] research >a chara, Sean >The only thing I could find was Jacob F Blair born 10/6/1835, Russell, >Virginia, father William Blair, mother Frances Compton. >I was really disappointed in the LDS resources. I have known a lot of >Mormons, even lived in Salt Lake City as did my grandparents for years. I >think the data base they have is what THEY have gathered on their little >trips around neighborhoods and so forth. They have my grandfather on my mom's >side, name date and place of birth but nothing else and it was obtained by an >LDS member, my great grandparents WERE NOT Mormons and I know my grandfather >didn't cotton to them either. >Anyway, let me get down off this soap box. If I can be of any more help, >after all of this ranting and raving, I'll be glad to assist. >slan >Paul >