WRG: I heartily agree with Allan Green about certain aspects of Ancestry.com. However, they do have certain assets which prove invaluable. In fact, the National Archives has Ancestry.com available on line to anyone searching the census records. The AIS census index allows one to access census records in minutes, where it took forever at one time. One can plan well in advance a trip to the Archives using the census index and military pension files indexes. The amount of information one can now collect in one trip is multiplied greatly because one can plan so well ahead using these databases. While I use Ancestry.com for their records databases, I avoid those areas that Allan has outlined. Therefore, I feel I get my money's worth at a small expense to my ethics. As to a Southern Whitney reunion at some point, may I suggest Washington, D.C.? It is served by two international and one domestic airport, and has some of the best genealogical research facilities anywhere. Located here are the National Archives, Library of Congress, Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Library, and the Smithsonian Institution. All are open to the public, and with a little coaching, easily used. The library catalogues for the D.A.R. and L.O.C. are available online, so one can plan in advance. As a bonus, the week between Christmas and New Years Day is a great bargain. The city is almost empty. No tourists, no lobbyists, and no politicians. The hotels do everything possible to attract business, because no one is using their facilities. Some of the best tours of the area attractions are available then, because the tourist crowd is so small. You get to see a lot more than in tourist season. Just a thought for future consideration. Ken Whitney, Silver Spring, MD