ABERCROMBIE-L Archives

From: "LDPierce" <>
Subject: [ABERCROMBIE-L] posting an effective query reprinted from ancestory daily news Nov 4 1999
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 21:16:54 -0600

I thought this was great and it should help us all post more effective
queries
hope that is is not off topic or considered offensive by some!!

"POSTING AN EFFECTIVE QUERY"
by Juliana Smith
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Posts to message boards, mailing lists, and newsgroups are great ways to
connect with researchers with similar interests, to seek information, or to
locate long lost cousins. But getting results requires more than just a
little luck. It takes a well though out query to get results. Below are
some tips for writing an effective query that will increase your chances
for success.

~ Make sure you are addressing your query to the appropriate forum.
Familiarize yourself with what is available and then decide where you will
most likely find the answers you seek. There are forums for just about any
question you might have. For example, FamilyHistory.com
(http://www.familyhistory.com) currently hosts over 79,000 message boards
on a variety of topics. There are boards for specific surnames, geographic
locations, and specialty topics, such as "Naturalization Records," "Mexican
Revolution," "Emigration Patterns," "Icelanders in Dakota," or "Cherokee
Nation." If a message board currently does not exist for your area of
research, it is very simple to start one. Just go to the appropriate
section (surname, country/state, or topic) and click "Request a Forum."

~ Make sure that the subject line is concise and reflects the information
you are seeking. "Need genealogy help" is not as likely to get results as a
specific subject heading. If the inquiry is about an individual or family,
be sure to include the surname (in caps). Other helpful information that
can be included might be a date or time frame, location, or other
identifying information. A commonly accepted format might be something
like:
PUBLIC, John Q. 1887-1934 IRL>NYC>OHIO
Be creative and make your query stand out to the people that have the
information you need.

~ Get to the point. Most people don't want to take the time to read a long
drawn out query. The first paragraph should contain the "Who, What, Where,
and When" of your request. Details can be filled in after you have gotten
the attention of your targeted audience.

~ Include only one request in your post. Too many requests may decrease
your chances for a response. Other inquiries can be posted separately.

~ Include places you have already checked for the information. Otherwise
you may be wasting other people's time, as well as your own, as you will
have half a dozen replies telling you to search the obvious places that you
have already checked.

~ Capitalize SURNAMES so that they are easy to pick out of the post and
subject lines. (You shouldn't capitalize an entire message as it makes it
more difficult to read and some people consider it the online equivalent of
shouting.)

~ Be careful with abbreviations in your query. Remember that many forums
have members from all parts of the world and others may not be familiar
with the same abbreviations that we use. So spell it out whenever possible.
This will eliminate the possibility for misinterpretation.

~ Familiarize yourself with online resources so that you don't post
unnecessary requests. If you are looking for a geographic location, try
some of the online maps that are available to locate an ancestor's town.

Some popular map sites are:

Lycos RoadMaps
http://www.lycos.com/roadmap.html

MapQuest
http://www.mapquest.com/

USGS County/Location Finder
http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html

Pam Rietsch's 1895 U.S. Atlas
http://www.livgenmi.com/1895.htm

Online directories can help find addresses:

WhoWhere?
http://www.whowhere.lycos.com/

Juliana's Links at:
http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/testurllinks/search.asp
has links to libraries, genealogical societies, historical societies and
other research facilities and services. Visit an organization or facility's
webpage to find hours, addresses, etc.

Search engines are also very helpful in locating information, rather than
requesting it from your genealogical forum.

Lycos.com
http://www.lycos.com/

~ When posting to a mailing list, check your e-mail settings. Make sure you
are only sending plain text to mailing lists. Others may not have the
capability to read HTML coded messages and you want your message to be
received and readable by as many people as possible.

~ Do not send your query as an attachment. Many viruses are transmitted as
attachments and as a result, most people wisely refrain from opening
attachments on email from people they don't know.

~ Sign your post with your name and e-mail address. Some e-mail readers
don't show the address that an e-mail is received from and a recipient with
the information you are looking for can't respond to you if they don't have
your e-mail address.

~ Re-read your post carefully before you send it. Check for typos. Did you
include all the necessary information? (Remember the 4 W's: Who, What,
Where, When) Are all of your facts correct? Have you signed it properly?

~ Make sure your post is neat, and polite. Manners count online too.

~ Be careful of what information you post online, particularly when
referring to living persons. Be sure to respect people's privacy and keep
yourself and your family safe from those who might use information found
online for fraudulent purposes.

~ If you find information worth sharing, post it to the appropriate list
and share the source of the information so that others may benefit from
your "finds." As you help others, they will be more eager to help you in
return.

~ Always be polite on the lists and refrain from flaming. No one wants to
help someone who is constantly complaining or mean to others.

~ Keep a log of your e-mail messages so you know what requests you have
already put out and when. For more information, read "Citing the Messages"
by Drew Smith at: http://www.ancestry.com/home/bestofgc/citing.htm
(Genealogical Computing, Spring 1998, Vol. 17, No. 4)

By using common sense and following simple guidelines, you can benefit
greatly from genealogical forums. They are a great place to make friends,
find relatives, and information.

Some other related articles:

"Surnames Via the Internet" by Drew Smith
(Genealogical Computing, Spring 1997, Vol. 17, No. 1)
http://www.ancestry.com/home/bestofgc/surnames.ht

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• [ABERCROMBIE-L] posting an effective query reprinted from ancestory daily news Nov 4 1999 by "LDPierce" <>