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Archiver > APG > 2008-03 > 1205011807


From: Katherine Flynn <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Top three genealogical regrets
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008 13:30:07 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <s7d29751.057@Merlin.Colorado.EDU>


Dear Mark,

The number one regret I have has nothing to do with records or research citations and such. When I first started to do family history in 1992 I regret that I did not aggressively personally tape/interview everyone of a certain age starting with the oldest/sickest and working down. It haunts me what has been lost. I DID wake up to this mistake in 1994 and commenced on this. Thank God I did. There are things on those videotapes and in my notes that can never be found in any record no matter how many footnote.com or Google scan in. That information was in one place only - someone's mind.

It is all too easy to be seduced by the records and building family group sheets especially today. It is too easy to think you will get around to interviews. And then someone dies.

I tell beginners Ancestry and Footnote and Newspaper Archives will still be there in a month or next year - but great Aunt Gertrude may not be there next week.

Wishing everyone the best from snowy (FIFTEEN INCHES!) Loveland, Ohio,
Kathy Flynn, CG

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