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Archiver > BROWN > 1998-10 > 0907274442


From: "Michael L. Wayne" <>
Subject: [BROWN-L] TIPS FOR POSTING AN EFFECTIVE QUERY
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 16:40:42 -0400


Rec'd this from another list courtesy ancestor.com. Thought it was
worth sharing.
Michael

MAILING LISTS: TIPS FOR POSTING AN EFFECTIVE QUERY
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Mailing Lists are a great way to connect with researchers with similar
interests or 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 list.
Familiarize yourself with the lists that are available and then decide
which
list is most likely to be able to provide the answers that you seek. You
can
choose from Surname Lists, Regional or Ethnic Lists, or Special Interest
Lists (such as Immigrants, Ships, or Research How-To). There are several
sites where you can find what lists are available:
John Fuller's Genealogy Resources on the Internet
<http://users.aol.com/johnf14246/gen_mail.html>http://users.aol.com/johnf14
246/gen_mail.html
Rootsweb Mailing Lists
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~maillist>http://www.rootsweb.com/~maillist/
Cyndi's List: Mailing Lists & Newsgroups
<http://www.cyndislist.com/mailnews.htm>http://www.CyndisList.com/mailnews.h
tm
Larry Stephens' Mail Lists
<http://php.indiana.edu/~stephenl/genealog.htm>http://php.indiana.edu/~step
henl/genealog.htm

~ Make sure that the subject line is concise and reflects the
information
you are seeking. Many people are on several mailing lists and due the
amount
of mail they receive, they only have time to scan subject lines. "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 info 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 listmembers' 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. Let people know that these are the avenues that
you
have tried, and you are looking for an alternate route.

~ 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
mailing
lists 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:

MapQuest
<http://www.mapquest.com/>http://www.mapquest.com/
USGS County/Location Finder
<http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html>http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www
/gnis/gnisform.html
Pam Rietsch's 1895 U.S. Atlas
<http://www.livgenmi.com/1895.htm>http://www.livgenmi.com/1895.htm
Online directories can help find addresses:
Switchboard
<http://www.switchboard.com/>http://www.switchboard.com/
InfoSpace
<http://www.infospace.com/>http://www.infospace.com/
Juliana's Links at:
<http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/testurllinks/search.asp>http://www.ancest
ry.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
Web page to find hours, addresses, etc.

~ Check your email 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
listmembers 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 email address. Some Email readers
don't
show the address that an email is received from and a recipient with the
information you are looking for can't respond to you if they don't have
your
email address.

~ Reread 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 peoples 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 email 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>http://www.ancestry.com/h
ome/bestofgc/citing.htm
(Genealogical Computing, Spring 1998, Vol. 17, No. 4)
By using common sense and following simple guidelines, you can benefit
greatly from mailing lists. They are a great place to make friends, find
relatives, and information.

Some other helpful mailing list related articles:
"Managing the Flood of Email" by Mark Howells
(Genealogical Computing, Winter 1998, Vol. 17, No. 3)
<http://www.ancestry.com/home/bestofgc/email.htm>http://www.ancestry.com/ho
me/bestofgc/email.htm
"Surnames Via the Internet" by Drew Smith
(Genealogical Computing, Spring 1997, Vol. 17, No. 1)
<http://www.ancestry.com/home/bestofgc/surnames.htm>http://www.ancestry.com
/home/bestofgc/surnames.htm
More information about mailing lists in print form:
"Netting Your Ancestors" by Cyndi Howells
<http://shop.ancestry.com/ancestry/netyouran.html>http://shop.ancestry.com/
ancestry/netyouran.html
"Searching for Cyber-Roots" by Laurie and Steve Bonner
<http://shop.ancestry.com/ancestry/searforcybro.html>http://shop.ancestry.c
om/ancestry/searforcybro.html

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