CENSUS-CHAT-L Archives

Archiver > CENSUS-CHAT > 1999-10 > 0938917115


From: "The Goszka's" <>
Subject: [CENSUS-CHAT] what this list is for
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 22:18:35 -0400


Hi,

I don't want to offend anyone, or make this worse, but lets not blow this topic
out of proportion. When I subscribed to this list, I read the following:
CENSUS-CHAT. A mailing list, sponsored by the Census Project, for anyone who
wants to discuss the Census, provide tips for locating Census information, and
request Census lookups. You must be a subscriber to post to the list. To
subscribe send the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) as the only text in
the body of a message to (mail mode) or
(digest mode).

You will note it says <to discuss the Census, provide tips for locating Census
information, and request Census lookups.> Yes, look up requests are welcome.
I don't think any one here is saying not to request look ups (as many have said
if there were no look up requests, this would be a very slow list), just not to
expect a response every time you request a look up. I think the intent of at
least one earlier posting was that while look up requests are welcome, this is
not a list of people who are volunteering to run out and look up the requests
that come through. However, it is a group of people who if they have access to
a particular census, or have easy access to a library/research center, and have
some extra time, may be willing to do a look up. I have requested look ups and
have gotten responses on some of them, and none on others.

Also, if you are going to request a look up, try and stay away from the vague
and general look up requests, and lets face it, we have all seen requests like
these. Not many people are going to consider doing a look up for the Smith
family in Cincinnati in 1860 or I need the parents and/or siblings of John
Clark in Jefferson Co, NY.

To be honest, I would rather get no response, than some of the responses I have
seen and received on some of the other lists I am on. I have seen responses
that basically say you should be doing this your self, and these are lists that
are described as being used for sharing and exchanging information as well as
requesting look ups. So, as lists go, this is a pretty good one. At least you
are allowed to post your request with out getting flamed

In the mean time, remember that new people are joining the list all the time,
and maybe one of them will be able to help you with your request, and check out
some of these URLs for census sites if your look ups are going unanswered. I
don't promise you'll find what your looking for, but you never know. (I know
these have all been posted before at some point in time).

<http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/cen_img.htm>;

<http://www.rootsweb.com/~uslookup/census.html>;

<http://www.census-online.com/links/index.html#top>;

<http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnraogk/listing.htm>;

Just my 2 cents worth.

Kris

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