CORNISH-GEN-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: [CON-GEN] Phone Directory Request
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 07:36:30 EST

Dear Jim,

Although this is in response to your inquiry about a perhaps extinct surname
(MULFRA), I decided that the list might benefit from this information. What
follows is a lay person's description of phone listings in the US.

I wouldn't even begin to guess how many phone directories (hard copy) there
are in the US. We are talking massive. This problem was made even more
unmanageable with the decentralization of our phone system. Now, instead of
one company, there are hundreds (perhaps even thousands). So, you only want
a "hard copy" of any US phone directory if you really know the localized area
you want to further study.

Now for better news. There are some pretty good on-line FREE and SEARCHABLE
(don't you just love those words?) phone listings. Suggest you try:

http://www.anywho.com

This site lets you search by last name and by State (yes, that means you will
need to do 50 searches from the pop up "state menu". Suggest starting with
New York, California, Texas, Florida and Illinois. Those are all very large
states and are good geographical samplings as well). It also provides the
mailing address. A few words of exceptions: This web site is maintained by
AT&T who was one of the largest nationwide providers of phone service before
decentralization. While it most likely has links to other providers, I don't
know the extent of those linkages. Also, folks in the US have the option of
being "unlisted"--having a phone number that is not listed in directories of
any type. This becomes more popular as our world changes.

I hope this provides a general understanding of our admittedly chaotic phone
system. In retrospect, it is amazing that our phones actually work and work
well. I shall be happy to attempt to answer any follow up questions. I know
how hard it is to understand someone's description of how something works in
their country. <VBG>

Cheers,
Jo Ann Avery Henderson Higdon
25% Cornish and counting . . .

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