GER-VOLGA-L Archives

Archiver > GER-VOLGA > 1998-09 > 0905345664


From: Cliff Huber <>
Subject: Re: Taking advantage ? Russian Census Records
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 08:54:24 -0400


Good point Vera,
We are a captive market for gene research. Part of the price we pay is for
the immediacy of access to Russian archives and the language interpretation
enjoined by Russian researchers. Having seen copies of original immigration
and census records (from Pleve) I would not wish the translation of such on a
Chinese capitalist or a French socialist.

May the runzas be with you,
Cliff 57 looking for HEINZ, HUBER,OTTO,STEINHAUER,SCHMIDT,DE(O)BOLD

atacama wrote:

> This subject of pricing in $s while Russia is an economic mess, is a
> very interesting subject an I feel should be sent to a wider forum, such
> as GR-Heritage - since it affects not only Volga researchers.
>
> I think what was meant by the previous writer is that now that Russia is
> in a catastrophic downward spiral, those archivists or researchers,
> who have been charging extortionist prices and behaving like primadonnas
> might actually be prepared to work a little faster for the desired and
> required $.dollars.
> I found the following in Moscow:
> Genealogists know or think that the US counterparts work for $10 oer
> hour, so they want the same $10 per hour. I pointed out to them that in
> America and the West everything is quicker and more efficient, so, if
> they want American research fees they had better also put a bit of
> speedy and efficiency into their work. Admittedly, they are often at
> the mercy of slow archivists, so its a Catch 22 situation.
> You can't charge American prices for Russian-style work.
> Yes, Russian will need to earn as many dollars as they can - but you
> can't transfer the money in without taking a huge risk of losing it, and
> the recipient not reveiving in.
>
> Vera Beljakova-Miller
>
> in answer to:
>
> >
> > I have joined this List only recently and have not asked for or offered
> > anything yet as I wanted to just "observe" for awhile to get a sense of
> > what's what, however I really felt that I had to express my thoughts re:
> > some recent postings.
> >
> > The suggestion has been put forth that as the collapse of the Russian
> > economy worsens, we might benefit from their situation in that they will
> > have no alternative but to accede to our "requests" that they get busy
> > and give us what we want lest they starve. I find this notion
> > reprehensible.
> >
> > I have been searching patiently for several years for the smallest
> > scraps of information about my Volga German family, but if it means
> > getting it through the misery and personal tragedy of others I will
> > gladly forego it - in good conscience.
> >
> > Simply waving dollar bills in front of people does not necessarily make
> > then roll over and do tricks for you, no matter how hungry they might
> > be.
> >
> > Sincerely
> > Brian Tosczak

This thread: