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From: Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <>
Subject: [OHMEDINA-L] Fw:More on Halbert's in Ancestry Newslet
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 14:25:57 -0500


There has been a lot of conversation about Halbert's on the lists so when
I saw this I thought I should forward it to you all.
Maggie
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FORWARDED MESSAGE - Orig: 15-Jan-99 7:24
Subject: [COUNTRYMAN-L] More on Halbert's in Ancestry Newsletter
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From: Nancy Cluff Siders <>

Some of you may receive this newsletter but I thought I'd
include it for those who perhaps have not read it. We have
been on the topic of Halbert's before but we have had new
subscribers since then.

======================================================
"ROOTLESS FAMILY TREE BOOKS"
By Loretto D. Szucs
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>
=======================================================
If you have a mailing address, you've probably received one: a postcard or
a
letter announcing, "A remarkable new book is about to be published-and best
of
all, you are in it!" Even if you haven't been a lucky recipient, it's a
good
bet that you know someone whose curiosity has been piqued by one of these
creative marketing pieces.

Not too long ago, my husband opened the mail to find a "personalized
looking"
letter announcing that "What might be the most amazing facts about the
Szucs
have been discovered. The New World Book of Szucs is about to be published
for
you!" While my husband was touched that someone would go to all the trouble
of
digging up amazing facts and publishing a book for him, he found these
facts
questionable.

We were amused to see that in their "research through over 170 million
individual households" searching for the "very rare Szucs name" they looked
in
the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales,
Northern
Ireland and eight other countries, yet failed to look in Hungary or
Slovakia
where the Szucs name originates and is most common. After making
their research
claims, they offered to let us "see how family crests were developed using
ancient symbols and what they [family crests] mean." This offer discussed
family crests in such a way that at first glance the unsuspecting would
think
the Szucs family crest was a part of this published treasure.

Should we spend our money on these books? Here are some things to consider
before pulling out your credit card:

If you simply want a list of names and addresses of individuals who share
your
surname, a brief overview of how to trace your real family, and
an undocumented
Coat of Arms that was once granted to someone who had a name like yours,
it may
be worthwhile. (Remember that there is no such thing as a family surname
Coat
of Arms. Armorial bearings were granted to a certain individual, and only
his
descendants in the male line are entitled to them; collateral branches of
the
same family cannot use them.) Some people I know who have truly rare
surnames
have found lost or unknown relatives with these kinds of books.

The Halbert's case is one example of the public's reaction to promotions by
companies who publish this literature. Halbert's web page claims they have
"over 170 million household records compiled from electoral rolls,
telephone
directories, automobile registrations and cross-street directories from 14
countries."

On 23 March 1995, the National Genealogical Society, with the support of
the
Federation of Genealogical Societies, submitted to the United States Postal
Service Chief Counsel, Consumer Protection, a 120-page report on Halbert's
marketing practices with the request that these practices be investigated.

On 21 November 1995, the USPS issued a supplemental cease and desist order
prohibiting Halbert's from further use of certain misleading marketing
practices, which included a consent agreement signed by Halbert's. Previous
cease and desist orders against Halbert's which were brought by other
parties
in 1985 and 1988 remain in effect.

The Postal Service contended the company's solicitations, which advertised
books such as The World Book of (surname) and The (surname) Since the Civil
War, violated the 1988 consent agreement because they appeared to be
letters
from relatives of the addresses. Halbert's was order to prominently
display the
following disclaimer on any advertising for surname-related publications:
"No
direct genealogical connection to your family or ancestry is implied or
intended."

Because of the increasing popularity of family history research, no doubt
you
will be seeing more of these offers in your mailbox. So remember to be
cautious, read all the material carefully, and thoroughly investigate the
company making the offer.
=======================================================

Later...Nancy

==== COUNTRYMAN Mailing List ====
Been meaning to join RootsWeb? Just get your credit card out and go to:
http://www.rootsweb.com/memberform.html
now. They could sure use your help!

!^NavFont02F103E0007NGHHW403B9E
Maggie's World of Courthouse Dust & Genealogy Fever
http://www.infinet.com/~dzimmerm/mindex.html
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
God Put Me On Earth to Accomplish a Certain Number of Things.
Right Now I am so far behind, I will never die. --- Unknown
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a
New Year filled with good health, good friends, and
more than enough good luck.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

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