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Archiver > PENNINGTON > 2004-01 > 1073338416


From:
Subject: [Pennington-L] OK, I'm really not confused about PRA family groups.
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004 16:33:36 -0500


Dear Cheryl,
I am sorry for not making my suggestions clearer. I do think that
membership in PRA or membership in a Pennington Group are not mandatory
for good Pennington research. I don't want to say anything derogatory
about the organization, mainly because there are some very good people
working in PRA. However, I was in PRA for seven years and received very
little help in my research. I did make contact with a dear Pennington
cousin in Texas which was worth the 7 years of membership. My reasons
for leaving PRA were my own and others may find what they are looking for
in PRA. I didn't. I have seen much of the work disseminated by PRA and
know that much of it is not clearly documented. I have seen parts of the
Master File that is soon to be released, and most of what I saw was
either not accurate at all, or was not provided with sources and
documentation. The Master File is made up of work Pennington
researchers submitted over the years, similar to some of the LDS files
and other files, i.e. Ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker, etc. That means
the data is only as good as the documentation submitted to support it.
Otherwise, we simply don't know how valid it is until we go ahead and do
the necessary research to back it up. It's great go-with material.

I am one who has done a large amount of active research on the Pennington
surname and so I can say without hesitation, that PRA is not where the
"vast majority of active research is taking place". On its plus side,
tho, PRA is a good way to meet and socialize with other members. I am
curious as to who told you to just "keep on researching" so that you can
find a connection to a PRA group. I have never said that to anyone. I'd
like to know some of the brick walls you, and others without a Group
connection, are trying to break down. I know some of you have put out a
query on the lists, but if anyone with no Group connection wants to send
it out again, I, for one at least, will study over your info and try to
help if I can. Most of us will. But, of course, some of us will draw a
blank on the data you present. Let us try.

Barb T

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