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From: Kathy Gunter Sullivan <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] The long distance genealogist
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:51:33 -0500
References: <866958.90868.qm@web50612.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <866958.90868.qm@web50612.mail.re2.yahoo.com>


Nicole La Rue wrote:
> ... The problem deals with location-that is, where you are in the country vs. where your records are. When you live in the South and you're researching a family group who lived hundreds, or even thousands of miles away, you don't have the luxury of getting down and dirty, so to speak, with your primary source material. Instead, you're forced to rely upon others to get you what you need, or at least what they think you need.
>

"at least what they think you need." Well put.

> [snipped]
>
> So in such a case as this, what kind of impact does location and the inability to obtain your own primary source material have on the research as a whole, ie. your GPS-based conclusion/s? Apart from getting to the repository yourself, which may not be approved by your client (or your husband and kids), are there ways to combat this? If not, how do you treat this when forming your conclusions?
>
I sure do empathize, Nicole. I'm sitting on a decades old case study
that continues to fascinate me, but I cannot access the records in the
small town Indiana courthouse. It definitely is a hands-on
investigation. The few records filmed by the Family History Center have
been exhausted; the local genealogical society has been exhausted; the
local library has been exhausted; the local historical society has been
exhausted (all were helpful in different ways). No professional
researchers are available there (I keep asking around), and three folks
who offer their services as experienced local county researchers each
turns out to be inept (sorry, but it has to be said).

My conclusions are still hanging and could not be justified anyway
because the research is insufficient. Traveling to the particular
courthouse seems to be the only avenue at this point (12 hours one way).
That also means allowing time enough to learn on-site the quirks and
foibles of how elderly records at the courthouse are identified and
stored, asking for access, waiting for access, etc., etc. Say a week at
best?

All this just to respond to your question: I wish I knew the answer.

Kathy
APG member
Charlotte, North Carolina


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