TX-CEMETERIES-L Archives

Archiver > TX-CEMETERIES > 2004-11 > 1101061898


From: "Joe D. Deaver" <>
Subject: RE: [TXCem] Re: Idea for a cemetary project
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2004 12:31:38 -0600
In-Reply-To: <200411211627.iALGRP8H024228@ms-smtp-02-eri0.texas.rr.com>


My responses below...

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Tammy Blandino [mailto:]
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 10:29 AM
To:
Subject: RE: TX-CEMETERIES-D Digest V04 #82


"Then could I ask you and everyone else at TxGenWeb to centralize the
information? You have them broken into itty bitty lists scattered all over
the place. It would not be difficult at all to put these lists into a
single database and make it available online."

Response: It is centralized. Most of us choose to store our cemetery
inventories in the USGenWeb Archives. You can search these by nation,
state, or county:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/txsearch.html
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ussearch.htm
http://searches.rootsweb.com/htdig/search.html

"My idea is to put EVERY gravesite into a centralized database. The plan is
to put the information we already have, all those text files, into the
database to start with. Then add the other gravesites as cemeteries get
inventoried. This would make for "one-stop" searching for cemetery
information instead of combing through textfile after textfile."

Response: There's no doubt it's a noble idea. I just think you have to
keep in mind that volunteers and copyright owners provide material or
permission for a specific project. While I have permission from
transcribers and copyright owners to publish/republish information, I do not
own that information. The transcriber or book owner does. I cannot give
permission to anyone to reupublish that data, unless it was my personal
original work. I can only make an effort to protect that which we have been
allowed to publish. Even if someone receives permission to publish the
data, they cannot simply lift the files from USGenWeb without permission.
If the owner of the data contacts me and tells me it's ok, I don't have any
problem with that, though.

"Don't get me wrong. I TRULY appreciate the work everyone has done. It is
wonderful. Twenty-five years ago when I first started doing genealogy
something like what we have now was nothing more than a pipe dream. I'm
just suggesting that we take it one step further."

Response: Right, just keep in mind a lot of people had a "pipe dream" when
they help get the USGenWeb project going back in the late 1990s. Thanks to
the efforts of thousands of volunteers over the years, it is no doubt the
most extensive network of free genealogy research data online. It may not
be the most elaborate setup or have a centralized field-based database
system like the commercials sites, but you can find stuff very easily once
you learn the way it's structured. If the you find the USGenWeb resources
useful but feel there's room for improvement, try volunteering for the
organization and work for improvement there. Someone in your field would be
very welcome to the project.

"I've never had any luck with findagrave."

Response: In what way? Because a person or cemetery wasn't listed yet, or
was there something wrong with the website itself? I've submitted over
1,000 interments and photos there and found it to be a great centralized
place for cemetery research. Although they have ad banners, it strictly
depends on volunteer submmissions as well. When I inventoried a local
cemetery myself, I was able to upload the spreadsheet to the website and a
couple of weeks later, they had it online as individual interments:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=7813

"Are there any copyright notices on TxGenWeb or related sites? Just
curious. Also, as I mentioned to Sharon, there are legal recourses that she
can take."

Response: Each file in the USGenWeb archives typically has a header like
this:

============================================================================
===
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on
the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as
long
as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained
from
the contributor of the file.

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or
presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to
use
this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent
of
the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact
the
listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.

The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the
file
permanently for free access.
============================================================================
===

I'm not trying to be difficult about this and am certainly not against a new
cemetery resource going up. Hey, you might even do it better than everyone
else so far. I just think it's best to be careful about using existing work
online. If you want to pursue the necessary permissions, more power to you.
I will say that even though a number of our inventories online are from the
local tombstone books (with permission), we occasionally organize our own
inventory work sessions. Although most of them are done on cemeteries so
far not documented, we have redone a few. The book listing can have
mistakes and they are from the 1960s and 1970s.

Thanks

Joe D. Deaver
http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbell
http://www.rootsweb.com/~txnueces


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