From: fr@compu.com (Fred Rump from home)
Newsgroups: soc.roots
Subject: Re: Just Starting...
Date: 12 Nov 92 17:12:03 GMT
Organization: CompuData Inc.

bob.stephan@nitelog.com (Bob Stephan) writes:

>Basic genealogy tips:

>1. Find and join your local county genealogical society if you can locate
>one near you.  Here is where you can get your questions answered best.

I find some of these 'tips' rather personal and arbitrary. What good is a 
local genealogical society in Florida when all your ancestors are from MI & 
CA or Italy? I would think that reading some books on the subject of 
genealogical research would be more valuable. I say that because in attempting 
to make some contact with the local group I found then to have limited 
knowledge and parochial interests. 


>2. Find and use the nearest Mormon Family History Center.  Also look for
>genealogy sections in local and state libraries, and in branches of the
>National Archives.

Again, I have yet to find anything of significance at one of these libraries. 
They still only have a very small percentage of people in their records. If 
you are lucky you will find something and you should certainly take a look, 
but it is not the answer to all problems. 

The archives is another matter. I suppose there is something there for 
everyone.

>3. Use PAF (Personal Ancestral File) software available for $35 from the
>Mormons.  It is the best program, reasonably priced, well supported, and
>almost universally used.  To order call 1-800-537-5950.

There are many of us who are not part of that Universe. I have both PAF and BK 
and prefer BK. I have access to the author who has never failed to answer a 
question or respond to an improvement suggestion. What more can you ask for?


>4. The Genealogy BBS on GENIE is very active and helpful.  In general I
>find it more useful than soc.roots, but I use both.  If you do not have a
>convenient local genealogical society, the GENIE BBS is a very good
>alternative.  It is almost like belonging to an electronic version of a
>genealogical society.  You can get any question answered there even much
>easier than here on soc.roots.  GENIE is just $4.95 per month for their
>*Basic services.

While I used to subscribe to Genie, I found that having to make that call to 
check for mail or read the messages was too often neglected or forgotten. To 
me soc.roots is a heaven sent system that brings me news every night (after 
11PM when rates are cheap) whether I think of it or not.

I have also found the resources of this net invaluable. Responses to questions 
come from all over the world where our ancestors are from. Genealogy limited 
to America is relatively simple for most of us. Records exist and are easily 
found. Few Americans have relatively early backgrounds in this country. There 
just weren't that many people here until the 19th century. So the real work 
begins in Europe for the origins of those well-documented Americans. How does 
GENIE help in this direction?  

A contrary view!

Fred
-- 
W. Fred Rump 	office:	   fred@COMPU.COM     'mans feet have grown/so big 
26 Warren St.   home: fred@icdi10.compu.com  that he/forgets his littleness'
Beverly, NJ. 08010                          		Don Marquis 
609-386-6846    bang:uunet!cdin-1!icdi10!fr   
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