Each person associated with this project feels connected to each other, as a family of researchers, and is dedicated to making the USGenWeb s goal a reality. This project, working in conjunction with the advent of the Internet, has allowed formerly disenfranchised researchers who were separated from valuable research materials by locality the opportunity to expand their own personal research through the electronic medium. In Somerset County, PA, for example, this USGenWeb county site has literally assisted hundreds of researchers through it s electronic mail discussion list. Researchers in this county can share family folk lore, surname queries, tree outlines, and even an old recipe through daily email messages. Family connections are quickly made as surnames and histories are exchanged.
Most researchers find that they are related to one of more of the discussion list members.
When queried, the majority of regular list subscribers felt that the USGenWeb project, in its entirety, was instrumental in the development of their personal family research. Overall the USGenWeb project has brought genealogical research into the 1990 s and has paved the way for expansion into the 21st century. Eventually, public-domain records will be made available to the general research community. No longer will researchers become hindered by the unavailability of records due to locality logistics. Research that was once slow and tedious will now be quickly accessible and the information gleaned instantly incorporated into publication ready resource materials.