A few research tips to novice researchers.
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1) Any time you ask for help in a letter or e-mail, include info about yourself, i.e., your home address, phone number, etc. .. If a questioner does not want to divulge his home address and phone number, I mark him as being paranoid and that he is not a serious researchers. ... It takes what we Southerners call "gall" to ask for help and not include the city where you live.
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... For 30 years I have been told that I was a VERY lucky researcher. ... Balderdash. ... First, I have spent weeks traveling alone in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Califorinia, and Virginia. ..One time I spent six-consecutive weeks in Virginia. ... Dedicated researchers travel alone and work from the moment a court house or library opens and work until it closes. ... This is what it takes to outline a family's history. ... some is now on the Internet. ... I have mailed countless family sheets with my full name, address, phone, and later e-mail ON EVERY PAGE to libraries all over the South, and asked them to put these pages in their "vertical files." Yes, I am still getting replies referencing these family sheets. ... Unfortunatley, today, few know what vertical files are.
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2) If you expect to do all of your research on the Internet, you're fooling yourself. .. "written from handwritten records" means that it can only be found in the archival records ... I have transcribed, interepreted, and indexed these records, which is a BIG deal. ... Several have sent e-mails stating how far they drove to see a copy of my book and are anxiously awaiting my publishing my 6th edition.
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3) SASE. ..If you do not understand the term "SASE" (i.e., self-addressed, stamped envelop), you probably cannot understand how much time, energy, and monies were spent to outline family histories. .. I measured how many letters I sent by the number of "500-envelops per box" boxes I purchased. .. Usually two rolls of stamps per month.
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Therefore: Most of the familiy histories found on the following web page were compiled by the my efforts described above. ..Keep in mind that it is rather time consuming to post these family sheets, so I sporadically post them ... usually when asked.
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http://www.bourlandcivilwar.com/PattiAdkinsRochetteAncestors.htm
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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