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Archiver > PHILLY-ROOTS > 2003-11 > 1068329584


From: "Jo Schwartz" <>
Subject: Re: [PHLY-RTS] 1885-1916 marriage index availability
Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 17:16:33 -0500
References: <5727-3FAB8366-169@storefull-2116.public.lawson.webtv.net>


For the benefit of those who are new at researching Phila, I'll repeat what
I've posted before. This is not to put anyone down in asking (noone can
know or remember the nuances of every place they are researching), it's just
so you will understand why you may not get a [quick] response to your
request.

Our vital statistics indexes are available in several places: The City
Archives, Historical society, Genealogical Society, Orphans Court, and thru
the Lds. Not all locations have the same records or for the same time
period, so you have to be very specific in plan a visit to one of these
organizations. Since I live in Philly, and don't use the LDS for vitals,
I'm never quite sure what the nuances of their holdings are, but I believer
it's similar situation, in that you need to check very carefully to see what
is available. Further, you have to be aware that their films are generally
no better than ours, which means that many will be unreadable.

The one place these films are not is the in the private possession of an
individual (if anyone had been able to get copies, I'd be happy to stand
corrected and find out how). It may seem like nit picking, but I don't
know anyone who "has" a particular index. They may have *access* to an
index if they have the exact film that covers your request on reserve at an
LDS family history center. Or, they may be willing to visit one of the
organizations listed above to get the information for you. Because this
means a trip, parking, usually reader fees, perhaps a membership or daily
use fee, and of course, some time, it is not a casual project unless the
person happens to be planning a trip to the same place for similar research.
This is entirely possible, in which case, a person may graciously and
sometimes easily fit your request in with his/her own work. I'd be
interested in feedback if we have a lot of local volunteers doing this.

The point is that if you aren't receiving help in some of these types of
requests, it's because the data is not as immediately accessible as you
might have thought. Philadelphia keeps its records really close to the
vest, and I doubt that's going to change. Ancestry doesn't have them, the
web doesn't have them (except for little bits and pieces collected by
individuals), and noone I know has them on their bookshelf. I've often
thought how nice it would be to have that 1885-1915 marriage index in paper
form in my office, but every time I look at the 7 index films and translate
them into number of pages to print, I gag <g>.

Hope this clarifies the availability situation.

jo




----- Original Message -----
From: "NH 2" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 06:35 AM
Subject: Re: [PHLY-RTS] 1885-1916 marriage index


>
> If some kind person has the 1885-1916 marriage index could they please
> look up to see if there is any record of marriage for Jane Lees and John
> Lees? Thank you in advance. Nancie>>>>
> Hi Nancie,
> I have seen many ask for this, but never saw anyone answer. If you
> get an answer, could you let us all know, please? I'd like a lookup too.
> Thanks, Doris
>
> Calling ALL Australians!
> See http://home.iprimus.com.au/wpbalcombe/ then please leave feedback
> re OZ DAIRY CRISIS at http://geocities.yahoo.com/gb/sign?member=balcs9
> Australian Milk Producers Association
> http://www.geocities.com/ampa_ltd/
>
>
>
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