NJHUNTER-L Archives

Archiver > NJHUNTER > 1999-03 > 0920472278


From: "Bressler's" <>
Subject: [NJHUNTER-L] When requesting Lookup help...
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 09:44:38 -0500


Someone wrote:>>Is it possible you can send me the entries?
Or do you only have access to the index?<<<

The FHC library I use has alot of films, but specific to these years in NJ ...I
don't know for sure. However, I do know that I cannot "easily" view them and
perhaps this is a good opportunity for everyone to know how I would do that.

In order to "view a film" of a census it takes anywhere from 15-45 minutes,
(not to mention the driving time to get there, the transcribing time and if a
machine is even open to use). I have to check the reference books to see if
they have the specific film (different numbers for each township and/or
county) and copy down a number, then I have to sign up for a machine, check
out the film and load it into the machine, then scroll to the page number and
transcribe the data off the film, then roll the film back up, and turn it in.

The lookups I offerred to do were the Census index books which sit right on a
shelf as soon as I enter the library. These are relatively easy to check and
it only takes 30 seconds to look up a name alphabetically...if there is no
first name....and 30+ names of the surname...well, you can see that the
transcribing time really had my knuckles & wrist aching by this morning! I
must admit that I did use the Xerox machine and copied several pages when there
were far too many to copy and closing time was getting near....this way I could
finish up the transcription here at home. (and at 10 cents a copy...well, $2
wasn't gonna break the piggy bank! ...however for "real" copies of the census
FILMs it is 35cents a copy and takes about 15 minutes longer!)

Anyways, you are not the first to ask whether I could get you "more" of the
data and that's okay. I just can't see my way to volunteer that kind of time.
I hope that what I have done is logged in a whole lotta information that will
at least point people in a direction for them to continue their research.

For those who question why I didnt' spell things out, etc. I transcribed them
exactly and do that so I make less errors (or at least I hope so)...I don't
want to guess on spellings, counties etc. that I know nothing about. For those
who expected more, my apologies. For those who appreciated the info...I'd
encourage you to find your own FHC (Family History Center) or Genealogical
Library...this one is at the Mormon church and you don't have to be a member to
join (and I'm not) and they have GREAT seminars VERY inexpensive, like this
month I'm paying a whole $6 for an entire Saturday of workshops!!! It really
can be more fun & educational to do the research yourself....enjoy!
-Sandy
The Bressler Family
WEST and KIPLE Genealogy http://www.ns.net/~bbb/west.ht

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