Letter to the Editor of the IIGS™ Newsletter,
I read with interest and understanding AC's letter about the dangers posed to local historical and genealogical societies with the ever-expanding use of the Internet for research. If a local society's funds depends solely on the sale of their publications, or charges for research, it's certain that some may lose revenues in some cases. But my best argument is, if you are concerned about your local society keeping up, don't try to protect it by denouncing progress. Instead, help it _to_ keep up, pull it along, and kick it occasionally if you must!
Whatever records, facts, and sources eventually become accessible via the Internet, somewhere, sometime, someone must actually view the record initially. We all know that deeds, wills, etc., must be protected from destruction, often from our own governments. If you think people are unaware of this fact, visit any bulletin board or newsgroup and read about materials in some part of the world being burned, from Ontario to Australia to Oklahoma! And I'm sure we all agree the local societies are the logical repositories and caretakers of such. Yes, we must encourage them, fund them, and nurture them in this endeavor.
I work as a volunteer with "newbie" researchers in my local society's library. I am also a very avid Internet enthusiast. In my personal research, I often find articles, sources, ideas that I feel would be of interest to my society, so I download or print them out and deliver it to my librarian. There are various newsletters available on-line, the IIGS™ Newsletter being one, which are marvelous sources of information for all, and it takes only a few minutes to print it out. Your friends who cannot afford or don't want computer access would certainly appreciate reading it. And it costs very little; a few cents a page, an hour or so of your time every month?
When the USGenWeb Project began a little over a year ago, we were all thrilled at the potential to link genealogists from all the various states. When I found that the volunteer for my county didn't know my society existed, I took it upon myself to make him aware. I prepared a page of information on our library's address, hours, and available publications, which he generously linked to the USGenWeb county page. My society can't afford Internet access, so my email address is at the bottom of the site. I have personally fielded a few dozen queries via email in the last year, and certainly countless visits, queries, and book orders have been placed through the mail as a result of my small effort. Yes, I've done a bit of research for some, but nothing that took more than a few minutes of my time. And most have responded with generous contributions to my society.
When the state's largest newspaper decided to host a travelogue site, linking Oklahoma towns and information of interest to tourists, I contacted them and requested they link my little library's page to the other educational facitities in my city. See, I want to reach future and incidental genealogists as well!
Whether we are debating the local societies, or the USGenWebs, or the IIGS™, doesn't it all come down to "access to the records"? The societies and archives house the records and make them available to the people; what other purpose do they serve? But the Internet facilities only expand that accessibility. As I am confined to a wheelchair, it is unlikely that I can visit the courthouse in an adjoining state and view the necessary records first-hand. Never mind even considering travel to a foreign country! If it were not for access to the Internet, I would not have gotten much past the third generation back. Yet electronic research has helped me find twelve or more generations in America on several lines, and I have, so far!, verified fifteen Revolutionary War heros in my ancestry! I'm very proud of that, and I want to help others have that kind of success and pride in their heritage, whether they are able to visit my library, or they write me from across the country or around the world. That's why I am a volunteer in the first place. And isn't the real thrill of genealogy the chase, not how you go about it? Whether it's your ancestors or mine, or anybody else's, the thrill is in the search, _however_ that is best and most thoroughly accomplished!
Sincerely, Lisbeth Sheppard, Oklahoma
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