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Archiver > OHTUSCAR > 2006-11 > 1164032292


From: "Goudy, Paul" <>
Subject: Re: [OHTUSCAR] Calhoun County Clerk in Illinois - for list
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:18:12 -0600


I work as the records manager for Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte
County, Kansas, as well as working for the city and county clerk (we are
a combined government). We are understaffed and use volunteers from the
county genealogical society to help us answer requests. What most people
do not understand is that by law we are required to MAKE RECORDS
AVAILABLE. We are not required by law to do RESEARCH for people. This
holds true in all 50 states. Making records available does not mean
spending hours looking thru records, it means laying them out for a
researcher to do their own work. When people write in and ask for help,
most clerks are willing to help, but this work must take a back seat
when some one is at the front counter asking for help. I am a historian
by training and have done research all over the country for the past 41
years. I have held my present position for 8 years now. I have never
expected some one to do my own work, and when it has been necessary to
ask for help I have learned to be patient. It is true that if you get
ugly with courthouse staff they can put your request to the bottom of
the pile, but few really do that. Never-the-less, it never hurts to
respect the people you are asking for help. You get more flies with
sugar than you do with vinegar. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

-----Original Message-----
From:
[mailto:] On Behalf Of Barbara
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 7:40 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [OHTUSCAR] Calhoun County Clerk in Illinois - for list

First of all. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THESE CLERKS MAD AT GENEALOGISTS! It
makes
it hard on the rest of us.

First and foremost at these courthouses they need to take care of day to
day
stuff. Courthouses are busy places. That's what they are paid for. Today
stuff and doing things for county officials. They're usually pretty
nice
when you walk in and will point out the records and let you do your own
searches. They are most likely understaffed.

And that most courthouses can get requests filled in two weeks is a
fairy
tale.

It is great that some counties are making things easier but it takes
money
and time to get all that stuff online.

If I were a clerk and I started getting threatened I might just put your
request inon the bottom of the pile. Your're not the only one doing
genealogy and wanting records.
Most of them aren't genealogists and don't realize how we want to see if
that record will break down a brick wall. If you call tell them a human
story why it is so important that you get that record they might
respond.

Expect to wait. If you don't want to do that hire someone. I know it's
hard
to wait.

Barbara


On 11/17/06, carole lubbers <> wrote:
>
> What difference should it make to the county clerk how far back the
record
> is? If a person makes a request of their office, it is a request.
> The big library in Canton, Ohio, Stark Co. now has an ideal set up.
Their
> genealogy division has forms on line to request information for older
> records. This library has early records starting 1809(I think), vital
> records, death records. I guess they purchased film and have made
this
> available to the public. Their service to the request is very good
and I
> wonder if Illinois possibly may have this at some larger library?
> Carole in Georgia
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <>
> To: <>; <>;
<
> >;
> <>; <>;
<>;
> <>
> Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 2:41 AM
> Subject: [OHTUSCAR] Calhoun County Clerk in Illinois - for list
>
>
> >I have sent 3 requests in to the above for copies of vital records {
> >since
> > September } & have gotten nothing back . I called a few days ago
and
> > she
> > said they are not concerned with genealogy right now & she didnt
know
> > when
> > they would get to it . It shouldn't make any difference how old the
> > record is .
> > I sent a check in for a request of a vital record & evidentally
they do
> > their job whenever ? Is anyone else having this problem . This
is
> > ridiculous
> > . Tomorrow I start making calls . Starting with the Govenors
office
> > then
> > the Attourney Generals office & whoever else it takes to straighten
out
> > the
> > attitude in that office . Most County Clerks get things out
within 2
> > weeks
> > max .
> >
> > If anyone else has this happen I suggest you do the same Two
months
> > wait
> > for a vital record from any County Clerks office is ridiculous .
> >
> > Calhoun County Clerk
> > 1-618-576-2351
> >
> > -------------------------------
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the
> > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
> >
>
>
>
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