rooter@well.UUCP (Brian Mavrogeorge) (12/18/85)
WOW!!! the sleeping giant has come to life. It is great to see so
much activity at last. After I left the message that I would check
the indexes on ROOTS-BBS we had a fire and suffered smoke damage to
the hard disk. So, ROOTS-BBS went off the air for two weeks and was
back online just yesterday. Thanks to all of you who responded to me
question about a dead conference for dead people. I received 30 private
messages asking for help and sharing some interesting family stories.
In the next few days I will be getting back to the folks who asked for
information on Van Horn, Mazlack, Heli, McBeath, Trotochaud, Bellvere,
Jibway. Charles Frost kindly sent me a private message with over 100
names in it that will be added to the ROOTS-BBS indexes. (thanks Charles).
One person who mentioned Trivial Pursuit asked me to help on his surname
but then didn't give it to me! and my response to him was returned. So
please ask again.
Some folks asked some intersting questions which I will throw out for
others to give there two cents on while I get busy looking up surnames..
#1. What is a soundex code?
#2. How does one narrow their surname search when confronted when
large indexes?
#3. What software is available for keeping track of genealogies?
For those that asked about ROOTS-BBS, it is a bulletin board service
which is free of charge. It has a message base for exchanging comments
with each other and extensive files. You will find public domain genealogy
software both full blown systems as well as specialized routines, "how to"
articles, indexes to vital records from Maryland, indexes to some published
histories of Texas, indexes to surname queries appearing in New Eng, NY, PA,
OH, IN, IA, NE, and CA genealogical society magazines, and indexes to some
callers private research. Many folks who have computerized their genealogy
have uploaded indexes to their work. The number is (415)-584-0697 and it
is 300/1200 baud 8/n/1. No charge for the service other than what you pay
for your phone call.
And I would take exception to those who have said that the chances of
finding connections is quite small. It happens all the time on ROOTS-BBS.
The whole concept of ROOTS is that we want to bring researchers together so
that you can link up with others doing research on the same surname. Perhaps
9,900 names doesnt seem like much but it is growing daily and it all on a
lil' ol' IBM-XT. The Mormon church we aren't but we give you access to queries
published across the name.