90 million war records

[rhertz]

Originally Posted by Government Spokeswoman

Budget constraints and a long list of unfinished priorities have limited federal efforts to make roughly 9 billion public documents available online, said National Archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper.

"In a perfect world, we would do all this ourselves and it would up there for free," she said. "While we continue to work to make our materials accessible as widely as possible, we can't do everything."

My vote is for Susan Cooper for President!! She seems honest and understands government and how it works, as well as the role of the private sector. I bet she gets fired soon.

[Isaac-Saxxon]

Knowing who your family is and where they came from is priority to me and should be for all people. This is a great chance to do just that. I have a family tree on my side going back to 1401 and on my wifes side even longer. I am of Scottish descent and she is of Welsh descent made for some mighty fine daughters I love linage search it is a never ending quest. Family Tree Maker is a great program and you can get it at Sam's. 17 disc and very easy to use.

[howela]

Chris Hanson reported on Dateline that many identity theives cruise online sites to find information, in particular, mothers maiden name.

[joepole]

>Knowing who your family is and where they came from is priority to me and should be for all people.

Why? Almost all of those people were long dead before you were even born.

[LateNight]

Originally Posted by joepole

>Knowing who your family is and where they came from is priority to me and should be for all people.

Why? Almost all of those people were long dead before you were even born.

Joe,
before I get "into" this one.. is your objection due to the use of the word "priority" or is it simply the thought about caring where it is we come from ?

LOL

personally I find it all very interesting. Before my father passed away, he was able to compile all sorts of good information together back in the late 80's. He had real good information for all the family lines, his mother's line and my mother's grandparents' line.. but the line for his father was a bit tougher. this is the line I find most interesting however.. I suppose since it corresponds with my last name as well.

After he died, we continued the search.. managed to find a few land deeds signed by relatives around the mid 1800's and leading up to the civil war.

through online searches and meeting up with someone who's already done some of the same research we were looking for.. got us back to a direct link to a fellow who was living in Boston in 1775.. I thought that was pretty cool.. the link breaks sometime before that some 50+ years before that, about a story about two brothers coming over on a boat to the new world .. wish I could get back farther than that.

[joepole]

I find it interesting, as well, but I'm kind of a history buff in general. I'm wondering why someone would think it's important or a priority.

What possible difference could the identity of your great-great-great-grandfather have on your life unless he left you some money?

[LateNight]

Originally Posted by joepole

I find it interesting, as well, but I'm kind of a history buff in general. I'm wondering why someone would think it's important or a priority.

important, or a priority.. well that's a loaded question I think. For some, it is of importance or a priority to go to church on Sunday.

For some, work is a priority, for some, their marriage a priority. For me, it's important to find time to spend with friends and family.

And for some, it may feel important or imperative to discover about their family history, and origins.

Personally, I derive a good bit of enjoyment, discovering those links and learning the history of your great, great, great etc.. grandfather. Occasionally I feel a certain "drive" to try and learn more. It's been some time since I've looked into it however.

Originally Posted by joepole

What possible difference could the identity of your great-great-great-grandfather have on your life unless he left you some money?

well.. ask someone that, who has no idea of who their mother or father are? For some, knowing their history, may help to define themselves in some way.

But for me to find out some link to a distant relative.. it ain't gonna make me rich. Not going to change my "standing" in society. But I would enjoy it.