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Re: PROBATE RECORDS

POSTON, BENNETT, WAGGONER, SIMMONS, MATHEWS

Posted By: Della Schults (email)
Date: 9/30/2004 at 18:18:44

In Response To: Re: PROBATE RECORDS (Linda Shogren)

I have copied (below) a response I received from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City when I e-mailed them about the status of the Wapello County, Iowa Probate Records. They have not answered specifically about these records but have given a general answer about how long it takes for records to be available once they enter the microfilm (copying) status. I am very upset about this as they are saying it could be as long as TWO YEARS before these records become available. This means anyone wanting to view these records to assist them in moving forward with their genealogy research on a family may have to wait TWO YEARS to do so. This is totally unacceptable in my view. I guess there is nothing we can do about it but for an organization that claims to want to assist families in discovering their ancestors they certainly are not aware of what a two year delay can mean.
Just wanted those who are wanting to view these records to know what we may be up against.

Della Schults

Dear Della Schults:

The publication, Family History Library™ and Family History Centers™ (32957), describes the services of our library and of centers in your area. We do not offer a research service, but we can suggest records for you to search for yourself to find information about your ancestors.

The most effective way we can assist you is through our Family History Centers™. You are welcome to do your own research at the center nearest you. Each center is staffed by volunteers who can assist you in the use of the center and the collections of the Family History Library™. The catalog listing our records is available at each center and most of the microfilms in our collection can be loaned to them. The center should also have a series of research outlines to help you learn about sources for your research as well as the above-mentioned publications. Bring with you the family information you already know and this letter to help the center staff get you started. To locate the nearest center to you, please call 1 - 800 - 346-6044.

Also, you can find additional Family History Center™ lists, the library’s research outlines in SourceGuide™, and Family History Library Catalog™ as part of the FamilySearch® Internet Genealogy Service at www.familysearch.com .

NOTE: years ago, I was a camera operator. From the time records are filmed to the time that they are cataloged and made available to the public, is about two years (longer for the European areas). So, even though those probate records are in the process of being microfilmed; it will take a year or two before they are available. You can periodically check the catalog, as it is updated fairly regularly, when those records are available for order to search. Please note that there are hundreds of camera operators and there is a backlog is cataloging.

You can check the above-mentioned catalog for the many other records our library has for the United States and other countries; too many to list here. If you would like to hire a professional researcher, lists of accredited genealogists are available at the above-mentioned Family History Centers. These genealogists are private researchers who have passed an accreditation examination given by the Family History Library™. They are not affiliated with the library.

The Family History Department no longer administers the accreditation program. Those responsibilities have been turned over to the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (IcapGen), an independent arm of the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA). You can learn more on the Internet at www.icapgen.org/aglist.htm

I hope this information is helpful and wish you success in your research.

Sincerely,

Barry E. Kirk, AG, CGRS, Reference Consultant
United States and Canada Reference, Family History Library

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