tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394184517128570144.post507142485088528354..comments2024-02-19T01:54:37.404-08:00Comments on Midwestern Microhistory: A Genealogy Blog: Making the Best of a Bad Day in the CourthouseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394184517128570144.post-5127384892033945562013-03-05T12:00:16.466-08:002013-03-05T12:00:16.466-08:00Harold, great tips! Part of your #2 is that many ...Harold, great tips! Part of your #2 is that many or most Courthouse visitors with whom clerks have contact are lawyers, title-searchers and investigators who often treat the clerks like dirt. Your most important tools are "please" and "thank you," and respectful phraseology such as "do you have time to . . .," "would you be kind enough to point me to . . .," and "yes, ma'am."<br /><br />Another part of #2 is that most Courthouse traffic is about current records, and a staff person who's been there a year may not have a clue about Court jurisdictions in (say) the 1860s. This makes #3, #4 and #5 important: the clerk is not stupid or ignorant, just lacking experience. "Can you tell me if" is a useful non-threatening opener to a direct question.<br /><br />Part of #3 is to recognize there is local terminology and that practices in County A were not necessarily the same as in County B next door. Further, if you have worked with records uploaded by FamilySearch, recognize that the FS.org titles for record books are often not books' actual titles and may not reflect a division such as between Register of Wills and Orphans Court.<br /><br />One joyous experience was with a young archivist who was proud of what had been done in a new facility. She was glad to relate some history to a positive listener, and was the greatest ally.Geoloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050268303916428230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394184517128570144.post-61630516402907200002013-03-04T09:46:49.813-08:002013-03-04T09:46:49.813-08:00Thanks for the words of caution. I am planning a c...Thanks for the words of caution. I am planning a courthouse research trip to Massachusetts. My one and only encounter a few years ago was met by one of the grouchiest people I have ever met! Luckily my encounter was brief and once she pointed me to the right room, I did not have to cross her path again. Ugh! Now I am approaching this trip with lots of trepidation. I will try very hard to implement your suggestions. Thanks!Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394184517128570144.post-48597178872308087032013-03-04T08:02:42.992-08:002013-03-04T08:02:42.992-08:00Thank you, Connie! That could be point #10: Stay m...Thank you, Connie! That could be point #10: Stay more than a day if possible.Harold Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12217640113047709249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394184517128570144.post-23800693197385352152013-03-04T07:55:17.272-08:002013-03-04T07:55:17.272-08:00My favorite courthouse experience was in a tiny to...My favorite courthouse experience was in a tiny town in the southern portion of a certain Midwestern state, where I was a complete stranger (my family left the area in the 1840s). The clerk in charge of the records I needed was quite grumpy and unhelpful when I arrived, but after two days of following the routine you describe - almost to the letter - and keeping out of her way, she became my best friend and refused to take payment for the copies I needed.Connie Sheetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14515516393871921304noreply@blogger.com