We've all seen "the look." The mere mention of your latest research caper causes eyes to glaze over. But rooters can deal with disinterest from the unknowing.
What we can't face, though, is the possibility that the documents we have laboriously collected will end up in a landfill.
If you can't guilt someone into promising to store your work, you have other options. Historical and genealogy societies and public libraries, especially those where most of your ancestors lived, are potential recipients. Many don't have room to store personal papers, but a few do. The special collections department of a university library may make room if your work pertains to that locale.
Consider scanning documents, charts and photos onto a CD. Relatives and repositories are more apt to hang on to CDs because they take up little space and are easy to duplicate.
Lesleigh Butts, president of the Pinellas County Genealogy Society, says her organization accepts private collections and houses them where other researchers can access them. E-mail her at tolaite@tampabay.rr.com
If you haven't joined a genealogy society, consider doing so. Many groups preserve records and provide volunteers for library genealogy sections.
The first place to check for clubs that operate near you isthe Florida State GenealogicalSociety's Web site at www.rootsweb.com/(tilde)flsgs If you don't have a computer, contact the Genealogy/History sections of your public library for information about local clubs.
Local clubs
Pinellas County: The Pinellas Genealogical Society meets at the Largo Library. Go to www.rootsweb.com/tildeflpgs or send e-mail to Lesleigh Butts at tolaite@tampabay.rr.com The Suncoast Genealogical Society meets at the Palm Harbor Library.
Hillsborough County: The Brandon Area Genealogical & Historical Society meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Contact Becky Wilder at marion1947@aol.com The Florida Genealogical Society meets the third Saturday of each month at the Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library. Contact Scott Peeler at slpeelerjr@yahoo.com The South Bay Genealogical Society meets the third Tuesday of each month. Contact Maurice Musholt at wmusholt@tampabay.rr.com
Pasco County: The Pasco County Genealogical Society meets on the second Saturday of the month. Go to www.rootsweb.com/tildeflpcgs or e-mail Anna Stinson at astim.@3oaks.com The West Pasco Genealogical Society meets the last Wednesday of the month. E-mail Debbe Hagner at dhagner@attglobal.net
Polk County: The Imperial Polk County Genealogical Society meets on the second Saturday of the month. Go to www.ipgs.org or e-mail Alvie Davidson at tracer@floridadetective.net
Citrus County: The Citrus County Genealogy Society Web site is www.rootsweb.com/tildeflccgs2 -- Read past Donna Murray Allen columns online at www.sptimes.com Type "Donna Murray Allen" in the search box. You can write to Allen c/o Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or e-mail her at rootscolumn@yahoo.com Her Web site, www.rootsdetective.com includes information on classes and lectures.
