What's a Query and Why Should I Care? #ResearchOpportunity

Queries 

Queries used to be a basic tool all researchers needed to craft. Before the internet was available to the average person, queries were sent to newspapers, magazines, newsgroups, and mail lists. 

Yes, email was around before the Internet! And newsgroups preceded mail lists and forums, although to the consumer, they work similarly. Much of the time we now work alone, or privately with cousins on our shared research. In my opinion, when we work only privately, something has been lost. 

First, how to craft a successful query? And then, what to do with it? 

A query is a question -- and more. A good query starts with an excellent subject line or headline, accurately and concisely describes the person or situation of interest, and ends with a call for action. You can see that in my mother's query, published 25 years ago in The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pictured above. She stated what she knew and how to contact her with more information. There was a limit of 50 words, so this was not very effective and she never got a response. This was part of a "Dear Genie" column published by the Linn County Genealogical Society. I assume that the Warren County GS passed it along to them? We genealogists have been helping one another out for a long time. Remember Genealogical Helper? I found my husband's second cousin through that now-defunct magazine -- thanks to a query she posted there.

These days we are more likely to send a query to an online group or email list, or perhaps post it on a Facebook genealogy group. See more about that at Genealogy as a Team Sport: Getting Your Message Out. These days, you can post on a message board, send that same query to an online group or two, such as a surname board/group and locality or perhaps a more specialized group if you need help with deciphering old script or a record translated. For genealogical queries, consider amplifying your reach with social media, such as tweeting about the person with a photo or other graphic and linking to the more complete post. Not mentioned in that older blog post are our new online groups at https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society which you can use as mail list, forum, or both. 

Recently we've cooked up a new way to share your Persons of Interest aka research problems or "brick walls." 

Perhaps you are seeing the situation or person as a brick wall because you are working alone? We are inviting you to write everything you know about the person in a timeline, either in a Google Doc you send along to our online group, https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society or in a post. 

We'll put your query into a Google Doc and send the link to the group as a reply. 

Then come to our meeting Monday, August 31st from 1-3 pm PDT and we'll work it together. We're using Google docs because they can be added to or edited by multiple people at the same time. 

This is a #ResearchOpportunity! Everyone is welcome to come and help out those who have presented their Persons of Interest. Fresh eyes and extra databases sometimes work miracles!

Valorie Zimmerman