DGS Proposed Genealogical Projects and Priorities
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DGS Project Prioritization with Tom Doherty's CommentsThis order of priority does not mean that we will work on the first project first. The projects we work on first will depend on many factors, but a primary factor will be the interest of the volunteers. Volunteers started work in 2001 on several projects, including the 15th project on the list. The Delaware Public Archives volunteered to supply microfilms of their original records for the Orphan's Court (#3a), tax (#6) and Revolutionary War (#13) projects.The numbers in parentheses following each project in the list below refer to the number of points each project received in the 2001 membership vote on priorities. The four projects with the most points stand out at the top of the list: 1 - Abstract & Index all County Wills & Administrations to 1850 (130) REMARKS: very large project; NC (wills only), KT, SX published to 1800 (also SX for 1852-69); all counties indexed by deceased (KT on web), but abstracts would link other surnames to the deceased - very valuable! CONCERNS: the enormity of the task (would "publish" incrementally); most recent microfilm arranged alphabetically, not chronologically; old LDS microfilm chronological, but missing a lot of records. 2 - Index 1880 Census of Delaware (116) 3 - Index 1910 Census of Delaware (106) REMARKS: most useful to new researchers; large project (should be every name/age index); 1880 (now only indexed for families w/children under 10), can help many stuck in 1900s, since 1890 census is missing. DE is one of a few unindexed states for 1910, National Genealogical Society may help sponsor, supply microfilm CONCERNS: coordinate with GenWeb (see GenWeb Census Project) 3a- Abstract & Index Orphan's Court Records (106) REMARKS: moderately large project; some indexed now, but abstracts extremely useful; images put on a CD from DPA microfilm. Project begun 2003; volunteers abstract CD images on home computer. Contact Margaret David at madvd28@aol.com 5 - Undertaker & Cemetery Records (74) REMARKS: large project; much that is not found on tombstones CONCERNS: negotiating access to records 6 - Transcribing Delaware Tax Records (61) Several DGS members have begun transcribing Delaware tax records. REMARKS: very large project; valuable data on family relationships, age, marriage, death, migration; 1787-1800 chosen because qualifier for Delaware Families project, but earlier records will be considered too; format same as "1782" book, but series of years improves data; DPA will supply microfilm. This project started with 15 volunteer transcribers. Read a more complete description. 7 - Abstract & Index Apprentice Indentures Records (58) -- on microfilm REMARKS: moderate-size project; some records are indexed now, but abstracts would be extremely useful 8 - Update inventory of Delaware Church Records (47) REMARKS: very large project; much needed - now very hard to learn which church vital and other records exist and where to find them CONCERNS: enormity of task; getting access to records 9 - Index Wilmington Death Register (36) - on microfilm REMARKS: small; almost every death and/or burial in Wilmington beginning 1847 10 - Computerize DPA card catalog of vital statistics (34) REMARKS: large project; one of the best compilations of state vitals but can only be accessed by the few who can get to Dover; DPA may be doing this themselves. 10a- Abstract pre-1850 newspapers not covered in prev. pub. works (34) REMARKS: moderately large task; much genealogical info and vitals not found elsewhere; some vitals info in "Delaware Marriages and Deaths from Newspapers 1729-1853"; many old state newspapers have recently been microfilmed 12 - Computerize DHS' card catalog (21) REMARKS: very large project; exceptional wealth of information, well-indexed; DHS prefers to do this themselves, and that is why it isn't ranked higher as a DGS project 13 - Index "Delaware Archives, Military", volume 6 (18) REMARKS: small to moderate project; v.1-5 published; a lot including some pension applications in v.6; abstracts very beneficial; DPA will supply microfilm 13a- Index 1868 Beer's Atlas of DE (1868) (18) REMARKS: small project; statewide; need to develop grid 15 - Abstract & Index Slave Manumissions Records (16) -- microfilmed REMARKS: moderately sized project; DGS opportunity to help the very difficult slave ancestry research |