Massachusetts Vital Records 1600-1849 Online

Volunteer Information

It is only with the aid of volunteers that the vital records will be made available to all genealogists. There are several ways volunteers can help.
  1. Transcribing. This is the largest part of the job. It is the easiest in that it is simply typing exactly what is seen on a page from a book and it is the hardest in that accuracy is so very critical. There are errors in the books. It is imperative that the transcriptions be accurate in order not to introduce new errors.
    • If you think you'd like to do transcriptions, but aren't sure:
      • Print out the directions for transcribing
      • Write us and we'll send you 4 pages of images to transcribe. This is a check to see how well you understood the directions.
    • If you're sure you want to do transcriptions:
      • Write us with the town(s) in which you are interested. We will do our best to accomodate you. It is sometimes just not possible.
  2. Photocopying/scanning of the books. The transcriptions are important. They are easier to search through and they can be cut and paste to other applications. The page images are the most important. These are for researchers to use for documentation. In some cases, these are the only records that exist.
    • If you do not have a scanner:
      • Check your library to find out which volumes they have and how much it costs to make copies. At the Spokane, WA library, it costs 10¢ for a legal size page and it will copy 2 adjacent pages from the book on each copy.
      • Decide which ones you would be interested in copying and check with me to make sure someone else isn't already doing it.
      • Copy as many pages as you think you can afford. At 10¢ and 2 pages per copy, $10 will copy 200 pages.
      • Mail the copies to me at:
        John Slaughter
        5441 W Delaware St
        Spirit Lake, ID 83869
    • If you have a scanner:
      • Do as above, except for mailing me the copies.
      • Scan the images at 150dpi in black and white and crop them. This is a judgement call. I try to crop the images with a space that is about equal to the width of 5 characters.
      • Save the images with names like Births_nn.gif, Marriages_nn.gif, Deaths_nn.gif. Save as non-interlaced 89a GIF images. It is probably easier to set up a folder for each type of record.
      • E-mail them to me in blocks of 50 images, (Zipping them works best.) OR
      • Copy all images to a CD and mail to me at the above address.
  3. Help monetarily. Think very carefully before you decide on this option. I have no financial backing.
    • Do this only
      • IF you do not have the time, and
      • IF you do not have access to the books, and
      • IF your cost for copying is prohibitively expensive, AND
      • you feel absolutely comfortable doing so.
    • Consider the towns you would most like copied and online.
      NOTE: I will not do just certain names. The books will be done in order. Usually I'll do Births, Marriages and Deaths at the same time matching surnames.
    • Consider how much you want copied and its cost.
      NOTE: Every dime will be put up as 2 copied pages. I will not deduct anything for mileage, parking or my time. If I make an error while copying, I'll cover the error out of my own pocket.
    • Send me the amount you wish to donate to me at the address above. Be sure to tell me which town you want done. Also, your e-mail address so I can notify you when I have received your contribution and when I have completed the work. I will not deposit the money until I am on the way to the library.

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Copyright ©2005-'07 by John Slaughter & Jodi Salerno
Last Updated: 19 September, 2007