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Archiver > APG > 2004-04 > 1081170823


From: "Nancy Coleman" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] New York City Death Index database now available to all
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 09:14:02 -0400
References: <JLEOKLFJENMAAHOKPDLMEEEJCLAA.eileenpolakoff@att.net>


I will add my "here, here" to Eileen's praise of John
Martino and the IGG. John is a tireless worker who has
brought an unbelievable amount of (previously hard to search
or practically uselessly arranged) records to us in easy to
search formats. If there are major mistakes like the "L"
and "S" situation, it was most likely in the original
(typeset) record. The mistake was probably originally made
when preparing that document from the handwritten
certificates or a handwritten index prepared from the
handwritten certificates. :) Millions of them.

As Eileen has mentioned, this particular period of death
records in NYC is one that is a major "groan" to work with.
And I mean you will really groan and grouse when you have to
use the originally printed material. Every search takes at
least 12 times longer than any other search. Sixty times
longer if you are looking in all five boroughs. That's not
counting searches for spelling variations. A major eye
strain to boot.

Although I did not work on this particular project with him,
I have worked on the "Old Man WWII Draft Registration"
project and two of the many naturalization indexing projects
he has brought online.

One thing I'd like to add is how John works. He assembles
an army. How he does it I don't know but he has a power of
persuasion to get into any county clerk's offices and take
over the place. I was in the county clerk's office in
Mineola one day and knew he was there on the Nassau
Naturalization project. The clerk showed me to a very large
back room where John and four volunteers had taken over with
computers and all, set up and rolling along. Unheard of.
But he gets it done somehow. And, he gets it done quickly.
He gets cooperation (from archivists) wherever he goes. He
is thorough. He has a smaller army of proofreaders or spot
checkers. He has a gaggle of computer people who format,
scan, design, etc. People want to work with him because
he's good and he follows through. Plus, he's the nicest guy
in the world!

He should get a Pulitzer for what he does. :) Or, someone
should make him a "Fellow" of something or other... I will
work with John any day and I look forward to working on his
next project if I can. He's a NYC treasure.

Best regards. Nancy.

Nancy Coleman

http://www.genealogyPro.com/ncoleman.html

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