A query is when you inquire about surnames and/or your ancestor(s) by posting on a genealogy forum.
Queries are posted online in the hopes that others who may be researching the same surnames and/or ancestors will see your post and respond
with the requested information, offer other information and/or resources.
A few online forums are listed at the bottom of this page.
How to write an effective query:
Include the surname(s) you are searching for in bold letters or in all CAPITAL letters.
Give alternative spellings if known.
Give dates or approximate dates of events, along with
locations. This is very important. If you do not have dates and/or
locations, give your best guess and be as specific as possible.
Use upper and lower case letters in your query. Using all CAPS
(other than for a surname) distracts from the important parts you
want people to read and some people think of it as screaming.
Keep your query as brief as possible. No one wants to read the
entire family tree, they just want to see the part that interests
them.
Briefly share what you already know and where you found it, or
where you looked.
Summarize your message by stating exactly what you hope to
find. Be specific, be brief.
Offer to share information you already have in your ancestral
records.
Don't forget to include sufficient contact information but do
not provide your home address or phone number. If the site
requires you to log-in, keep a record so you can go back and
update your contact information if your contact information
changes. Many times, someone might respond to an older post when
new information comes to light.
List important information in your title:
"Looking for family" is NOT a good title, everyone is looking
for family/ancestors, etc.; nor is "HELP!!" People that look
through queries don't usually have the time or inclination to look
at "Help" queries. Personally, I rarely look at either of the
types of queries above. "James Holley 1877 IN" or "Holley 1850
NY>OH>IN" are good titles. It gives name, time frame, and
location.
"Death Records - 1820" is another example of a good title. It
gives what you are looking for and the time frame.
Suggestions:
If you have an online family tree or your own personal
genealogy page, submit a link to this site so that others who may
be researching the same family will be able to see your family
tree. Make your email address available either here on this site
or at your online family tree so people may communicate with you.
Ask researchers to email you personally.
Make sure your email and/or a mailing address are at the
bottom of the query. This way people will not have to click to two
or three places to find your address.
Send follow up messages and acknowledge with a "thank you"
when someone contacts you with information.
If you are able, volunteer to do look-ups in your local area
or at the very least, offer to look in your own records for
information that might help someone else.
Before you post a query on a forum, do a search to see if
someone else has posted a query on the same ancestor. If it's a
newer post, you may want to reply rather than start a new thread
on the same subject.
Free Online Genealogy Forums:
The Ancestry.com
RootsWeb
Mail List was discontinued as of March 2, 2020 and you can no
longer post queries here. However,
Navajo County Message Board posts dating back 20 years were
archived and saved as a PDF file by us. You may visit the
Navajo County Mail List archives
online and scroll through the
list page by page and/or perform a search. You may also request a
copy of the PDF file by contacting the Navajo County Coordinator at
the bottom of any page on this site. The PDF file is searchable
and printable.
Ancestry.com
Message Boards is very active. The world's largest online
genealogy community with over 25 million posts on more than
198,000 boards. You do not need to be a paid subscriber to use
their message boards. The link will take you directly to Navajo
County where you can read past queries, post new queries, or
respond to queries already posted.
GenForums is a source not only
for their forums but for developing your research skills. They
offer a wealth of information beginning with a "getting started
guide", form letter templates for requesting information, and a
multitude of tips and hints including writing to family members.
The list goes on and on. If you're just getting started, or even
if you're a seasoned genealogist, this website is a must.
RootsChat
offers help for beginners with a family history beginners board
among others.
We need volunteers!
Please click HERE to see
Arizona counties that are up for adoption. Or click
HERE to choose
from other states and for more information on volunteering. Thank you
for your interest!