Southern Footprints
Query Form Instructions

All subscribers' queries are printed free. Non-subscriber rates are .25 cents per word.

Query Instructions:

When composing a query, please double check all your dates, places, and spelling of names.

Please put all surnames in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Make sure the dates refer to the proper person.

Make sure that your query contains enough information for the people to be identifiable, if possible. Stating, "Looking for Tom Smith 1880's in VA" will yield you very few responses, if any!

BAD EXAMPLE: "Tom Smith b. 1875 m. Sarah Jones Smith d. 1910." This leads the reader to believe that Mary Jones Smith died in 1910, not Tom Smith!

GOOD EXAMPLE: "Tom SMITH b. 1875 probably VA and d. 2 Dec. 1910 in AL. Married Mary JONES. Marriage date is unknown but possibly between1895-1902. Children are: Sarah b. 1896 and Tom, Jr. 1899, both born in AL. Earliest census they appear in is Sumter County, AL census 1900." This query is clear, concise and gives the reader enough information to determine if they should contact you.

Make sure you include your name and address in your query.

Remember, some readers of Southern Footprints are not on the internet and can not contact you if the only thing you list is your email address.

Use standard postal abbreviations, i.e. TX for Texas.

Proof read your query for clarity and conciseness. If your query is confusing, you will not receive any replies!

To save space we will use the following standard abbreviations in all queries published.

In the event of an error in publishing your query on our part, we will run a corrected query in the next issue, after notification. Southern Footprints assumes no other liability to the submitters.

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(Please include membership number when e-mailing queries - entries sent without membership numbers will not be published)