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By SHARON TATE MOODY

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 2, 2009

The newest generation of genealogists knows its way around cyberspace, using search engines and keywords to find all sorts of heretofore unimaginable things online. These researchers are comfortable with their solitary quest from a comfortable chair. But if they entered a bricks-and-mortar archive, they might be lost.

Archives house the records of specific governments. They're gold mines just waiting for exploration by genealogists too impatient to wait for records to be digitized and put online.

The National Archives, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional facilities across the country, houses original records no longer needed for day-to-day functioning by the agencies that created them.

Of course, not every piece of paper is preserved. Professionals assess the documents and decide which are national treasures. The archive Web site estimates that 1 to 3 percent of a department's records make it into the facility.

Many of the more popular records, such as military service and pension files, have been microfilmed, with copies placed in the satellite facilities. Gradually, archives are digitizing collections most popular with genealogists and are putting them on their Web sites, but it's a slow process. Generally speaking, to see the original documents, one must travel to an archive.

The National Archives has published finding aids - guides for researchers - for its major holdings, such as cartographic records, pre-federal records, black history, American Indians and the trans-Mississippi West. They are priced and available for ordering online at www.archives.gov/ publications/finding-aids/guides.html.

Some General Information Leaflets are readable and printable at www.archives .gov/publications/general-info-leaflets/index.html.

Each state also has its own archives. In some states, researchers will find a combination state archives-library. Museum artifacts, rare books and art pieces all may be housed in one location.

Every researcher should take a look at the Web sites for the archives of every state in which his ancestors lived. See what collections are housed in each facility and which records have been microfilmed. Then visit.

Check with the archive before traveling so the rules won't be a surprise. Most places allow only pencil (not ink pens) and paper in the same room with original documents. Most do not allow scanners, although some permit the use of digital camera without flash.

Most facilities will allow laptop computers, but finding electrical outlets in the older facilities is a challenge, so researchers should arrive with fully charged batteries.

Researchers who go to archives usually are very serious about their time at the facility. Guidelines take this into account. Casual researchers, just there out of curiosity, should be cognizant and respect all the rules.

For example, don't drag a bored, protesting 10-year-old to the Texas State Archives. That facility does not allow anyone under the age of 12 into the search rooms and requires an adult for every person under the age of 15. Cell phones must be turned off or silenced. The Connecticut State Archives prohibits the "audible use of electronic devices." I hope that means folks can't talk on their cell phones while others are trying to concentrate.

Conducting solid genealogical research requires a combination of on-site and online research. Most research facilities have friendly staffs who enjoy sharing their collections and their knowledge.

Try this URL

Several readers wrote that they could not get the PERSI link from the July 5 Heritage Hunting to work. An alternative is at the Hillsborough County library site, www.hcplc.org. At the homepage, click on "Databases." Under "Subject Guides," click on "Genealogy," and then on "Heritage Quest." At that point researchers must enter their library card number. The next screen provides the link to PERSI.

A new book for beginners

The National Genealogical Society has a new publication for beginning genealogists. Edited by Pam Boyer Sayre, "Paths to Your Past" is a 57-page, softcover book of instructions for how to collect information from a variety of sources, how to record the data and how to write citations.

It's available for $18 (member price) online at www.ngsgenealogy.org. Before clicking on "Store," log in so the member price will be applied. Otherwise the cost is $21. The society promises a PDF version soon.

Sharon Tate Moody is a board-certified genealogist. Send your genealogy questions and event announcements to her in care of Getaway, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606 or stmoody0720@mac.com. She regrets that she is unable to assist with

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