Contacted the Locals?

There are several reasons to contact the locals in the area whre your ancestor lived. Local genealogical or historical societies may have unique collections of material or customized finding aids to local items. They are also likely to be familiar with local families (especially in rural areas) and local research facilities. If there is no historical or genealogical society in your research area, contact the local library. They also are a good resource for specialized research clues in the immediate area.