METHODOLOGY

In order to better understand my comments, perhaps it would be helpful
for me to explain how I went about researching.  Thus, shortfalls that
might be due to my own shortcomings might be more readily exposed,
rather than placing the burden unfairly upon the research facility. 
Comments, questions, suggestions for improvements welcomed.

Advance Preparation:

Knowing that my time would be very precious in Charleston, and knowing
that my research would cover several lines over many generations [from
late 1600s to about 1830], I knew I had to organize as best I could well
in advance.

Because the decision was made in December 1999 to hold the reunion in
Charleston, I had about four months to prepare.

I first set about organizing the data I already had in my possession. 
This meant organizing my gedcoms [which I transferred in parts to my
laptop from my primary p.c.] and printing an outline. [I use Family
Treemaker.] I then decided to further organize my data into narrative
form so that the facilities where I would research would have some idea
of my research issues, but also so that they would have something for
their files.  Finally, I uploaded my most crucial gedcoms to a
MyFamily.com website so that I could download them again if needed, or
access them from a public library computer. Of course, Rootsweb's World
Connect project is a good place to upload your gedcom.  I didn't do so
for this trip because I wanted my gedcoms to remain private until I had
corrected and updated my data.

While organizing, I ran across many "holes" and research needs that I
began to organize into charts.  I kept these charts in my wordprocessing
programs [I use WordPerfect on my p.c. and Word on my laptop], as well
as on hard copies.

I downloaded the basic chart form from Ancestry.com's Research Calendar
found on:

http://www.ancestry.com/save/charts/researchcal.htm

and modified the form for each facility where I would be researching. 
For example, for the public library, I had the title of the book and the
call number as columns in the chart; for the SC Historical Society, I
had the request number [more on these topics later.]

Once I had gone through and listed all the documents I knew I wished to
examine or obtain based upon my own notes, I then turned to the
facilities where I knew I would be researching to see if I could further
list some finding aids.

For the SC Historical Society, I went to their website at this URL:

http://www.schistory.org/

From there, I clicked on each of their "Online catalogs" categories and
performed searches for my various surnames.  For those "hits" that
looked promising, I recorded the information on the chart I had prepared
for the Historical Society, including the request number.  I also
explored all of the links connected to this website.

While at the website, I also found the e-mail address where I could
address questions:  [email protected]

The ever-knowledgeable Peter Wilkerson answered my inquiry, and over the
months we worked together on a research strategy.

Because of the volume of my research, I ended up attaching my chart as
an email attachment and sending it on.  [More on this later.]

For the Charleston County library, I went to this URL:

http://www.ccpl.org/scr.html#bibstart

and read thoroughly all of their links, as well as performing searches
in their catalog and databases.  Again, I recorded what I wanted to
research on the chart that I had organized for the library, including
call number, title and author, as well as what surnames I expected to
find within those books and other sources.  Unlike the other two
facilities, I did not contact this library in advance.

For the Huguenot Society, several researchers and cousins [Thank you,
Mary, Betty, Renee, and more] gave me references to my various surnames
From the Index to the Transactions of the Huguenot Society; again, these
were duly recorded on yet another chart modified for the Huguenot
society.

Additionally, I struck up a lovely correspondence with the Director,
Renee Marshall, and emailed her with my long list of research desires. 
We were able to winnow down to a manageable amount some documents that
she copied in advance and mailed to me [with a bill that I later paid by
check]; doing so allowed me to better know in advance where to
concentrate my research there.  The Huguenot Society, to my knowledge,
does not currently have an online searchable database, but their website
is here:

http://www.huguenotsociety.org/

One week before arrival:

Closer to the date of arrival in Charleston, I let the Historical
Society and the Huguenot Society know of my approximate schedule for
researching in their respective facilities, and they let me know about
their adjustment of schedules for holiday hours.  The need for
contacting each of these places was also dependent upon the fact that
there would be several researchers coming to their relatively small
facilities at one time, and I wanted to give them fair warning.

Also discussed in advance were the use of laptops [allowed in all three
places] and scanners [allowed without charge at the library; not allowed
at the Huguenot society yet; SC Historical society considering a policy
allowing scanners.]  I used my laptop on this trip, but not my scanner
even though I had it with me.

Once in Charleston:

Each day's schedule was planned around the hours of the various
facilities, along with the amount of research to be performed.  For me,
I have access to census records and some of the more widely available
books such as deed and will abstracts.  I get these records on my treks
to Washington, D.C. [I live in CT, but have a daughter living in D.C.]
I have access to the Huguenot Transactions in New Paltz, NY where I can
go a few times per year.  So, I wished to concentrate on materials not
available outside of SC.

Since the Historical and Huguenot Societies had vertical files on my
various ancestors, and since these facilities were normally only open
during the daytime, I first concentrated on researching in these two
places during the day, and then at the Public Library in the evening, as
it is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday evenings [and until six
p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; they also have Sunday hours but were not
open on Easter Sunday.]

Particulars as to each facility will be covered later.

[to be continued]