Surname Listservs @ RootsWeb

As most of you are aware, listservs exist on almost any possible subject. Genealogy is no exception. Whether you are searching a locality or a surname, chances are good that there is a listserv devoted to it. Some are much more active than others.

For those of you who have no experience with such lists, this is how they work. First you find a list of interest and subscribe. Then an email comes to your inbox when someone posts to that list. Usually, only subscribers are allowed to post. There are both moderated and unmoderated lists. On an unmoderated list, posts are distributed to all subscribers when they are sent -- much like an email. On a moderated list, posts are delayed until the moderator OKs them.

If you are interested in subscribing to a list for people who share your research interests, one place to look is RootsWeb.org. Some surname lists are more active than others so the amount of posts you will receive varies greatly from one list to another.

If you would rather not have new posts delivered to your email box and/or want to see what previously has been posted on such lists, you can search the archives and find out what has been posted over the last ten years.

Have fun!