Stephe and I just returned (well, a few months back) from a research trip to Baton Rouge. We had a grand time. The weather was okay. The food was great. And, wow, did we find some amazing things. And I will have several postings about this trip.

We spent most of our time in the East Baton Rouge Parish clerk's office (Louisiana has parishes instead of counties). We could have spent another week there easily. We were the odd folks out amongst all the real estate title people and attorneys. No matter. The East Baton Rouge Parish clerk's office is very welcoming to genealogists (not always the case), and the staff was welcoming, helpful and encouraging.

The research was fabulous. We found answers to old riddles, discovered new scandals, scratched our heads over new puzzles and ended up with a five inch pile of documents to transcribe: marriage licenses, successions (probate), divorce proceedings, lawsuits and more.

None of these things were on the internet. None were in books, as far as I know. I'm not sure even the Family History Center would have the full microfilm (and copies would be impossible).

I was reminded of an important lesson. Nothing takes the place of going to a locality and doing the research onsite. It's very expensive. It's very tiring. And there is never enough time. But when all else fails, you have to go there.

And I can't wait to go back! Thank you, Stephen.