3,602
edits
Spanish Letter Writing Guide: Difference between revisions
m
minor change correct one word ponerme
m (→FOLLOW-UP) |
Jamestanner (talk | contribs) m (minor change correct one word ponerme) |
||
| (14 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Download a copy of the [[Media:LWGSpanish.pdf|Spanish letter writing guide]]. You may want to write for genealogical information from Spain or Latin America if you cannot find the records you need at the | Download a copy of the [[Media:LWGSpanish.pdf|Spanish letter writing guide]]. You may want to write for genealogical information from Spain or Latin America if you cannot find the records you need at the FamilySearch Library. These instructions will help you prepare a letter requesting genealogical information from Spanish-speaking countries. Please note, however, that many records from Spain and Latin America have been microfilmed and are available through the FamilySearch Library. Before you write for information, check the FamilySearch Catalog to see if the records you need are available on microfilm. Also, check the records of surrounding towns and parishes to see if there are any other records which may help you. | ||
Letters written in Spanish have a greater chance of receiving a reply than those written in English. Spain has good response to correspondence, but receiving an answer may be difficult because of problems with the mail. In Latin America frequent mail strikes result in letters getting lost. | Letters written in Spanish have a greater chance of receiving a reply than those written in English. Spain has good response to correspondence, but receiving an answer may be difficult because of problems with the mail. In Latin America frequent mail strikes result in letters getting lost. | ||
== | ==Before You Write == | ||
Before you write a letter to obtain family history information, you should do two things: | Before you write a letter to obtain family history information, you should do two things: | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
•'''Determine exactly where your ancestor was born, married, or died.''' Because most genealogical records were recorded locally, you will need to know the specific locality where your ancestor was born, married, died, or resided for a given time. See the [[Tracing Immigrant Origins|Tracing Immigrant Origins]] Wiki article for help in finding home towns. | •'''Determine exactly where your ancestor was born, married, or died.''' Because most genealogical records were recorded locally, you will need to know the specific locality where your ancestor was born, married, died, or resided for a given time. See the [[Tracing Immigrant Origins|Tracing Immigrant Origins]] Wiki article for help in finding home towns. | ||
•'''Determine where records from your ancestor’s home parish are stored today.''' When you have a locality name, use a gazetteer to determine whether the name is a village, parish, city, district, county, or province and which parish serves your ancestor’s locality. Parish record books in which the most recent entry is older than 90 years are generally sent to provincial archives. | •'''Determine where records from your ancestor’s home parish are stored today.''' When you have a locality name, use a gazetteer to determine whether the name is a village, parish, city, district, county, or province and which parish serves your ancestor’s locality. Parish record books in which the most recent entry is older than 90 years are generally sent to provincial archives. | ||
== | == Research by Mail== | ||
Letters for genealogical information in Spanish-speaking countries will generally be written to a local Catholic parish, diocese, or archdiocese, or to local or central government archives. | Letters for genealogical information in Spanish-speaking countries will generally be written to a local Catholic parish, diocese, or archdiocese, or to local or central government archives. | ||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
Postal codes, similar to United States zip codes, are used in Spain and in some Latin American countries. Put the postal code before the city. If you don’t have the postal code, send the letter without the code. | Postal codes, similar to United States zip codes, are used in Spain and in some Latin American countries. Put the postal code before the city. If you don’t have the postal code, send the letter without the code. | ||
==How to Send Money== | |||
In your letter indicate that you will pay for research time, copies, and services | In your letter indicate that you will pay for research time, copies, and services. | ||
When writing to a state archive or a local civil registration office, '''do not send money'''in your first letter. Request that they advise you of their fees and the best way to send money. | *When writing to a state archive or a local civil registration office, '''do not send money''' in your first letter. Request that they advise you of their fees and the best way to send money. Usually they will ask that you deposit money in an account and provide the account number. You can arrange for that deposit through [https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/start '''Western Union'''] or [https://secure.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/?gclid=CjwKCAiA8rnfBRB3EiwAhrhBGoKue987mIxquMVZxw1pI7O_27Gznad2GJaB4C48LjkNkQFp5vlgEhoCZNEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds '''MoneyGram'''.] | ||
*Another recommended method: Simply telephone Ruesch International Financial. There is a $2 service charge. Have the check made payable to the organization you are contacting. Ruesch will give you a transaction number to write on your own payment check to them. Send the payment to: | |||
When writing to the local parish, send a donation of $ | ::Ruesch International Financial Services | ||
::International Division, 10th floor | |||
::1350 Eye Street N.W. | |||
::Washington, DC 20005 | |||
:When they receive your payment, Ruesch will promptly send you a foreign currency draft (check) you can mail to Europe or Latin America | |||
*When writing to the local parish, send a donation of $10.00 to $15.00 and express a desire to make further donations as their services are needed. | |||
| Line 60: | Line 66: | ||
<div id="refHTML"></div> | <div id="refHTML"></div> | ||
== | == How to Write a Letter in Spanish == | ||
Your letter should include: | Your letter should include: | ||
| Line 144: | Line 150: | ||
|} | |} | ||
== | == Follow Up== | ||
When you receive a reply, send a note of thanks or acknowledgment. You may wish to do this in a follow-up letter requesting further information. Refer by date to your earlier letters and their return letters. If they have assigned you a reference number, include that number as well. | When you receive a reply, send a note of thanks or acknowledgment. You may wish to do this in a follow-up letter requesting further information. Refer by date to your earlier letters and their return letters. If they have assigned you a reference number, include that number as well. | ||
Use Spanish-English dictionaries to help you understand the reply. Sometimes you can hire accredited genealogists to translate for you. | Use Spanish-English dictionaries to help you understand the reply. Sometimes you can hire accredited genealogists to translate for you. | ||
If you do not receive an answer, write again and include a copy of your first letter. Do not send more money unless you verify that your first letter did not arrive. | If you do not receive an answer, write again and include a copy of your first letter. Do not send more money unless you verify that your first letter did not arrive. | ||
==English-Spanish Phrases== | ==English-Spanish Phrases== | ||
{| | {| | ||
| Line 329: | Line 336: | ||
|style="padding-right:75px"| | |style="padding-right:75px"| | ||
If you are unable to do this research for me, please recommend a local researcher that I could hire for this purpose (if possible someone who speaks some English). | If you are unable to do this research for me, please recommend a local researcher that I could hire for this purpose (if possible someone who speaks some English). | ||
|De no ser posible que usted realice esta investigación, le agradecería que me recomiende una persona de su localidad, si es posible, alguien que hable ingles, que haga este tipo de investigaciones y con la cual yo pueda | |De no ser posible que usted realice esta investigación, le agradecería que me recomiende una persona de su localidad, si es posible, alguien que hable ingles, que haga este tipo de investigaciones y con la cual yo pueda ponerme en contacto. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 395: | Line 402: | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== | ===Example Letter=== | ||
{| | {| | ||