| The phrase "burned counties" was first used for research in Virginia where many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires, or during the Civil War.<ref>An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin'', 4, issue 3 (July 1966) ({{FHL|41739|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 B2vs v. 4}}) ([http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61483708 WorldCat entry]).</ref> The strategies for researching places where a local courthouse or repository was wiped out by fire, tornado, war, flood, hurricane, earthquake, insects, rodents, mold, neglect, foxing, theft, tsunami, or cleaning-streak clerks are useful in similar situations all around the United States, Canada, and throughout the world.<br> | | The phrase "burned counties" was first used for research in Virginia where many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires, or during the Civil War.<ref>An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin'', 4, issue 3 (July 1966) ({{FHL|41739|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.5 B2vs v. 4}}) ([http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61483708 WorldCat entry]).</ref> The strategies for researching places where a local courthouse or repository was wiped out by fire, tornado, war, flood, hurricane, earthquake, insects, rodents, mold, neglect, foxing, theft, tsunami, or cleaning-streak clerks are useful in similar situations all around the United States, Canada, and throughout the world.<br> |
| "Burned counties" do not have to be end of the line research situations if you: prepare well, look for alternatives, search a variety of jurisdictions and repositories for the family, kin, and associates, and approach such research problems in innovative ways.<br><br> | | "Burned counties" do not have to be end of the line research situations if you: prepare well, look for alternatives, search a variety of jurisdictions and repositories for the family, kin, and associates, and approach such research problems in innovative ways.<br><br> |