<html><head><style type="text/css"></style></head><body><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><div>in a couple of words, yes, very much so.  It's not extraneous in any sense, and  I don't understand how you think it involves "taking the extra time".  The degree of precision is of course going to match the same level you employ.   Coordinates can be as precise, or as approximate as you care to make them.  Just allows a point of reference that translates digitally and manually across multiple tools, including but not limited to maps.  Have a "general location" than use "general coordinates."</div><div><br></div><div>But I think if you used mapping to the degree I do, then you would appreciate the value.  Location, even a "general location" in most cases is critical information, with our without coordinates. Using a reference set of numbers simply allows you to do more with that location information.   Do you do any family "history" type research?</div><div><br></div><div>But even using the reasons that you listed as to why you think location of a piece of land is important, so you do as I do, use historic maps and records to identify those items.  Often that means going to historical overlays or later maps that do show latitude and longitude, or approximating (or precisely finding) location on an equivalent modern map.  Once I do that I simply mark down the coordinates for anything that I "located" by those methods.   Then I can calculate distances etc in various ways.   Finding coordinates is not a difficult, time consuming process.  And of course the researcher defines how precise or general a level those coordinates are being employed at.  Useful to mark even an approximate location (as long as that's made clear).</div><div><br></div><div>I don't know why you think it takes extra time?  I take it you've never used coordinates or you wouldn't come to that conclusion.  It's a "time saver".  It marks that "USEFUL information" covered by historic maps allowing it to then be used in a digital environment across maps, employing some amazing tools.  Think of it as a geographic file reference number that carries more information and can be input into future references and overlays.  </div><div><br></div><div>But I don't think this is for you Michael, though I think at some point as more and more digitized mapping tools emerge you'll take another look at it.</div><div><br></div><div>Larry </div></div><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><br><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Michael Hait <michael.hait@hotmail.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> apgpubliclist@apgen.org<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Mon, November 1, 2010 1:04:32 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [APG Public List] mapping and research<br></font><br> <div dir="ltr"> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:'Times New Roman';COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> <div>I use historic maps in nearly every project.  But these historic maps do not have latitude/longitude on them usually.  I also use land records in nearly every project, which allows me to place the land on the maps (at least in a general sense).  My point is that discovering the general location (especially when dealing with a 200-acre farm) is an important step, but pinpointing the exact longitude/latitude seems like an extraneous step that does not add anything to the research.</div> <div> </div> <div>I look at it this way – location of a piece of land is important for the following reasons:</div> <div>- records jurisdiction</div> <div>- relation to topographical landmarks</div> <div>- distance to county courthouses</div> <div>- distance to nearest town</div> <div>- location of nearest church</div> <div>- identities of neighbors</div> <div>- identifying possible migration routes (through relation to bodies of water, historic trails, etc)</div> <div>- (and of course other more creative uses I am sure)</div> <div> </div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:'Times New Roman';COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">All of these tasks, however, can be completed using historic records and historic maps, including identifying topographical landmarks, etc.  But how does taking the extra time and effort to pinpoint a precise latitude/longitude provide additional USEFUL information, not covered by the historic records/maps?</div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:'Times New Roman';COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"><br><br>Michael Hait<br>michael.hait@hotmail.com<br><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.haitfamilyresearch.com">http://www.haitfamilyresearch.com</a></span></div> <div style="FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri';COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:small;FONT-WEIGHT:normal;TEXT-DECORATION:none;"> <div style="FONT:10pt tahoma;"> <div> </div> <div style="BACKGROUND:#f5f5f5;"> <div style=""><b>From:</b> <a rel="nofollow" title="laboswell@rogers.com" ymailto="mailto:laboswell@rogers.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:laboswell@rogers.com">L. Boswell</a> </div> <div><b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 01, 2010 12:50 PM</div> <div><b>To:</b> <a rel="nofollow" title="michael.hait@hotmail.com" ymailto="mailto:michael.hait@hotmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:michael.hait@hotmail.com">Michael Hait</a> ; <a rel="nofollow" title="apgpubliclist@apgen.org" ymailto="mailto:apgpubliclist@apgen.org" target="_blank" href="mailto:apgpubliclist@apgen.org">apgpubliclist@apgen.org</a> </div> <div><b>Subject:</b> mapping and research</div></div></div> <div> </div></div> <div style="FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri';COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:small;FONT-WEIGHT:normal;TEXT-DECORATION:none;"> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> <div> </div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">sorry, forgot to change the subject in that last one. <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></div></div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> </div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Good point John, and GPS coordinates mean much the same thing (I just like to remind people that this isn't based on something new!)</div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> </div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Michael, got to thinking here.  How important is mapping and the use of maps to you in your research?   I barely move without referring to a map when I working on a file.   More likely multiple maps.  If your answer is "pretty important" than the use of coordinates is simply going to be a good tool to have on hand.  If you never work with maps, then I can see your point.  But I don't see how I could do effective research without referencing things to a location on a map of some sort</div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> </div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman, new york, times, serif;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Larry</div> <div style=""></div></div></div></div></div> </div></div><div style="position:fixed"></div> </div></body></html>