OPC OBJECTIVES

We are a worldwide group of volunteers who compile reference material for particular parishes in Cornwall, which we gladly share with researchers at no cost. Many of us have records such as transcripts of parish registers (BMBs), Bishop's Transcripts, and much other data. While some have established websites to hold their data, others prefer to receive email requests and reply to the individual. All of us help people to the best of our abilities.

The Cornwall Online Parish Clerks were organized in January, 2001, according to the following principles:

COLLECT

Cornish Online-Parish-Clerks (OPCs) are volunteers who collect, collate and transcribe records for a chosen specific parish in Cornwall. The data originates from as many sources as can be accessed, including census, parish registers, cemetery records and parish histories. The emphasis is on genealogy, but is not limited to that alone. However, it takes time to transcribe and accumulate material, so an OPC may not yet have full data for all these sources.

PRESERVE

The object is to preserve information. Therefore, as much information as possible is being transcribed for later posting to a parish website, or for dissemination to many people using alternative means. The actual format may vary; some may be family reconstructions, others document transcripts. The storage medium may be home library, CD-ROM or via e-mail to another person’s computer. These precautions will reduce the chance of the loss of this work.

OPCs who have transcribed parish information are encouraged but not required to contribute data to an online website/database such as C-PROP, FreeReg, FreeCEN etc.

Additional objective, added 2009

In order preserve an OPC's work, records donated to our database (C-PROP) will remain online indefinitely and be passed on to a subsequent OPC for that specific parish. Error corrections will be made, when these are notified and confirmed. Copyright remains with the transcriber, so he/she can donate to whichever other free-to-use resource they choose.

SHARE

The Cornish Online Parish Clerk volunteers provide information to researchers at no charge.
 
All information is provided to researchers on the understanding that transcripts are, at best, a secondary source and only a guide. As errors may occur, original documents should always be checked.

FLEXIBLE

Each OPC decides what data to collect, how it will be organised and distributed or displayed.

CARE

Each OPC considers possible copyright, data protection and privacy issues, and avoids misuse of data.

STRUCTURE

Volunteers perform the following roles:

• Co-ordinator: notes which parishes have active volunteers and which are available for adoption, advises OPCs of issues and changes. co-ordinates OPCs' views  and assists with problems of communication.
• Webmaster: maintains the pages containing the list of active OPCs, their websites and other data at the request of the Co-ordinator.
• Addition 2006. LDS Co-ordinator: provides a central point for two-way communication with the LDS and the distribution of some material to be transcribed, after obtaining necessary permission.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you are interested in becoming more involved with the OPC project or have further questions, please contact our Co-ordinator, Myra Cordrey, who may be reached by email. If you are looking for research help then follow the link to the Parish Index, to find the list of volunteers.

 © 2004-2009 Cornwall OPC

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