"Have researcher, will travel (and pay!)" Topic
4 Posts
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 Saginaw  | 10 Sep 2026 1:12 p.m. PST |
I'm hoping that this post is in the correct message board, so here it goes! I've been interested in finding archived plans of the steam torpedo ram USS Intrepid, which was launched in 1874 and spent a small portion of her eight year career conducting experimental exercises and tests along the East Coast with her spar torpedoes. The majority of her remaining service was spent docked at the New York Navy Yard until she was eventually sold for scrap in 1892. I emailed my inquiry to the National Archives in College Park, MD and within a couple of days I was informed that they had the plans. I asked if the plans could be scanned and sent to my email after payment, but I was told that they would not be able to do that – I would have to make an appointment to use their research facilities there to scan my own copies. Crap. They did offer a solution in that if I was unable to make the trip to College Park, they would be able to provide a list of independent researchers for hire to find, scan, and email the plans to me. A few of them are located either in Washington, DC or within a reasonable driving distance to College Park. The potential sticking point that I'm concerned about is that a number of these researchers are listed as working for professional research and archival businesses, and I don't want my poor wallet (or bank account) to be raked over the proverbial "coals"! My question to my fellow TMPers is have any of you ever used a for-hire paid researcher to find and deliver whatever information you were looking for? Was the price for their services reasonable? Were they able to retrieve and deliver your requested information to you in a timely manner? Were there any problems or issues thst popped up at all? Thank you. |
| Frederick | 10 Sep 2026 2:38 p.m. PST |
No but I do have a friend who has done a lot of ACW archival work – can ask her about what she would do |
| Saginaw | 10 Sep 2026 3:07 p.m. PST |
Thank you, Frederick. I really appreciate you for that! 
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 Grelber | 10 Sep 2026 3:36 p.m. PST |
I wanted the American military observer's report on the 1897 Greco-Turkish War which I was told was archived in Washington, D.C. I got the same thing: there are professional researchers who will do this for you, if popping by from Utah or Colorado doesn't amuse you. Like you, I was concerned about the cost. It struck me that my job had sent me to Washington a couple times. Maybe if I wait, they will do it again. That was 25 years ago, they still haven't sent me to Washington, and now I'm retired.
If it helps, the professional researcher should know where to go, what to bring, and how to go about getting what you need, saving you a lot of frustration.
Best of luck and let us know how it goes. Grelber |
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