The card file is an old one that has "always" been here (State History Office, NY State Museum - yes, just downstairs from the State Archives). No one seems to know where it came from but we find it useful from time to time.

The NY Names database is maintained by the US Geographic Names Board of the US Geological Survey in Washington. It is available on the web. There are two site I use for these data:

http://mit.edu:8001/geo
http://mapping.usgs.gov/www/gnis/index.html

A search of the first one only came up with the Herkimer County place name.

Philip Lord, Jr.
Historical Survey
New York State Museum
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>>> Bonnie Glickman <[log in to unmask]> 08/05 2:54 PM >>>
Phil Lord wrote:
>
> A check of the Federal place names database for New York State reveals no place name "Thendara" so this is a dead end for researching historic
origins.  An old card index of New York State place nmes, however, reveals
a card as follows: "Thendara, Unincorp. village, Town of Webb, Herkimer
County; There is no record of any early history or name origin. WPA"

Phil:  Could you please explain what the Federal place names database is?
Also, what is the significance of a town NOT being listed when you know it
exists, such as Thendara in this case.  I just did an InfoSeek search for
just "Thendara" and of the first 10 listings, 5 were for the New York town
in Herkimer County.  (Some of the other sites might have clues on the
meaning of the name - I didn't take the time to check them out...)

Are the Federal place names database and the card index you mentioned
available for public use and/or on the Internet?  Are you located anywhere
near the NYS Archives?  (Just as a ref. point, as I have been there doing
research.)

Thanks, Bonnie Glickman  Rochester NY