Obtaining personnel records about Panama Canal without going to Panama? I have an ancestor whom I've been told helped construct the Panama Canal. I have done some searching online but have not been able to find any personnel records or other data that would help me corroborate the claim. My understanding is that the Panama Canal itself houses these records, but in order to access them you have to actually go there, which I'm disinclined to do. Is there an online repository of this information to which I can gain access?

Here's an update. I'm a FamilySearch wiki contributor. Canal Zone Employment records have been digitized and are searchable in the FamilySearch website. A description of these records is available at the FamilySearch wiki:

* United States, Panama Canal Zone, Employment Records and Sailing lists, 1905-1937)