[Genealib] Deterioration of Vital Records--From Raliegh NewsandObserver

[Susan Scouras]

Under the auspices of Fredrick H. Armstrong, then director of the
Archives and History section of the West Virginia Division of Culture
and History, West Virginia created and implemented records preservation
and management laws, created a Records Management and Preservation Board
and created a grant program that provides matching funds for
preservation needs, shelving, archival storage materials, etc.  Mr.
Armstrong, as State Archivist, worked with state, county and local
government officials to not only rescue and preserve historical records,
but to create a management program for disposal and retention of current
and future records.  Visit our Web site at
http://www.wvculture.org/history/rmpb/rmpb.html for more information,
including the relevant West Virginia State Code and Legislative Rules,
as well as forms for records retention, grant guidelines and
applications, etc.  Perhaps the shining star of the site is theCounty
Records Management Manual,
http://www.wvculture.org/history/rmpb/crmmanual.html, particularly the
chapter on The Life Cycle of a Record,
http://www.wvculture.org/history/rmpb/crmmanual1.html#life. The whole
program is funded by means of document preservation fees collected by
county clerks and submitted to the State Auditor.   
 
 
Susan Scouras
Librarian
WV Archives and History Library
The Cultural Center
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
Charleston, WV  25305-0300
(304) 558-0230, Ext. 742
 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Sellers,
Charlotte
	Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:22 AM
	To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
	Subject: RE: [Genealib] Deterioration of Vital Records--From
Raliegh NewsandObserver
	
	
	Kevin and all,
	 
	Deteriorating and threatened local records seem to be a
widespread problem. I've approached county commissioners here several
times about starting an archive to protect the records as well as make
them available in an organized manner to those who use them. Finally
this fall they asked me to investigate possible funding for such a
project. Right! I'm sure they don't expect me to return but I'm sure
gonna try!
	 
	The county attorney and a reporter at the meeting volunteered
for the committee along with representatives from the county
genealogical and historical societies and an individual who does a lot
of local research and is familiar with record locations. The schools
declined representation. We're just getting started but ... what to do? 
	 
	I've invited our local Leadership Jackson County organization to
form a team to measure the records literally and perhaps to inventory
what records are there. We need to have an idea of what's essential for
genealogical and historical purposes in addition to those mandated by
the state for preservation -- and an idea of those that are not
essential. We also must speed up talks among groups with interest in the
records to see what cooperation can be developed.
	 
	Some records have been rescued from a dumpster, some have been
removed by well-meaning individuals wanting to "protect" them from ...
uh, theft. Some of those turned up in a barn loft in the county. Those
asking to use the records are pretty much left to themselves and can
easily leave by a door in the courthouse basement. Even after courthouse
remodeling a couple of years ago, no real accommodation was made for the
records. Some have been stored in an unprotected house across the
street, scattered among voting machines. Some have been turned over to
the county historical society which stores them in an unheated building.
Slowly they are slipping away ...
	 
	Archives at the state level are in many cases not much better
off, I'm thinking.
	 
	Have any states or localities come up with reasonable solutions
for conserving the records while making them available? What good ideas
have you come across in places you have researched? I know Berks County,
Pennsylvania, makes copies of some of its county records available
online for a quite reasonable fee but I have no idea whether the program
pays for itself. Some places here in Indiana also have attempted record
preservation for either a single office or a single set of records but
I'd like to know more.... 
	 
	
	Charlotte Sellers
	Jackson County Historian
	 
	Local History Specialist
	Jackson  County Public Library
	303 West 2nd Street
	Seymour IN  47274
	Voice 812.522.3412 ext 240
	email csellers at myjclibrary.org
	 

  _____  

	From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Cherry,
Kevin
	Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 2:44 PM
	To: Librarians Serving Genealogists;
genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
	Subject: [Genealib] Deterioration of Vital Records--From Raliegh
News andObserver
	
	
	I thought that list members might find this article interesting.
	 
	 
	http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/durham/story/811899.html
	 
	Kevin Cherry

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/pipermail/genealib/attachments/20071206/58a4cc9d/attachment.html