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

Thu Dec 6 14:16:39 EST 2007

Thank you for this information. Loose records projects are really 
important since pages go missing and get out of place easily.
I will pass it along
Laura

Sellers, Charlotte wrote:
> Forwarded on behalf of Amos J. Wright ...
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* Amos J Wright [mailto:ajwright at uab.edu]
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:32 AM
> *To:* Sellers, Charlotte
> *Subject:* FW: [Genealib] Deterioration of Vital Records--From Raliegh 
> NewsandObserver
>
> Hi…see my note below…forward it to the list if you wish…aj
>
> A.J. Wright, M.L.S.
> Associate Professor
> Director, Section on the History of Anesthesia
>
> Department of Anesthesiology Library
> University of Alabama at Birmingham
> 619 19th Street South, JT965
> Birmingham AL 35249-6810
>
> (205) 975-0158
> (205) 975-5963 [fax]
> ajwright at uab.edu
>
> http://www.anes.uab.edu/libraryinformation.htm
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* Amos J Wright
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 06, 2007 9:29 AM
> *To:* 'Librarians Serving Genealogists'
> *Subject:* RE: [Genealib] Deterioration of Vital Records--From Raliegh 
> NewsandObserver
>
> You should look at the Loose Records Project here in Alabama…some info at
>
> http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2007/08/alabama-loose-record-project-web.html
>
> “//"Since its inception in 1998, the loose records microfilming 
> program has produced nearly 2,000 rolls–or over 3.5 million microfilm 
> images – of historical county records (////estate files, marriage 
> licenses, Confederate pension records, and divorces)//// [emphasis 
> added] chronicling the lives of Alabama citizens from the founding of 
> our state through 1950. The program is a cooperative preservation 
> effort sponsored by the Alabama Department of Archives and History 
> (ADAH) and the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU). Fifty-seven of 
> Alabama’s 67 counties are currently participating. To date, 23 
> counties have completed projects, and we hope eventually to film loose 
> records in all counties where they are available."//
>
> The Alabama Genealogical Society is creating an online index; eight 
> counties have been indexed so far…the state archives blurb on the 
> project is at
>
> http://www.archives.alabama.gov/officials/looserecords.html
>
> --aj
>
> A.J. Wright, M.L.S.
> Associate Professor
> Director, Section on the History of Anesthesia
>
> Department of Anesthesiology Library
> University of Alabama at Birmingham
> 619 19th Street South, JT965
> Birmingham AL 35249-6810
>
> (205) 975-0158
> (205) 975-5963 [fax]
> ajwright at uab.edu
>
> http://www.anes.uab.edu/libraryinformation.htm
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *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 9:22 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 <mailto: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
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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> genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
> http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib

-- 
Laura W. Carter
Heritage Room Librarian
Athens-Clarke County Library
2025 Baxter Street
Athens, Georgia 30606

Voice - 706 613-3650 Ext. 350
FAX -	706 613-3660

lcarter at arlsmail.org