[Genealib] Family history donation and privacy issues

Sat Mar 1 11:10:55 EST 2008

I wasn't going to respond to this, but the all CAPS message disturbs me.  It really is up to the individual library if they want to put a privately published book or manuscript containing libelous information in it onto the shelf.  If the information is about local people, it is a common curtousy to put the book in an archive and only make it available after the privacy issues would no longer be a concern, generally about 50 years.  That isn't rewriting history.  Libraries do not routinely put everything they receive onto the shelves; this isn't really any different.  The genealogy might be great, but we don't need the mean, ramblings of a vicious old man, especially if he doesn't offer any documentation for what he says.

A note to the person sending the all caps message - using all caps is rude, it is the same as shouting at someone.  Check your spelling before sending anything to a list like this.  And sign your messages.  People like to know who is expressing an opinion.

Joyce A. Brannan
Technical Services Librarian
Julia Tutwiler Library
University of West Alabama 
Livingston, AL 35470

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu on behalf of mrarchive at aol.com
Sent: Fri 2/29/2008 9:51 PM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: Re: [Genealib] Family history donation and privacy issues

GOOD GOD ...REWRITING HISTORY  LEAVE IT LAY WHERE IT WAS FLANG..  FORNICATING WITH THE INDIANS WAS THE FIRST REFERENCE TO ONE NOBLE AMERICAN FAMILY HISTORY PLACING THEM I THE EARLY COLONY  SHOULD WE BE CENSURING THE WRITTEN WORD OF ANOTHER .. THINK NOT   THOUGH QUEEN VICTORIA WAS DEAD OR DOES HSE LIVE IN OUR HEARTS, MONDS AND OUR CENSORSHIP ??

CATALOGUE THE BOOK AND LET THE AUTHOR TAKE THE HEAT OF HIS OR HER PEN!!!
STS

-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Scouras <Susan.Scouras at wvculture.org>
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists <genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu>
Sent: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 4:01 pm
Subject: RE: [Genealib] Family history donation and privacy issues

Generally this is not a problem, but I advise at least flipping through the book and looking over any personal reminiscences.  We had a manuscript (self-published on a desktop computer) donated last year that was an excellent straightforward family history at first glance, with an appended section of memoirs written by the author's father, a retired physician.  I sent the unbound manuscript off to the bindery, then looked at it more in depth while cataloging, checking for possible local history or physican-related subject headings to add.  I discovered that the physican had not thought too highly of some of his colleagues, nor of at least one local hospital (still in business), and said so quite plainly, even describing some specific practices and cases of which he did not approve.  He also made quite hurtful observations about his own relatives, including his children (still living and none past middle age), such as descriptions of alcoholism, intelligence level, failure to meet the writer's expectations, character flaws, etc.--all written about very dispassionately.  

We consulted with the donor, who agreed we could separate the family history narrative from the father's memoirs and withhold the memoirs from the public.  The author's lack of concern over this was telling in itself, and the author didn't want the memoir pages returned for re-donation in the future.  Reluctant to just trash the memoir, which had a lot of good local history in it, as well as useful descriptions of a medical practice over the years, we placed it in a restricted collection with some doctors' birth record notebooks we acquired that must be withheld for 50 years.  

We had discussions about censorship, etc., but felt many of the statements made violated the privacy of living individuals, and the medical comments were potentially libelous.  We have a few family history notebook collections or manuscripts that were donated with agreed upon release dates, or with the request that we place them in our closed stacks so that only someone specifically looking for that family will ask for it and no one will be browsing it in the public reading room, but this was the first time--and I hope the last--that we chose to restrict something from public access based on our own concerns.

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 <mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu?> ] On Behalf Of Taggart, Linda
	Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 3:17 PM
	To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
	Subject: [Genealib] Family history donation and privacy issues

	A patron has offered us a copy of his wife's family history, which he researched. It would fit into our collection nicely. However, some of the family members listed are still living, so I'm a little nervous about privacy issues. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good resources on this topic, or let me know how you've handled it?

	Thanks!

	Linda Taggart
	Reference Librarian
	Nashua Public Library
	Nashua, NH

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