[Genealib] Family history donation and privacy issues

[David Walters]

Pleasr advise as to how the opinions of the doctor in his memoirs is
different from the opinions of an editorial writer writer like say
George Will? I have read somethings in his coloumn that sounded
"hurtful". Yet I want to be free read what he has to say. Why should
the doctors opinions be any different. The writer of the book
certainly thought it worthy of inclusion in his book. Enough of this
politically correct imagined privacy motion.

David  
---- Original Message ----
>>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] 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
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>enealib mailing list
>enealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
>ttp://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib
>