Hi Rita, Thank you for the update. Andy Scott -----Original Message----- From: Rita [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 12:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [ACADIAN-CAJUN] Post-Katrina N.O. records I wanted to post the notes I jotted down during Jack Belsom's talk at the West Bank Genealogy Society's meeting on Jan. 14th. I know I'm late, but things are still hectic here. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rita's personal notes from West Bank Genealogy Society's meeting Jan14, 2006------ Speaker: Jack Belsom Subject: Post-Katrina New Orleans records. Archdiocese Archives records had been removed to the Seminary on Walmsley Ave. in Carrollton. Their first floor library had a few feet of water. The books had been moved to higher shelves before the flooding, so they were ok. New problem: mold! Heating and air-conditioning system were in the basement and ruined by the water. Had to remove records! Convoys of several cars (4 trips) took the records to Hill Library at LSU campus in Baton Rouge where they have archival facilities. All publication of the archdiocesan records is on hold for now. No researching will be done at least until April, but there is no definite date. There are 26 pending requests for research that will be on hold for now. Microfilm is available, but will be used only for extreme emergencies. Conditions of records at individual churches are generally unknown. Some got wet, some destroyed, some were removed by the priests who evacuated. Won't know until everyone is back. Local church registers are filmed yearly at the local deaneries, so most recent records should be ok. Other records destroyed will have to be reconstructed with other records. The Ursuline Convent had damage. A chimney collapsed causing much water damage. Any registers or records of any kind had already been brought to Walmsley Ave. Things like paintings, etc. of value were removed by professional movers to Baton Rouge. The Vatican Exhibit that was planned in the near future is also on hold. The New Orleans Public Library is fine. Records were stored in their second basement, which had only a slight puddle. They are rethinking the bad idea of storing them in ANY basement. Civil Courts Building containing the notarial archives and recorder of mortgages records was damaged. The records are being professionally freeze-dried to restore them. Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans' warehouse was destroyed. Roof blew off and walls collapsed. The things in cabinets are ok, but shelved things are all destroyed (back issues). They will be out of business for a year. The president and officers were flooded and lost records, etc. There will be no New Orleans Genesis printed in 2006. Genesis will commence in 2007. The October issue was at the publishers in Iowa when Katrina hit, and will not be mailed out until the mail situation is cleared up. Rita http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestBankGenealogySociety Click "join this group" to set up your ID and password, then sign in each time you visit. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----- Original Message ----- From: Elton J. Oubre <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 10:35 AM Subject: Re: [ACADIAN-CAJUN] Post-Katrina N.O. records | Thanks, Rita, excellent report on a great disaster in loss of historical records, civil and religious, New Orleans area. Jack must have been in tears giving this presentation. | | Of course, you mention the tip of the iceberg, considering the additional destruction and flooding of your (pardon the pun) namesake, Hurricane Rita. | | After the loss of records in the past, we would have expected that the people in charge would have taken better precautions! We always expect "better." It is not because of the failure of genealogists to point out the risks over the years. Here is another lesson for other areas. | | In our journeys over records and repositories, we should never fail to make pests of ourselves with the authorities when we notice "what if?" blunders, less than adequate storage or security measures. More often than not, the people in charge, professionals, are already aware of their situations. "I know you are going to tell me you don't have staff, space, or funds, BUT:" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rita, Elton, and List: Thanks for the update, especially to Jack Belsom for their (no doubt heroic) efforts to save and preserve these historical records. The immediate picture is pretty grim: research is on hold but why microfilms cannot to be used? Clearly, the present policy in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for Church records is deficient. I echo what Elton said, and expand a little: These original records of our ancestors should be digitally photographed by professionals and made available to historians and genealogists. This can be done without any damage to the fragile records as Canada has done, and France is doing. All originals should be permanently stored in a safe place, probably in Baton Rouge. Carl HUVAL Vicksburg, MS USA [email protected]