Endangered! Arkansas History Commission The Arkansas Genealogical Society Board received distressing news at its regular quarterly meeting held June 6, 2000. Dr. John L. Ferguson, Director of the Arkansas History Commission, informed the Board that State Building Services intends to remove the History Commission and State Archives from its present quarters in the One Capitol Mall Building in order to use its space for the Department of Information Systems. Representatives of State Building Services told Dr. Ferguson that there would be no funds for a new History Commission building and that it would be placed in some older structure. Dr. Ferguson's understanding is that there also would be no money to retrofit a new location with the kind of physical requirements needed to properly preserve archival material, house microfilming and conservation functions, and adequately serve the public. Dr. Ferguson said, "It is going to ruin us if we have to give up these quarters. We are helpless without the physical environment we have." The History Commission, the official state archives of Arkansas, moved to its present quarters in 1979, culminating nearly twenty years of effort to obtain a suitable physical situation. The special features built into its space include two large reinforced and fire-resistant security storage vaults with temperature and humidity controls for documents, books, and microfilm. There is also a forty-by-eighty foot public research room designed and wired for microfilm readers, printers, and photocopying equipment. The microfilming area includes a laboratory for developing, duplicating and repairing microfilm. The conservation laboratory for the repair and reclamation of historic documents and photographs contains equipment for deacidification, non-invasive lamination, and bookbinding, as well as a darkroom for developing photographs and a steam room for use with brittle documents and maps. There is also a display area for one of the nation's largest collections of rare paper currency, including obsolete Arkansas currency. Sisal-covered walls allow for the display of a large gallery of portraits and historic paintings. The History Commission and State Archives presently leases 31,402 square feet in the One Capitol Mall Building which is adequate space to preserve materials and accommodate visiting patrons who numbered 12,671 in the year 1999. The archives will be unable to exist and function in ordinary office space without the special features and equipment described above. A move to less than a new state-of-the-art building would be a step backward for the State Archives and for the thousands of historians, genealogists, students, reporters, authors, and many other researchers who use this facility. The Arkansas Genealogical Society is committed to doing everything possible to prevent this proposed move and we ask everyone to join our effort. You may direct your letters to: Robert L. Laman, Director, State Building Services 1515 West 7th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 His phone number is 501-682-5558; fax 501-682-5589. Letters to the executive branch may be addressed to Governor Mike Huckabee, State Capitol, Little Rock, AR 72201 Letters to the Arkansas History Commission may be addressed to: Dr. John L. Ferguson, Arkansas History Commission #1 Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201 You should also discuss this matter with your state legislators. This article will be published in the upcoming AGS Newsletter, but wanted to post it here for list subscribers that are not AGS members, but share a concern about the future of the Arkansas History Commission & State Archives.