In fairness, although it's distressing not to be able to copy information at will, county officials also need to protect these fragile old records for future generations. In several counties (St. Clair County, MO, is one, I believe), I have not been allowed to copy certain old records from the paper originals, but the clerk has made copies for me from microfilm. Obviously, that wasn't presented as an option to Eugenia, but it might be a possibility in other places. (That scanner pen sounds awfully good, too!) -- Beverly Peavler