>Hi List. (Pardon my duplications to Grey and Simcoe) >I've just received a letter from the National Archives in reply to my >online inquiry about getting a file copied on a murder case which involved >a family member back in 1883. (This file has not been microfilmed so can't >order it that way.) Trouble is this "explanatory" letter leaves me >confused! Anyone else have this problem or is it just me? > >Does anyone have experience with ordering a file (in this case Justice) >where it is unknown how many pages could need to be copied? The letter >explains that I can hire a local researcher in Ottawa...I get that part >and it sounds expensive! >But the writer goes on to say that their staff can copy "up to 250 pages >annual quarter year per person at a cost of 40 cents a page". Seeing as >this file could possibly contain "documents of correspondence, petitions, >order in-in-council, transcript of evidence, newspaper clippings and >coroner's inquest", I'm not sure if I can just ask them to copy say the >transcript of evidence (surely it would be under 250 pages back >then!)? There is also a sentence "Any additional information that you >require will need to be located by consulting the original record." Isn't >this the original record held in the archives? > >Am I just having a slow day? I can scan this letter to anyone who is >willing to read it over and give me their thoughts. There is also a list >of researchers in their area, so if anyone has had experience with a >researcher going into the National Archives to copy a file, I'd appreciate >hearing from you. > >Many thanks, >April in BC