I was there a couple of years ago. My thought was that they could probably use a couple of volunteers to take better care of their old records. I found that some of their old microfilm could use better boxes. Maybe a better microfilm reader altho the reader was the least of the need. The librarian was cordial but busy with other things in a nearby room. He was helpful. Maybe they need more cabinets to store things. These records and films are valuable. The other alternative is to contact the church where the event occurred might have the original record. Then again, if the churches merged, their archives in Menlo Park would be the only resource for these records. Perhaps a local genealogical organization can offer a few volunteers and funds to protect these records. After my visit I received a letter asking for a contribution. The librarian would know of any current projects for care of records. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:13 AM Subject: [CASANFRA] Re: CASANFRA-D Digest V06 #151 > My experience at the archives in Menlo Park was surprising to me. I was > left > downstairs in a basement by myself with all of the records, microfilm & > original records ( which were in real disarray) to spend as long as I > liked. No > one helped, but no one monitored me either. It really looked like they > needed > someone to come in and organize everything--there are subject listings on > many of the catalog drawers (i.e. Baptisms--St. Mary's--1870-1890), but > other > materials are just set on the floor randomly. I think that writing for > information would be pretty useless--you need to go in person and hope > that someone > will let you go down to look at them. I tried to get an appointment, but > was > not able to. Fortunately, as I said, they just let me work on my own & I > was > able to come up with the marriage record of my great grandparents at Old > St. > Mary's in 1869. Kathy > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Need help with a lookup? > sfgenealogy.com has many volunteers who offer free lookup help: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfranlok.htm > >

You know, if enough of us who have Catholic ancestry sent them a donation, and said why we were sending it, ( to purchase cabinets, shelving, boxes, etc, for all of the old archieves) it might really help! The idea that the old records/.films, etc are not being properly cared for is so sad! All of that history is in jeopardy. Even better...if there were a "record keeper" on this list (all of the surrounding area lists)...and they could donate their time to getting order out of chaos....then our donations for containers, shelving could be the "life saving" event for the history! Just a thought. Looking up the address now and sending a check for $25.00.... Judie On Aug 7, 2006, at 2:46 PM, RUTH ARMSTRONG wrote: > I was there a couple of years ago. My thought was that they could > probably use a couple of > volunteers to take better care of their old records. I found that > some of their old microfilm > could use better boxes. Maybe a better microfilm reader altho the > reader was the least of > the need. The librarian was cordial but busy with other things in > a nearby room. He was > helpful. Maybe they need more cabinets to store things. These > records and films are > valuable. The other alternative is to contact the church where the > event occurred > might have the original record. Then again, if the churches > merged, their archives > in Menlo Park would be the only resource for these records. > Perhaps a local > genealogical organization can offer a few volunteers and funds to > protect these > records. After my visit I received a letter asking for a > contribution. The librarian > would know of any current projects for care of records. > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:13 AM > Subject: [CASANFRA] Re: CASANFRA-D Digest V06 #151 > > >> My experience at the archives in Menlo Park was surprising to me. >> I was left >> downstairs in a basement by myself with all of the records, >> microfilm & >> original records ( which were in real disarray) to spend as long >> as I liked. No >> one helped, but no one monitored me either. It really looked like >> they needed >> someone to come in and organize everything--there are subject >> listings on >> many of the catalog drawers (i.e. Baptisms--St. >> Mary's--1870-1890), but other >> materials are just set on the floor randomly. I think that writing >> for >> information would be pretty useless--you need to go in person and >> hope that someone >> will let you go down to look at them. I tried to get an >> appointment, but was >> not able to. Fortunately, as I said, they just let me work on my >> own & I was >> able to come up with the marriage record of my great grandparents >> at Old St. >> Mary's in 1869. Kathy >> >> >> ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== >> Need help with a lookup? >> sfgenealogy.com has many volunteers who offer free lookup help: >> http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfranlok.htm >> > > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > sfgenealogy.com > Your best resource for FREE online genealogy in San Francisco > http://www.sfgenealogy.com

Another suggestionis that if any volunteers go to work on its old records, it be helpful if there were at least two persons working together. The reason is that these records are in a corner basement of a large building, and it gets very lonesome working alone in a massive underground place where sometimes there are no others. I walked for a long time on the first and lower floors and didn't run into anyone to ask directions. I thought that some of the microfilm had become brittle from age from not being carefully cared for. Maybe some people of Catholic ancestry can contribute some time on a continually basis to make sure these records are cared for. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judie Cook" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 11:59 AM Subject: Re: [CASANFRA] Re: CASANFRA-D Digest V06 #151 > You know, if enough of us who have Catholic ancestry sent them a > donation, and said why we were sending it, ( to purchase cabinets, > shelving, boxes, etc, for all of the old archieves) it might really > help! The idea that the old records/.films, etc are not being properly > cared for is so sad! All of that history is in jeopardy. Even better...if > there were a "record keeper" on this list (all of the surrounding area > lists)...and they could donate their time to getting order out of > chaos....then our donations for containers, shelving could be the "life > saving" event for the history! > Just a thought. > Looking up the address now and sending a check for $25.00.... > > Judie > On Aug 7, 2006, at 2:46 PM, RUTH ARMSTRONG wrote: > >> I was there a couple of years ago. My thought was that they could >> probably use a couple of >> volunteers to take better care of their old records. I found that some >> of their old microfilm >> could use better boxes. Maybe a better microfilm reader altho the >> reader was the least of >> the need. The librarian was cordial but busy with other things in a >> nearby room. He was >> helpful. Maybe they need more cabinets to store things. These records >> and films are >> valuable. The other alternative is to contact the church where the >> event occurred >> might have the original record. Then again, if the churches merged, >> their archives >> in Menlo Park would be the only resource for these records. Perhaps a >> local >> genealogical organization can offer a few volunteers and funds to >> protect these >> records. After my visit I received a letter asking for a contribution. >> The librarian >> would know of any current projects for care of records. >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:13 AM >> Subject: [CASANFRA] Re: CASANFRA-D Digest V06 #151 >> >> >>> My experience at the archives in Menlo Park was surprising to me. I was >>> left >>> downstairs in a basement by myself with all of the records, microfilm & >>> original records ( which were in real disarray) to spend as long as I >>> liked. No >>> one helped, but no one monitored me either. It really looked like they >>> needed >>> someone to come in and organize everything--there are subject listings >>> on >>> many of the catalog drawers (i.e. Baptisms--St. Mary's--1870-1890), but >>> other >>> materials are just set on the floor randomly. I think that writing for >>> information would be pretty useless--you need to go in person and hope >>> that someone >>> will let you go down to look at them. I tried to get an appointment, >>> but was >>> not able to. Fortunately, as I said, they just let me work on my own & >>> I was >>> able to come up with the marriage record of my great grandparents at >>> Old St. >>> Mary's in 1869. Kathy >>> >>> >>> ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== >>> Need help with a lookup? >>> sfgenealogy.com has many volunteers who offer free lookup help: >>> http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfranlok.htm >>> >> >> >> >> ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== >> sfgenealogy.com >> Your best resource for FREE online genealogy in San Francisco >> http://www.sfgenealogy.com > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Need help with a lookup? > sfgenealogy.com has many volunteers who offer free lookup help: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfranlok.htm > >

I agree with the thoughts expressed here that the records in the SF Archdiocese Archives are in jeopardy. If lost, that would be a tremendous shame since so many records have already been lost from the earthquake and fire. I'm wondering if it would be possible to get the Mormons to make copies of the church sacramental records journals on microfilm. Once that was done the records would be available to everybody through the Family History Centers. I fear that if the project was undertaken by a local genealogical society then the only ones with access would be their members that could travel to San Francisco. I live in Pennsylvania so it is not an easy thing to research SF records unless they are online or available through FHC. Does anybody on this list have experience with getting records preserved by the Mormons? I am willing to make some inquiries to the Archdiocese and the Mormons to see if this can be accomplished. Also, it may come down to making donations to the Archdiocese and/or the Mormons to see that the project is undertaken. Please email me your thoughts and I will begin some inquiries in the next day or two. David -----Original Message----- From: Judie Cook [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 2:59 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [CASANFRA] Re: CASANFRA-D Digest V06 #151 You know, if enough of us who have Catholic ancestry sent them a donation, and said why we were sending it, ( to purchase cabinets, shelving, boxes, etc, for all of the old archieves) it might really help! The idea that the old records/.films, etc are not being properly cared for is so sad! All of that history is in jeopardy. Even better...if there were a "record keeper" on this list (all of the surrounding area lists)...and they could donate their time to getting order out of chaos....then our donations for containers, shelving could be the "life saving" event for the history! Just a thought. Looking up the address now and sending a check for $25.00.... Judie On Aug 7, 2006, at 2:46 PM, RUTH ARMSTRONG wrote: > I was there a couple of years ago. My thought was that they could > probably use a couple of > volunteers to take better care of their old records. I found that > some of their old microfilm > could use better boxes. Maybe a better microfilm reader altho the > reader was the least of > the need. The librarian was cordial but busy with other things in > a nearby room. He was > helpful. Maybe they need more cabinets to store things. These > records and films are > valuable. The other alternative is to contact the church where the > event occurred > might have the original record. Then again, if the churches > merged, their archives > in Menlo Park would be the only resource for these records. > Perhaps a local > genealogical organization can offer a few volunteers and funds to > protect these > records. After my visit I received a letter asking for a > contribution. The librarian > would know of any current projects for care of records. > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:13 AM > Subject: [CASANFRA] Re: CASANFRA-D Digest V06 #151 > > >> My experience at the archives in Menlo Park was surprising to me. >> I was left >> downstairs in a basement by myself with all of the records, >> microfilm & >> original records ( which were in real disarray) to spend as long >> as I liked. No >> one helped, but no one monitored me either. It really looked like >> they needed >> someone to come in and organize everything--there are subject >> listings on >> many of the catalog drawers (i.e. Baptisms--St. >> Mary's--1870-1890), but other >> materials are just set on the floor randomly. I think that writing >> for >> information would be pretty useless--you need to go in person and >> hope that someone >> will let you go down to look at them. I tried to get an >> appointment, but was >> not able to. Fortunately, as I said, they just let me work on my >> own & I was >> able to come up with the marriage record of my great grandparents >> at Old St. >> Mary's in 1869. Kathy >> >>