Hello Folks, There are several achives around the country which are being proposed for closing or moving to another site. One such is the one at FT. Worth, TX which is being considered for being moved to GA. This, of course, would be great for the folks in GA, but would be a tradegy for North Texans who have no other source other than the Dallas Public Library for extensive genealogical research. That's not to down-play the part that other libraries play in providing gen. research, but the Archives are a MAJOR source of information. As a follow-up to the closing of the FT. Worth Archives, a friend sent me an up-date on the meeting to discuss the closing. It is very long, so I am just giving you the URL where you can go to get the latest update. The main point made I am copying for you below as I think it is something we all need to know----write, write, write the powers that be: >Richard Claypoole, Assistant Archivist for Regional Records Services, and Stephen Hannestad, Head of the Space and Security Management Division, came to Ft. Worth on June 10 to hold a public meeting concerning the future of the National Archives, Southwest Region in Ft. Worth, and the possible closing and/or consolidation of various regional branches of the National Archives. Kent Carter, Director of the National Archives, Southwest Region, presided at the meeting.> >...someone asked Mr. Carter if this space planning would become a political thing, and his reply was simply 'Yes.' This means that those of use who wish to retain the archives must contact governors, senators, and representatives who can use their power to help us. The employees of the Archives cannot do this. WE must do it.< Another interesting point was made: >I missed the name of the representative of the local Historical Society, but she wanted the group to know that genealogists were not the only users of the Regional Archives. She pointed out that she represented serious and scholarly people whose books will not be written or published if these records are moved away. While genealogists make up most of the customers of the Archives, there are people in a number of other fields who use the records here.< Again, the points made at the meeting were very interesting, so check out the NARA URL at Ancestry to read all of it. For FT. Worth: http://www.ancestry.com/dailynews/clay.htm For General Discussion and other Meeting Dates: http://www.ancestry.com/nara.htm LCranston