>Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 10:39:31 -0500 >Old-To: ilgen-l@rootsweb.com >From: Susan Tortorelli <tort@starnetinc.com> >Subject: [ILGEN-L] There might be hope! >To: ILGEN-L@rootsweb.com >"GENEALOGICAL POWER": A MESSAGE FROM DR. JOHN DALY, DIRECTOR OF THE >ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES" by Juliana Smith >Ancestry Daily News 29 April, 1999 ><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>> >======================================================= >On Tuesday, April 27, I attended a meeting at the home of Loretto Szucs, >Vice President of Publishing for Ancestry.com. In attendance were thirty >genealogical leaders from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The guest of >honor was Dr. John Daly, Director of the Illinois State Archives who spoke >about the article he wrote for the May/June 1999 issue of Ancestry Magazine >titled "Genealogical Power." Dr. Daly reminded family historians that they >are the principal users of public archives in the United States, and as >such should wield their power to shape their own destiny. Below are some >important statistics that Dr. Daly gave in the article in Ancestry >Magazine. > >"Family historians and genealogists have replaced academic researchers as >the principal users of public archives in the United States. The combined >memberships of the American Historical Association and the Organization of >American Historians today are 28,000. A study published in "American >Demographics" in December 1995 cited that 113 million Americans have some >interest in genealogy, and that 19 million have a strong working interest >in the field. An unacknowledged user study of the National Archives and its >Suitland facility for 1991 cited 370,000 "user visits" of which 54% to 80% >were devoted to family history and 16% to 20% to academic studies. The >Newberry Library of Chicago found that 60% of all the reference services it >provides are devoted to genealogy. In 1998 the Illinois State Archives >delivered 840,000 reference activities of which at least 80% related to >family history. If the administrators of public archives in the United >States had to rely upon the use of archives in the United States had to >rely upon the use of archives by academic researchers alone to justify the >existence of archives, they would find it extremely difficult to do so." > >So how do we as family historians take advantage of the power that we hold? >Dr. Daly offered some suggestions, which I will share with you. > >1) "Go on strike; stop going to the archives." Of course he is not serious >here. But ask yourselves what would happen. How will archivists justify a >50-85% drop in use? > >2) "Emphasize the term 'family history' for your work." Unfortunately, the >word "genealogy" may bring to mind a stuffier, "blue-blood" type of image >in many people's minds that is not appealing. In these days where >politicians, newspapers, and tourism promoters spout rhetoric about the >"American family," the term "family history" has a more positive and wider >appeal. In their eyes, "Family History rocks," he says. > >3) "Demand better hours of access to archives." As the chief consumers of >this public service, you deserve to be able to access these facilities at >times that are convenient to you. Many libraries and other public offices >have extended hours to accommodate users. > >4) "Challenge the fees for copies of records. Most of the costs you are >charged for copies of records are designed chiefly to prevent you from >asking for them." Request a valid cost study that justifies those charges. >In his speech, Dr. Daly cited the fact that the fees charged by State of >Illinois facilities for copies is based on legislation from the 1800s when >requested copies were written out by hand. > >5) "Do not waste efforts in support of open records legislation. . . Such >laws are delusory enough to sidetrack or delay more effective methods that >family historians may take to advance their interests." > >6) "Develop a new plan around these problems if the suggestions above do >not succeed." Although digitization is incorrectly looked on by some as a >panacea for all of the problems that archives face, the availability of >some records on the Internet is a great convenience to family historians >when hours of access to facilities and copy costs are inconvenient. > >7) "Take your demands for better access to public records sources above the >heads of archivists themselves - to governors, secretaries of state, and >members of congress." Point out recent articles and television coverage >(ex: Time magazine cover story from April 19, and MSNBC coverage this week >on the Today Show). And as Dr. Daly states in the Ancestry magazine >article, "Point out that family historians form the vast bulk of the >consumers, clients, and market demand that justify and support the entire >enterprise of public archives activity in the United States. Point out >that persons with family history interest represent 113 million American >citizens, 113 million consumers, 113 million letter writers, and 113 >million votes." > >In his presentation, Dr. Daly also expressed that the best way to make our >voices heard is through organizations like genealogical and historical >societies, or through a joint cooperative effort on the part of these >societies. High-ranking public officials are usually swamped with mail >from individuals. Messages from large groups are more likely to get special >attention because of the larger numbers of people that are represented, and >also because they reflect a sense of organization and purpose - in other >words "these people mean business and are serious about this request." > >He also cited the examples of the public records online in Ohio and >Kentucky and suggests that these may be included as examples. (The Ohio >Historical Society has the Ohio Death Index 1913-1937 available online at: >http://www.odh.state.oh.us/records/records-f.htm and the University of >Kentucky has the Kentucky Death Index 1911-1992, Kentucky Marriage Index >1973-1993, and the Kentucky Divorce Index 1973-1993 online at: >http://ukcc.uky.edu/~vitalrec/.) > >Dr. John Daly, the Director of the Illinois State Archives since 1974, has >an MA in English Literature, and an MA and Ph.D. in American History. He >is a fellow of the Society of American Archivists, and has received several >awards and commendations from that organization, including the >Distinguished Service Award in 1982. Dr. Daly has also received awards >from the Association of Records Managers and Administrators, the Federation >of Genealogical Societies, and the Illinois State Genealogical Society. By >writing this article and coming to speak to our group on Tuesday, he has >done a great service to family historians everywhere. It is now up to us >to do the rest. >================= >-------------------------------------------------------------------- >The Illinois USGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilgenweb >Illinois Ancestor Registry http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilgenweb/queries >Shelby County ILGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilshelb2/shelby.htm >Barry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mobarry/barry.htm > >Do cemetery workers prefer the graveyard shift? > > ------------------ Gloria Frazier Macoupin County ILGenWeb County Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmacoup/macoupin.htm