The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2003 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.RootsForum.com. http://www.rootsforum.com/newsletter/ - Petition to Save Florida State Archives Two weeks ago I wrote about Governor Jeb Bush's plans to close and dismantle the Florida State Archives. This would be a terrible blow for genealogists. First of all, anyone researching Florida ancestors would lose one of the most valuable resources available. Second, additional genealogists would be hurt when other state governments decide to follow Bush's cost-cutting measures and begin closing other archives and state libraries around the country. Genealogists are not the only ones affected. The Florida State Genealogical Society, Florida Historical Society, Florida Archaeological Council, Florida Anthropological Society, Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and the Florida Association of Museums are all banding together to defeat this threat. You can read my article on this at: http://www.rootsforum.com/archives/news0305.htm#FloridaTreasuresAtRisk The Florida Historical Society has created a website to collect electronic signatures for a petition about the State Library of Florida closing. Genealogists and others around the world are encouraged to sign this petition. It will then be sent to Governor Bush and members of the State Legislature on February 28, 2003. I added my name to the petition this week, and I would like to ask you to add your name as well. To add your name to this petition, go to: http://www.floridahistory.info/petition/ Cheryl Rothwell logancty@mindspring.com Logan County, IL, Coordinator, ILGenWeb www.rootsweb.com/~illogan Central IL Regional Coordinator, ILGenWeb Clark, Downing, Harding, Lucas et al