In defense of the genealogy research facilities at the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) ... First, the OHS Research Library Division is not the Oklahoma Genealogical Society (OGS). The OGS is an totally separate entity. The OGS has no library. However, the books, microfilm, etc. that are purchased by OGS are donated to the OHS Research Library. The items become the property of the State of Oklahoma. Also, OGS members and many other individuals serve as volunteers in the research library and in the archives and manuscripts divisions where they assume a vast array of duties. The Oklahoma Historical Society is funded almost entirely by the taxpayers of State of Oklahoma via the State Legislature. In the past OHS has been notably UNDERFUNDED. Were it not for organizations such as OGS, DAR, Friends of the Archives, etc., plus the dedicated volunteers and many generous individuals, there would be no money to purchase books, microfilm, manuscripts, photographs and equipment, because of limited funds in the OHS budget to provide these items. The OHS building was constructed in the 1930s, before there was even a National Archives, to house the records of the Five Civilized Tribes and records of the various Indian Agencies that were rotting away in various places thoughout the state and items that had been donated to the society prior to that time. It was not until after WWII that much thought was given to a library for genealogical research. At that time the Oklahoma Society DAR made an agreement with OHS to house the State DAR Library in the current Library Reading Room. The cabinets that today line the west wall were provided by DAR to hold the DAR collection. The Society has grown tremendously since that time, but is still housed in a 65 year old building. When I began my research at OHS in 1972, there were only three microfilm readers, but there were many days that I spent all day at one, because back then you could count the number of patrons on one hand. This was also before published census indexes, so if you didn't know the county where your ancestor lived you might have to read a whole state. Or, if you were smart enough to write the historical society in the state where you were searching to see if a card index to the census was available, you might get lucky. All day on the microfilm reader did not last long, because as word got out that the library had all of the U.S. census available on microfilm for all the states from 1790 through 1880, thanks to a special appropriation of the State Legislature, the number of patrons increased dramatically. For many years, the OHS Library was one of only a handful of institutions with complete sets of the U.S. census. By 1976, the OHS Research Library had one of the largest patronages of any state historical society in the nation and this is still true today. A time limit on microfilm readers is not unique to the OHS Library. I was at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., on the very first Saturday a limit was placed on the readers there. I will never forget how embarassed I was by the complaints and actions of many fellow genealogists. Researchers should use time limits to their advantage. That means doing your homework and being prepared. There is a wealth of genealogical material on Oklahoma in the library and the archives. The library staff has produced a number of outstanding finding aids for researchers...these include "Oklahoma: A Bibliography" that includes manuscripts, books and microfiche dealing with Oklahoma; "Five Civilized Tribes: A Bibliography" that lists all books at OHS pertaining to those tribes. There are other bibliographies for family histories, cemeteries and marriages. These are available in the OHS Book Store, can be ordered by mail or consulted in the library. The Archives has its microfilm catalogue online. You can even download a copy. Besides Indian records, it lists county and other available records . What can you do to help make OHS a better research facility? (1) Join the Oklahoma Historical Society >> http://www.ok-history.mus.ok.us << (2) Join the Friends of the Archives >> http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/7673 << (3) Volunteer to do something useful, at the society or at home, (e.g., index a book or a collection, transcribe a diary, etc.). Contact me. (4) Write your State Senator and Representative to express your concern about preserving Oklahoma history and increasing funding to the OHS. This is extremely important! >> http://www.odl.state.ok.us/whoiswho/index.htm << (5) If you are from out-of-state, write to Gov. Keating and tell him of your concerns about preserving Oklahoma history and your support of his efforts to provide the state with a new history center. >> governorkeating@email.com << Sharron Ashton Norman OK