BIA and genealogical services The BIA is not a repository for historical records. Federal laws require ALL federal agencies to prepare their records (documents, etc.) so that when a case is closed, I.e. the documents are no longer needed for current work, that the original records be prepared for transfer to the National Archives and Record Services. The time frame varies depending on the nature of the records but definitely by the time the documents are 25 years old and the case is closed, they become part of the legal possession of NARA. The BIA does not have any claim to the records in spite of the fact that agency may have created them. There is a transitional period for more recent records that have been sent to NARA and while these more recent records are housed by NARA use of the records requires permission from the BIA. If a person is not a professional researcher or has never worked with a Federal agency this transition of documents from the creating agency to NARA is not generally known. NARA has to implement the privacy laws so more recent records with personal information can not be distributed. There are other factors at work here. Office space as people know is very expensive. To use such space for storage of "dead" records places undue strain on an agency budgets. Agencies must rent space in government buildings and trying to house the thousands of records that have been created would wipe out the agencies budget. Technically all the buildings are the responsibility of the Government Services Administration who have the responsibility of all Government properties. They have to maintain them, arrange leases, etc. The costs of any move from one building to another however is borne by the agency. This is very a person should rely on NARA and not the BIA for any relevant documentation. Lathel Duffield ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan M<mailto:wb@wvi.com> To: indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com<mailto:indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 11:40 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Requesting informationaboutpetitionsof enrollm... maybe ask for donations from those who care? Also. Dan M ----- Original Message ----- From: <TopBranchW@aol.com<mailto:TopBranchW@aol.com>> To: <indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com<mailto:indian-territory-roots@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 6:16 PM Subject: Re: [INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS] Requesting information aboutpetitionsof enrollm... > Hi, > > Perhaps if the BIA is having fiscal problems they might consider offering > genealogical services - for a price. So many people seem interested. And so > many families have the lore of Indian ancestry. > > W.L. Barker > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:INDIAN-TERRITORY-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message