What I am about to say is not a slam to the hardworking people at the MSA, but rather a pat-on-the-back to the State of North Carolina. Caveat ---- I have not been to the Archives at Raleigh for several years now, so therefore attitudes up there may have changed for the worse ..... but I doubt it. (1) The Archives in NC is a serious priority at the funding trough. The attitude down there is that they want the Archives to preserve the records it possesses, and to make them fully available to the researching public. MSA, in theory, does that too ... but, for what I could determine, pound-for-pound, the Archives at Raleigh is funded significantly above the MSA. (2) I was told, quite proudly by the folks up there, that ALL records in the State of North Carolina, by law, property of the State, before a certain date, MUST be sent to the Archives for housing and research. You don't have to go to the courthouses for anything before that date (I think it was 1906, but don't quote me) ... a visit to the Archives is all that you need to do. I have other comparisons but they are more of a personal nature and I will not say them here since I have not been to the MSA (then HofR) in years. BTW ---- is there a Friends of the Archives type of organization at the MSA that raises money for specific archival projects, etc. .... ? There is in Raleigh. And they do great work. Comments to LDR and/or to me offline are most welcome. Roy C. Pollitt