Dear Listers: February 11, 2003 This was forwarded to me in my morning mail. As one never knows where listers are researching, or for that matter where we may find we next need to delve, issues of this type seem to require wide spread posting to reach the affected audiences. Before posting to other lists, be sure to run it past the List Admin first -- some may deem it inappropriate to a particular list. Kind Regards, Lauren Boyd List Admin ............................................................ Found on the Oregon [email protected] February 10, 2003 previously posted on the [email protected] list January 10, 2003 RE: Bill 818 Honorable Delegates of The Virginia General Assembly: It is my understanding that the Virginia Senate has voted to allow destruction of Wills and related papers once they are microfilmed, and that this is being done as a result of complaints by the Metro Clerks Association in the larger jurisdictions of northern Virginia in an effort to save filing and storage space. This legislation, if passed, will result in more space for your clerks and a total destruction of the primary certiification required in order to establish the authenticity of one's ancestry. Wills tell a history of family relationships, and many of them document the history and values of generations that are not covered in history books. In the great state of Virginia, the history of this country truly began with the early colonists. Four hundred years ago, my ancestors, the Bruces, Lakes, Riddles and Carpenters landed on Virginia soil and subsequently began building Churches, businesses, ships, schools and establishing commerce which enabled Virginia and other states to grow and become what they are today. Their Wills are filed in your archives and these documents tell us how our forefathers dealt with everyday issues as well as how progressive their thinking was on issues of women's rights, distribution of property, and their value of tangible and intangible assets. In my own family, I have discovered that long before an Amendment was passed giving women the right to own property, my forefathers thought enough of their brides to allow them to manage the land and holdings and make important decisions. As a genealogist, I have reviewed both microfilm and actual wills. Microfilm is only as good as the person operating the machinery--even in products offered for sale such as Census Records, Indices, etc., we find blank pages. In the case of Census Records, the actual documents still exist, and one is still able to obtain actual records; however, if the legislation before you is passed, our descendants will not enjoy the same recourse. As more and more people become involved in tracing their roots, I can tell you it is a powerful realization to handle a document that an ancestor eight or nine generations' ago drafted and signed. It is tangible proof that our past is very much as important as our future, and in many respects, our actions today are derived from the spirit of these noble, hardworking, selfless individuals who came to this country seeking a better life with very little knowledge of the hardships that the New World held for them. They were bold and adventurous, and because of them, we enjoy a democratic form of government, wonderful cities and fields ripe with the fruits of our labors. We live in a society that is finally beginning to understand the necessity for connecting with its roots. It is such a refreshing thing to read the genealogy websites and find that young people as well as older people are taking an interest in their respective history. Virginia is really the beginning of most of America's history and even though many of us are transplanted to other parts of this country or in foreign lands, our roots are deeply planted in Virgnia soil. My ancestors are buried in Virginia, their blood was shed for Virginia, and I feel very connected to them and their service. It is extraordinary that a government body would even consider destroying such valued documents, particularly when you have so many fine and capable resources available to you. Family History Centers, Historical Societies, and libraries seem like natural repositories for these documents. Microfilming them will allow you to retain copies for your files, but the actual documents which most of us require in order to prove and certify our ancestory would be in a safe place and available for those of us seeking specific historical and family information from them. It baffles me that the Virginia Archives in Richmond are unable to maintain control of the Wills, but if this is truly the case, please consider one of the suggested alternatives rather than burning them. I don't want my children and grandchildren to think of their ancestry as being disposable by an Act of the General Assembly. I want them to know and feel the emotional connection of their ancestors and what their ancestors through many, many generations did to ensure their continued presence on this fine earth. Thank you - Judy Neu Springwater, NY 14560-9723