While every one of us would love to have the "Original" or to say that we have "looked at the Original" lets not lose sight of the fact that a microfilm copy is just as valid, and will stand a test in a Court of Law... >From: "Tree Mother" <tonin1@airmail.net> >To: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [Would-be NOXUBEE CO. MS RESEARCHERS] >Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 19:28:06 -0800 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Received: from [63.92.80.32] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id >MHotMailBC44A83F004C4004320A3F5C502010CC0; Fri Feb 02 17:22:08 2001 >Received: (from slist@localhost)by lists2.rootsweb.com (8.10.1/8.10.1) id >f131NLs30177;Fri, 2 Feb 2001 17:23:21 -0800 >From MISSISSIPPI-L-request@rootsweb.com Fri Feb 02 17:22:57 2001 >Resent-Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 17:23:21 -0800 >X-Original-Sender: tonin1@airmail.net Fri Feb 2 17:23:20 2001 >Message-ID: <00b701c08d91$53b63bc0$0101a8c0@hppav> >Old-To: "Bob Smith" <papsmith@mail.com>, <MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com> >References: <384894641.981122802060.JavaMail.root@web149-mc> >X-Priority: 3 >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200 >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200 >Resent-Message-ID: <JcxncC.A.VXH.I21e6@lists2.rootsweb.com> >Resent-From: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com >X-Mailing-List: <MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/83 >X-Loop: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com >Precedence: list >Resent-Sender: MISSISSIPPI-L-request@rootsweb.com > >Bob and List: I wonder if FHC has microfilmed these records. If so, it is >an >inexpensive method to obtain copies of records. I do understand that some >counties in MS did not want FHC there microfilming for reasons best left >unsaid which has added to the out-of-state researcher's dilemma. >I think it is nice when referring to documents obtained from FHC film that >we reference the film number for the benefit of others. >Fortunately they have their index on line so those of us using the Net can >access them from home and go to a one of their libraries and order up the >film for researching. I have been able to obtain copies of marriage records >for several family members in this manner. >Some of these records are so old that they should not be handled except >with >gloved hands to protect them from contaminants. Very difficult problem for >all of us. >In Europe where records are ancient compared to American records, one must >make an appointment with the archivist and read and copy the records either >with a camera or handwritten and in the presence of the archivist. > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Bob Smith <papsmith@mail.com> >To: <MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 6:06 AM >Subject: Re: [Would-be NOXUBEE CO. MS RESEARCHERS] > > > > I have never been refused the service of coping old records from the > > old books in any state I have done research in (MS, AL AR TX GA SC MO > > IL) > > > > However I must say I think there are times that some of these old book > > should be excluded from photo copying. Many of them are very fragile > > and since must be opened wide and laid on the copy machine they are > > easily damaged. I would hope that some day all these old records > > could be microfilmed so that the books can be put in safe storage > > (this is the original history of our heritage and our nation). There > > are few Counties in the nation that can afford the cost of > > microfilming all their old records. This could be a great project for > > all local Historical and Genealogy groups. > > > > A couple of years ago I was in the Lowndes Co. AL courthouse which has > > a wealth of records of the area from the early 1800's. I have never > > seen a clerks office more courtios and willing to help, but I felt a > > guilt when I left with copies I had requested and helped to make. > > Each copy we made left fragments of the fragile and brittle pages on > > the copy machine. > > > > Yes hand copying is a tough task, but remember these were handwritten > > in the first place. It is time consuming and not all can spend the > > time nor have a laptop computer as I do. This too is a wear and tear > > on the old books, so lets work on getting them microfilmed, or else we > > won't have them much longer. > > > > So much for the soap box. > > > > Robert Fleet "Pap" Smit III > > Victoria, TX > > > > "He who careth not whence he cometh, > > careth little whither he goeth" > > Daniel Webster > > > > ------Original Message------ > > From: Eugenia <genaerber@usa.net> > > To: MISSISSIPPI-L@rootsweb.com > > Sent: February 1, 2001 3:08:58 PM GMT > > Subject: Re: [Would-be NOXUBEE CO. MS RESEARCHERS] > > > > > > WARNING to other researchers!! > > > > This is to forewarn and maybe save time and trouble, researchers > > needing > > information from probate records in Noxubee Co. MS. A congenial > > deputy > > clerk showed me to the record room. I had done my homework and knew > > book > > and page of the instruments needed. I proceeded to locate the old > > book > > which contained the Will of my gr-gr-gr-grandfather Brown, consisting > > of > > four pages of that book. > > > > I took the book to the deputy and explained I would like to get a > > copy of that instrument, and she turned to the Chancery Clerk, > > Mary Shelton and told her what I had requested. Ms. Shelton then in a > > very condescending manner informed me they did not make copies of > > these > > old records because the books cannot be taken apart as the more modern > > books do. Gasping with disbelief, I asked how I would go about > > getting > > a copy of this instrument, and she shrugged and said "I don't know > > unless you > > bring a camera and make a copy." > > > > I explained I have been researching in Courthouses for about 50 years > > and have never encountered this problem. After a long discussion, she > > finally agreed to make copies of those four pages, but told me she > > would not > > make any further copies from the old books. > > > > Needless to say, there was little reason for me to spend time looking > > at > > more records, which incidentally, are probably the more disorganized I > > have encountered. > > > > To save others who travel even further distances than I, the > > expectation > > of getting copies of your ancestors probate records, I suggest you > > take > > a camera, or prepare to spend endless hours hand copying what you > > need. > > > > I do not understand how an elected public official can refuse to allow > > copies to be made of public records, but Ms. Mary Shelton did! > > However, to be > > fair to the people of that county, the Circuit Clerk and her > > deputies in Noxubee County is among the most cordial and cooperative > > that > > I have met anywhere. > > > > Have other researchers found the same conditions in the Chancery > > Clerk's > > office in Noxubee County? I have dealt with and communicated with the > > Genealogical Society in that county for several years, and they are > > always > > pleasant and helpful. > > > > Seems if we need copies of these old probates, we will have to have an > > expensive camera or wait until the people in that county can have > > another > > election. > > > > I trust this warning will be of help to other researchers. > > > > Eugenia > > > > ____________________________________________________________________ > > Get free email and a permanent address at > > http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________ > > Get free email and a permanent address at > > http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 > > > > > > ==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== > > Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi > > where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the > > mouse. > > > > ============================== > > Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! > > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 > > > > > > ______________________________________________ > > FREE Personalized Email at Mail.com > > Sign up at http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup > > > > > > ==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== > > Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi > > where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the mouse. > > > > ============================== > > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library > > > > >==== MISSISSIPPI Mailing List ==== >Visit the Mississippi-L Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mississi >where you can both SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE with a click of the mouse. > >============================== >Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate >your heritage! >http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com