The early Arkansas records stored at the Powhatan Courthouse [in the vaults in Lawrence Co., AR] have been moved while the courthouse/museum is being renovated. Apparently, there has been a recommendation not to move them back - but to move them to an unprotected area. Read about it here: http://www.jonesborosun.com/archives.asp Type "Powhatan" [without quotes] into the search box. When there, you can also voice your comments to the newspaper. Just find the appropriate place to click. We are very concerned about this because this old church that they want to use now, has no way of protecting the records from fire, theft, climate control, or any 2 or 4 legged vagrants. These documents are a large number of early ones where pioneer families from Arkansas AND MISSOURI are found. The majority of early parts of Missouri counties are also effected. Lawrence Co., AR is the mother of all counties in the area, and documents include ones that Lewis and Clark had signed, have been protected by the vaults, until lately. The future is in question as to how protected they will be. It really is a step backward in the preservation of our history. Please write to the Arkansas State Department here: Division of State Parks, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism One Capitol Mall Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 1-888-287-2757 (V/TT) info@arkansasstateparks.com We are passing this alert on to genealogists across the nation, but many are not voicing their concern because they have no one who were in the area. We urge all genealogists everywhere to help us take up this fight. Let them see that they have opened a can of worms that will not go away until they do the right thing!! If this major county in the state does this, who is to say that others won't follow?? You can also contact the AR Congresspeople at: Member Name DC Phone DC FAX Email Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D- AR) 202-224-4843 202-228-1371 http://lincoln.senate.gov/html/webform.html Senator Mark Pryor (D- AR) 202-224-2353 202-228-0908 http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/ Representative Marion Berry (D - 01) 202-225-4076 202-225-5602 http://www.house.gov/berry/zipauth.shtml Representative Vic Snyder (D - 02) 202-225-2506 202-225-5903 http://www.house.gov/snyder/contact/email.htm Representative John Boozman (R - 03) 202-225-4301 202-225-5713 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Representative Michael A. Ross (D - 04) 202-225-3772 202-225-1314 http://www.house.gov/writerep/   Above is the listing for the Congressmen and women, however, I have only been able to get through to Senator PRYOR. I urge any and all to join me in contacting them about the total disregard to the housing of valuable historic documents, and then pass this alert on to any and all who you think will be interested and will be as alarmed. Lanita in MO