Does MS have a state archives? Jackie [email protected] wrote: >I went to the Courthouse in Kosciusko today in search of some police court >records dating from about 1900. > >The specific records that I was seeking, if they are yet extant, are to be >found in the attic above the main court chambers. Alas, this area is not only >unlit and gloomy but there is ample evidence to suggest it is also home to many >rats and pigeons. To further discourage researchers the records are >scattered and in no discernible order. > >I have been searching through the records available at the Courthouse and in >the Chancery Clerk's office for many years, so I was not surprised to see the >sad state in which these records repose. Still, I can't help but wonder if >there is not something that can be done to preserve these old records of our >ancestors. > >I wish there was someone to blame. We could then rise up in righteous >indignation and acting collectively we could perhaps bring about a change. >Unfortunately, there is not anyone we can point to as the culprit. The public >officials that I have met have been uniformly helpful and courteous. They seem as >unhappy about this situation as I am. Like me, they are not eager to rummage >through records that are not only crumbling but which, given the bird droppings, >have come to pose a health concern. > >There is always the tendency to ask who is to blame when very often the >better question is what's to blame. Many problems simply result from a flawed >system. I think this is such an instance. > >As we live in an era in which the national government is often the court of >first resort, perhaps it is possible that federal funds could be obtained for a >preservation effort. Given the tenor of the times, it may be that we could >make the case that funds should be allocated to remove the ledgers and records >because of the threat they pose to the poor pigeons. I suspect we could also >prove the indigenous rats are being seriously inconvenienced by the presence >of such thick books. Thus framed, I feel sure the government would not only >encourage our efforts but would probably mandate them. > >Anyone have a better idea? Or should we just resign ourselves to the >inevitable loss of this part of our heritage? > >Edward Hutchison >Madison, MS >Attala County Genealogy > > >==== MSATTALA Mailing List ==== >Have you visited the Attala Historical Society web site? The URL is http://www.rootsweb.com/~msahs/ >Now would be a good time to support the Attala Historical Society! > > > >