Please excuse my ignorance. If I have offended you or the DAR, I apologize. Harold C. Fisher 512 Kings Row Yazoo City, MS In a message dated 3/20/2008 5:26:43 P.M. Central Daylight Time, sully1@carolina.rr.com writes: Photocopies of documents and proof statements submitted to the DAR are not copyrighted or owned by applicants. The application papers naturally become part of the DAR's collection of evidence documenting a patriot's service. The DAR is not a tax-supported entity. It is supported entirely by private funds, therefore, there is no "right" by anyone to request copies of DAR files at no charge. The DAR cannot be expected to bear the expense of supplying copies of their voluminous files for free. I've never heard that the DAR wishes to keep these records "secret." The papers I submitted to establish my Revolutionary War patriots are in my personal files and are also in my patriot's DAR files. Researchers have two choices: 1) personally do the original research and collect the necessary documents or 2) reimburse the DAR for photocopies of someone's research that are in the DAR collection. Kathy Various messages state: > I have wondered for years why the DAR was so careful to keep these > submitted records secret. Considering the organization started in 1880 > era, they surely have valuable papers that cannot be found elsewhere. > It is my thinking after dealing with several of the ancestor organizations (DAR, DRT, Colonial Dames, Mayflower Society) that someone who owns the > copies would have to give permission; otherwise I doubt they would do it. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)