This message, passed on to me by a fellow NYGenWeb county coordinator, should be of interest to many of us: -----begin forwarded announcement----- > As genealogists researching New York families, you are interested in > the preservation and accessibility of New York State's historical > records. The New York State Board of Regents, supported by the New > York State Historical Records Advisory Board and other organizations, > is proposing a budget initiative to help preserve and make accessible > more of New York's non-governmental historical records in the many > local historical societies and community archives. > > The Rediscovering New York History and Culture initiative proposes $7 > million in local aid to community archives, museums and historical > societies. Included in this initiative is $2 million to expand the > Documentary Heritage program to improve the care of non-governmental > historical records collections. More information about the initiative > is available from the State Historical Records Advisory Board web site > at www.nyshrab.org. > > Genealogist have a vested interest in preserving these records. Key > information needed to establish a link to a family or to extend back a > pedigree may be out there somewhere. Often, it's just not accessible. > Rediscovering New York History & Culture would help make this kind of > information accessible so researchers, including genealogists, could > find it. > > Grass roots support is critical in encouraging Governor Pataki to > include this program in his 2001/2002 executive budget. Letters of > support from individual genealogists and genealogical organizations to > the governor and legislative leaders would be very helpful. So > please, do yourself a favor and write a simple letter urging the > Governor and legislators to fund Rediscovering New York History & > Culture. If you would like sample advocacy letters or brochures about > this initiative, you may contact the Board at nyshrab@mail.nysed.gov. > > You also may want to visit the New York State Archives web site at > www.archives.nysed.gov. Click on 'Rediscovering New York' and you'll > find a newly mounted list of historical records repositories in New > York State, organized by County. It's a great aid to your research. > > Thank you for your assistance. > > Ray LaFever > New York State Archives ------end forwarded announcement------