Donna, Your report is distressing. I find it difficult to believe that the filmers took such actions, and I don't believe it would be typical in any case. In fact, I have met the most recent Belmont filmers personally. I'm contacting one of my friends who used to be in charge of the Family History Library to see if he can track something down on this particular situation. Maybe there is some resolution even now? Lorraine [email protected] On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 08:29:38 -0500 "Herb Edwards" <[email protected]> writes: > Hello gang - > > This is a UNIVERSAL problem. We're encountering the same problems > with the > records here in Brown Co., IL. > > Yes, LDS came in and filmed SOME of them. The records were "cut to > fit" > their cameras, mis-filed, etc. NO copies were EVER sent to the > Court House > as promised. Some records not copied (and LDS will not be allowed > back in) > are in the old jail which also is home feathered and four legged > friends? > Others are literally falling to pieces and there is talk about > destroying > them. > > Something needs to be done on a local, state and national level to > retain > the integrity of these records. > > Realize with the International and National issues that this is a > LOW > priority - but someone needs to realize that when the dust settles, > the > records of our ancestors is GONE! They cannot be replaced > regardless of the > National Guard nor the tax base. > > The squeekie wheel gets the grease. Time for us all to start > squeeking!! > > - Donna Perkins Edwards > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:45 AM > Subject: [OHBELMON-L] Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > > > > Helen, The ideal would be to keep them in the County, but that > would be a > > very labor intensive and expensive proposition and I don't think > Belmont > > County has the extra funds to allocate to such a project; given > the fact > > that they do not have the funds to support their educational > system and > are > > currently doing massive layoffs of teachers. > > > > You would need a building to house the records and the people and > equipment > > to microfilm or digitalize these records. Given the fact that they > have > > already been sitting and deteriorating for years in attics and > basements > > exposed to the elements and critters, the most cost effective means > of > > preserving these would be to sent them to the designated > repositories such > > as OU or OHS to preserve them, otherwise they are likely to end > up in > land > > fills and be gone forever. That is why these repositories and > archive > > libraries were created. > > > > At least if they were sent to OU where they have the funds and > means to > > microfilm these records , the records would be preserved for ever > and not > > lost. Locally, they could then be requested and viewed at the > Belmont > County > > Campus Library of OU. > > > > If you think about it, we have already been paying for copies of > our own > > records. What is it now, $15.00 for a copy of a birth or death > certificate > > that probably costs less then $.10 to reproduce by the staff of > Vital > > records ; whose salaries come from our tax money? ? > > > > I think the bottom line is preserving these records before it is > too late. > > I am surprised that The Old age Home hasn't been condemned and > when it is, > I > > would bet the records in the attic and basement will go with the > building. > > The electrical wiring is ancient and should that building catch > fire as a > > result of faulty wiring, those records will also go up in smoke. > The > > Genealogy Societies have been aware of these problems for years, > but have > > probably not had the funding to deal with the massive amount of > records > that > > currently exist. There are tons of records stacked to the ceiling > in these > > locations. This seems like a cost effective and viable option to > me. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Helen Stradford" <[email protected]> > > To: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 11:15 PM > > Subject: Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > > > > > > > Why should OUR records be sent out of the county?? That is > silly!!!! > > The > > > LDS copied some of our records & our libraries did not even get > GIVEN a > > > copy!!!! WHY should we have to BUY back our own records. That > is a > > > terrible thing to have to do!!!!! Why should we have to go many > miles > to > > > see our own records!!!! Stop and think of what you are > saying!!!!!!! > > > [email protected] > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 4:06 PM > > > Subject: Preservation of Belmont County Records > > > > > > > > > > I keep digging and have found the following that may be food > for > > > thought............... > > > > > > > > The Ohio University Library in Athens, Ohio is the designated > regional > > > repository for local government records for Belmont County. This > is > > probably > > > where they should have been sent to begin with. There is a > branch of OU > > > across the road from where many of these records are currently > housed. > > This > > > could be another potential site for housing these records. OHS > in > > Columbus > > > would also be another site to consider. > > > > > > > > This is the web site for the Ohio University Library in Athens > and a > > > little info. about them: > > > > > > > > http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/genealogy/index.htm > > > > Archives and Special Collections -- 5th Floor > > > > The Department of Archives and Special Collections is the > designated > > > regional repository for local government records from eighteen > southeast > > > Ohio counties: > > > > > > > > Athens > > > > Belmont > > > > Gallia, > > > > Guernsey > > > > Hocking > > > > Jackson Lawrence > > > > Meigs > > > > Monroe > > > > Morgan > > > > Muskingum > > > > Noble Perry > > > > Pike > > > > Ross > > > > Scioto > > > > Vinton > > > > Washington > > > > > > > > It has acquired some, but by no means all, records from the > above > > > counties. A good portion of this material has also been > microfilmed and > is > > > available in the Microforms and Nonprint Department as well. > The > > Department > > > of Archives and Special Collections department maintains a guide > to this > > > material: Guide to Local Government Records in the Ohio > University > > Library. > > > The 1992 edition (with supplements) is available for purchase. > The > > > Department maintains the following Web sites: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >