Helen: My wife mentioned in passing that you were looking for suggestions on securing access to public information at the Delaware County courthouse. I did some on-line research on this issue, but you should verify this with an attorney familiar with Pennsylvania law before getting too involved: Try appealing to local elected officials with responsibility over the career civil servants who obviously don't want to be bothered by citizen requests for information. According to the Delaware County website, the following individuals (all elected officials) appear to have responsibility for various records at the courthouse and should be responsive to citizen (i.e., voter) concerns regarding courthouse administration and delivery of public service: Michael F.X. Gillen, Esq. -- Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphan Court. Up for re-election in Nov. 2001. Tim Murtaugh -- County Councilman -- areas of responsibility on the County Council include oversight of Executive Director, County Clerk, and Recorder of Deeds. He also oversees Library Services. Up for re-election in Nov. 2001. Kathrynann W. Durham -- County Councilman -- areas of concentration on the County Council include Public Property and Records. Up for re-election in Nov. 2003. Among the arguments that might be raised are the following: Section 66.2 of the Pennsylvania Statutes (otherwise known as the Pennsylvania "Right-to-Know Law") provides that "Every public record of an agency shall, at reasonable times, be open for examination and inspection by any citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." As a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the County and the various departments within the County, are covered by this law. Moreover, disclosure of the records sought by genealogists, such as those relating to the Revolutionary War, would not "operate to the prejudice or impairment of a person's reputation or personal security." The refusal of certain county employees to allow inspection of these records has no foundation in law, but is indicative of their indifference to public service. If the County is unable or unwilling to properly maintain its historically valuable local public records, it should immediately transfer possession of those records to the state's Historical and Museum Commission. Title 46, Chapter 15 of the Pennsylvania Code provides for removal of local public records of historical value in such situations: "Sec. 15.2 Transfer to Historical and Museum Commission. (a) Public records are public property and should remain in public custody. If a county or municipal government cannot adequately care for its own historical records, they shold be transferred to the custody of the Commission. (b) The Commission believes that it is in the best interest of the public that local public records of historical value be maintained in a county or municipal archives operated by the political subdivision. If individual county/municipal governments are unable to maintain a local public archives, arrangements should be made to transfer historical records to the Commission. (c) Records transferred to the Commission will be maintained at the State Archives or at depositories designated and approved by the Commission. Approved repositories will be required to sign memorandums of agreement with the Commission, which will focus on the institutions' duties and responsibilities with respect to the care and administration of public records deposited by the Commission." If the County courthouse is, in fact, already considered such a repository, then it should abide by the standards imposed by the Historical and Museum Commission: "Sec. 15.3. Standards for repositories. A repository maintaining historically valuable local public records should be able to demonstrate that it has the legal authority to hold the records and meet the following minimum standards: (1) Archival records are to properly protected against fire, theft or other loss. (2) Archival records are to be arranged and described according to commonly accepted archival standards. (3) Archival records are to be made available at reasonable times." Maintenance of historically valuable public records at the home of a former county employee most assuredly would NOT meet these high standards for archival preservation. Moreover, this situation raises serious questions as to whether public property (i.e., the historically valuable public records) has been diverted to the private inurement of a former government employee. Another tact might be to contact the Delaware County Bar Association, Front & Lemon Streets Media, PA 19063; Tel:610-566-6625; Fax: 610-566-7952. Local bar associations maintain close liaison with the judges and court administrators, and should be concerned about court employees refusing to make public information available. Finally, if any of the local law schools have a clinical law program, they might be interested in taking on a project on access to government information. A list of links to Pennsylvania law schools as it: http://lawschools.findlaw.com/schools/pennsylvania.html Good luck! Jeff : -----Original Message----- : From: HMWEBBER@aol.com [mailto:HMWEBBER@aol.com] : Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2000 9:00 AM : To: PACHESTE-L@rootsweb.com : Subject: [PACHESTE] Re: Records at the Court House in Dela. Co., PA! : : : Thank you Mary Jane--I'm running out of words--I just don't know : what to say--how about if we start sending all of the remarks to : the Elected Officials & the newspapers? : : Happy hunting, Helen (DCGS) : : In a message dated 8/27/0 12:18:21 AM, REDSKI9136@aol.com writes: : : << In a message dated 8/26/00 11:36:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, : harv@uswest.net : writes: : : << Does anyone know if there is a State Office that we can : get to help : > us in regard to these RECORDS or do we get up a PETITION?????? : > : > Happy hunting, Helen (DCGS) >> : : Hi Helen, : : Were is the petition? I am ready to sign it. I was born and : raised in Chester, Del. Co. and I am surprised to here they are : still acting : like this in Media. I have seen very much of this same attitude : over 10 years : ago, when genealogist were on foot. : I had less hassle at Phila.Archives and couthouse, then I had in : my own home : town. : Does anybody know if Judge Kelly is still in Media?You get that petition : going, I will sign it. : : Mary Jane : Bright Star : : >> : : : ==== PACHESTE Mailing List ==== : Visit the PA GenWeb Archives at : http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/pafiles.htm : : : : :