Since the other topic is closed, I'd like to add an alternative suggestion. I'm not a decision-maker with any of the genealogy groups, but I suppose there are those on the list who are. I would like to encourage them to enter a dialog with any of the following organizations to come up with a marketing program that can be presented to Polish churches and civil archives. I strongly believe they need help in preserving their valuable heritage before those paper documents are lost forever. Some of the societies that work with archivists include: 1. The Society of American Archivists (www.archivists.org) headquartered in Chicago, IL 2. The Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Records Managers (www.acarm.org ) 3. Council of State Archivists (www.statearchivists.org) 4. Association of Canadian Archivists (http://archivists.ca/home/default.aspx ) 5. Association of Librarians & Archivsits at Baptist Institutions (http://alabi.org/default.asp ) I believe someone within these associations for archivists may have some ideas how the Polish Roman Catholic administration can learn how to preserve their records without closing access down to legitimate family historians. I would document the problems people are having and invite a dialog to find a solution that is agreeable to the Polish churches and family members who would like access to those records. Most important -- those papers will not last forever. If the parishes and/or archives are responsible for preservation of those church documents, it's important to preserve those records before they become too fragile for anyone to use -- including those priests responsible for being the caretakers of those documents. - Alan On May 11, 2008, at 4:10 AM, Elyssa Kowalinski wrote: > > Sadly, it seems that the Vatican will prevent access to their > records by the LDS without putting in place an alternative to > provide or even protect the records. And as usual, it will be the > decendents of the poor who will suffer the most. The illiterate > couldn't keep their own records, a > mention in a parish register is all that proves that they once > existed. So much of the history, life and culture of a people is > contained in these records that they really are National Treasures, > and they and the information they contain should be treated as > such. :( > > Elyssa

Well said, Alan. I'm certainly not knowledgeable on the subject of archiving but, for what it's worth, I think that is a wonderful idea. ...........Mike On May 11, 2008, at 10:06 AM, Alan J. Kania wrote: > Since the other topic is closed, I'd like to add an alternative > suggestion. I'm not a decision-maker with any of the genealogy groups, > but I suppose there are those on the list who are. I would like to > encourage them to enter a dialog with any of the following > organizations to come up with a marketing program that can be > presented to Polish churches and civil archives. I strongly believe > they need help in preserving their valuable heritage before those > paper documents are lost forever. > > Some of the societies that work with archivists include: > > 1. The Society of American Archivists (www.archivists.org) > headquartered in Chicago, IL > 2. The Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Records Managers (www.acarm.org > ) > 3. Council of State Archivists (www.statearchivists.org) > 4. Association of Canadian Archivists (http://archivists.ca/home/default.aspx > ) > 5. Association of Librarians & Archivsits at Baptist Institutions (http://alabi.org/default.asp > ) > > I believe someone within these associations for archivists may have > some ideas how the Polish Roman Catholic administration can learn how > to preserve their records without closing access down to legitimate > family historians. I would document the problems people are having and > invite a dialog to find a solution that is agreeable to the Polish > churches and family members who would like access to those records. > Most important -- those papers will not last forever. If the parishes > and/or archives are responsible for preservation of those church > documents, it's important to preserve those records before they become > too fragile for anyone to use -- including those priests responsible > for being the caretakers of those documents. > > - Alan