I know some of y'all are probably already members of the Friends of the Archives in Virginia & other states, as I am; the annual membership contribution is a tax-deductible donation & helps these organizations purchase books & materials at their respective state archives, and sometimes to also fund (or to assist in funding) an intern position to do some special project that wouldn't otherwise get done. In these days of states cutting the budgets of their archives, such funding is a great benefit to all us researchers. For example, the Friends of the Virginia State Archives has donated to the Library of VA money to purchase all 192 rolls of microfilm of Revolutionary War Service records, plus 61 additional reels covering other Continental Army units, Continental Navy, Quartermaster & Commissary General, artillery, cavalry, etc, plus 4 additional rolls of soldiers who served in volunteer VA units 1784-1811. Members of "Friends" get a discount (10%, I believe) on purchases of items sold thru the Library Shop, including the Library's published books. Membership in the Friends of the VA State Archives has catagories of $15/yr for Individual; $25/yr for Family; $50/yr for Patron, and $600 for a Life membership; checks payable to "FVSA: The Community Foundation" mailed to FVSA, P.O.Box 4804; Richmond, VA 23220. (Again these contributions are tax deductible.) The North Carolina state library -- properly named the North Carolina Dept of Archives & History (NCDAH) -- has recently published a book, "Photographers in North Carolina: The First Century 1842-1941" that was compiled by Stephen E. Massengill. The photographers include at least one of our ancestors & his family members in a photo that BPW sent to them a couple of years ago. When I called there a few minutes ago to order the book if it included "Charles Poythress" the lady read out numerous Poythress names from the index, including not only Charles himself (who lived 1849-1924), but also the names of his wife & kids who I know were in that family photo. The review in the NC Friends' newsletter read, in part, "The 264-page biographical directory identifies more than 2,500 photographers. In the early days, a good number of those photographers were itinerants from other states. By the twentieth century, resident image-makers had become commonplace, particularly in North Carolina's largest cities." The book includes one essay tracing the evolution of photography from the early 19th to mid-20th century, and another essay that "places a selected number of early photographers in their geographic settings." For the general public, the book sells for $28 (plus shipping); Friends of the NC Archives get a 10% discount. (See bottom paragraph of this message re how to join NC's Friends) For more info on this book or their many other publications, call NCDAH's Historical Publications Section at 919-733-7442, or visit their on-line store at: http://store.yahoo.com/nc-historical-publications/ Friends of the (NC) Archives is a great organization that has done great work to support important preservation projects & fund internships for the state archives; in the face of the 22 employees lost since the early 1990s from Archives & Records such support via the Friends has been vital. Their membership catagories are $30/yr for Individual; $100/yr for Sustaining; $500 for Life Patron, and there is also listed $1,000/yr for Corporate; checks payable to Friends of the Archives, Inc; mailed to 4614 Mail Service Center; Raleigh, NC 27699-4614. (Again these contributions are tax deductible.)