These original records seem like they should be returned to Minnesota or Hennepin County or Minneapolis, to a genealogical or historical society. I am sorry that the possessor of the records doesn't want to do that, or that the people who dispersed the records of this "defunct" town also didn't think of doing it. But I would make a donation toward their purchase if that was the goal--to return them. Certainly a copy could be kept locally by a caring archivist such as Ms. Hawley as a resource but the original should go home. Nancy Christie Portland, Oregon Treehistn@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 12/16/98 1:19:52 AM Pacific Standard Time, cyndihow@oz.net > writes: > > << > Cheryl - > How about a more complete description of the books. What > area/region/state do they cover? What time period? How many pages > in each book? etc. > > Then, what do you plan to do with the ledgers once you purchase them? > > Thanks, > Cyndi >> > > Cyndi, > > I will find out more specific info about them. The ledger I bought already is > from a small defunct town in Minneapolis Township, Hennepin County, MN. It > covers all the births and deaths from 1871 to 1886. It is the original > record. > > I have emailed the dealer with the other ledgers to get more specific > information about the other six ledgers. It sounds like they are not related > to each other at all, just a mismash of places. > > Any materials that are purchased for, purchased by or donated to Echoes of the > Past Archive remain the property of the archive. We just received the funds > to complete our nonprofit status and hope to have our 501(c)3 status within > the first quarter of 1999. All materials of the Archive are available for > research by the public. At this time we are mainly making the materials > available from the web, email, phone and snail mail. We hope to have a walk > in facility by 2000. We charge nominal copy charges only to cover costs and > keep the management of the Archive working. Our Articles of Incorporation are > set up to provide for all materials to be donated to other Archives (mainly > NARA, Sandpoint) instead of being sold or distributed privately. > > I will post more detailed info on the books themselves as soon as I hear back > from the dealer. If anyone has any questions about them, please let me know!! > > Cheryl Hawley