Hi Lists: I am forwarding a message from Les Horn. Ted Larson -------- Original Message -------- Subject: {not a subscriber} Re: Argyll and Bute Archives Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 15:46:56 -0700 From: Les HORN <Leshorn@ythanonich.freeserve.co.uk> To: islay rootsweb <sct-islay-l@rootsweb.com>, Isle of Mull Rootsweb <SCT-ISLEOFMULL-L@rootsweb.com>, Tiree Rootsweb <sct-arl-tiree-l@rootsweb.com>, Argyll Rootsweb <sct-argyll-l@rootsweb.com> Hi Lists These are letters published in this week's Oban Times : LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Oban Times 23/2/06 Keep Argyll archivist. I am writing to express my astonishment at the decision of Argyll & Bute Council to discontinue its Archives Department after the retirement of Murdo MacDonald at the end of March 2006, as reported in The Oban Times last week. I am a member of Dalmally Historical Association and we have found the archives and particularly the knowledge and expertise of the county archivist invaluable. We have been extremely fortunate to have such a resource in this area and I feel the council has made a short-sighted decision. It is a shame the local historical groups were not consulted over this matter. I hope the council reviews its decision and appoints a successor to Mr MacDonald. Kate Craig, Dalmally Historical Association ============ Maintain the legacy Argyll & Bute Council should feel proud of the area's rich heritage and the preservation of local archives by the council archivist. The archivist has extended his services to schoolchildren, historical societies, the Argyllshire Diaspora in Britain and abroad and to countless people with an interest in Argyll and Bute. This service has been provided for the last 30 years by Murdo MacDonald, who is to retire at the end of next month. There can scarcely be a publication about Argyll published during these years that has not mentioned Murdo as a source of information. I doubt if there can have been a better ambassador for Argyll and Bute Council than Murdo and I can understand the feeling he would be irreplaceable. However, the decision made by the council to axe this post is, I believe, extremely short sighted. The value of the archives themselves must be significant, but their value extends far beyond financial assets. I can only hope the council will keep these in a way that ensures Murdo's legacy is appropriately maintained, unlike his job. Roderick D Buchanan, Kilmartin ============= Expand the Archives I wish to add my voice to the growing outcry against the decision not to replace Murdo MacDonald as archivist in Argyll and Bute. The interest in finding one's Scottish roots has grown rapidly in recent years and the need for a full time archivist in Argyll will only increase in the future. Murdo recently helped me to help my Glenorchy-born father and obtain records of those buried in his family plot. That quest continues. My family has deep roots in Argyll. My family last lived in Tayvallich until our 1967 emigration to Canada. We have returned several times for family visits combined with genealogical expeditions. My father thinks himself lucky that he has contacts to go for assistance. Not only do I suggest you keep Murdo on. but I believe more people should be hired to help him expand the service. If it is a matter of money that decides whether Murdo stays or goes, I would suggest that a well staffed 'welcome centre' connected with the archives would be a bigger money maker than you could imagine. There is no end to the wealthy colonial genealogists who would gladly come and spend plenty of their dollars in Argyll, if only they thought they could have all the resources available. In closing, I say that reducing what services Argyllshire offers to family tree researchers is a step backwards. Argyllshire's history is it's gold. Increasing services is the proper direction to go and we would be all the better for it. Marrie Fletcher Harris Barrie, Canada ============== Jill Bowis's e-mail, as copied to the List is also published. ============== Best Wishes Les