note to the various lists I subscribe to......reply from an email I sent to NARA concerning their retention of documents and the 1973 fire which destroyed most of the military records. Richard Hollis [email protected] Tomball, Texas http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/o/l/Richard-D-Hollis/index.html?Welcome=1010278829 ----- Original Message ----- From: Susan Cummings To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, May 23, 2003 11:07 AM Subject: Re: records retention Dear Mr. Hollis, I am reviewing the comments the National Archives and Records Administration received on our propose draft appraisal policy (copy attached) and just realized you had asked two questions in your message. The first asked if records that might be used as a genealogy resource would be retained. The personal data section (Appendix 2) does state that records "rich" in personal data as described in the document, would probably be appraised as "permanent." There may be other considerations, such as inability to access the information, that would make them disposable. Your second question was about records lost in the fire at the St. Louis Personnel Center in 1973. There is some good information about the fire losses and alternate sources for the information on the NARA web site. The link for that information is: http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/fire_1973.html I apologize for the delay in answering your questions. Thank you for your interest in what we do here at NARA. Susan Cummings Policy and Communications Staff >>> "Richard Hollis" <[email protected]> 04/09/03 10:59PM >>> Hello, was looking over the draft of the Appraisal Policy on your NARA webpage......I take by the following information from your site that records that we might use as a geneaolgy resource would be retained? also one other question you might be able to answer or direct me to someone else....a few months ago there was an email circulating around some of the genweb sites saying that some of the lost military records from the fire in the 70's might have copied before the fire and might still exist......is there some truth to this?....or is it a myth?.....smile.... thanks..... Richard Hollis [email protected] Tomball, Texas http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/o/l/Richard-D-Hollis/index.html?Welcome=1010278829 PERSONAL DATA Personal data records contain information about an individual and may also include information about his or her family members. Included are such records as the personnel folders of Federal employees and members of the armed services; the files that are accumulated in connection with determining an individual's eligibility for Federal Government benefits, such as a pension, medical care, or mortgage guaranty; and the records that document the immigration to the United States of the foreign born or their application for legal residence or citizenship. In appraising personal data records, it is necessary to take into account the following: a.. Size and nature of the population Some personal data records cover nearly all of the American population. Records of this sort are more likely to warrant permanent retention than records containing information on only a small percentage of the population. However, even if the total number of people represented in a body of personal data records is relatively low, the records may still warrant retention if they contain information concerning a large percentage of a sub-group of the American population (e.g., an ethnic or racial group, a particular occupation, or residents of a specific region). b.. Nature of the information Researchers who use personal data records have traditionally had a high interest in the following types of information concerning individuals. Records that are rich in the kinds of information outlined below are more likely to warrant permanent retention than records that contain only a small number of these elements. a.. previously used names b.. date and place of birth; place(s)of residence; c.. date, place, and cause of death; d.. if foreign born, date and place of arrival in the US, and if naturalized, date and place of naturalization; e.. names of parents; f.. date and place of parents birth and death; g.. name of spouse(s)); date(s)and place(s)of marriage; h.. names of children; i.. date and place of children's birth; j.. education level; k.. educational institutions attended and the dates; l.. occupation; m.. property ownership; n.. names of employers and work location(s) o.. military service, including branch of service, dates of service, and rank. Researchers appear to be increasingly interested in medical information as well. NOTE: It will be necessary to monitor possible effects of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on access to medical information.