---------- From: Gail Brown <rexbrown@prysm.net> To: TXGEN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [TXGENWEB] Fw: SW Branch of the National Archives Date: Friday, August 14, 1998 5:05 PM With David White's permission, I am forwarding this message received on one of my mail lists. I don't know that much about it but thought others might want to know the latest from NARA. It sounds like NARA and GSA have been in negotiations with the city of Ft. Worth for some time about the removal of the Archives from that location. The article may be found at http://www.star-telegram.com/news/doc/1047/1:METRO51/1:METRO510813 98.html Please contact David White at dlwhite@flash.net if you have any questions. Gail -----Original Message----- From: David L. White <dlwhite@flash.net> To: Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com <Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, August 14, 1998 10:53 AM Subject: SW Branch of the National Archives I invite your attention to the front page of the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram," of Friday, August 14th. The article by Laurie Mayk is entitled "Fort Worth may lose claim to history collection. Treasured archives could go to an out-of-state location." Now the cat is out of the bag. The Fort Worth City Manager, Mike Groomer, states that negotiations have been ongoing for about 2 1/2 years with the General Services Administration (GSA),the agency working as NARA's real estate broker. It now is clear that previous statements from Mr. John Carlin, the Archivist, and statements from other NARA officials have been less than candid. They have previously stated that there are "no plans" to close any NARA Branch, while in fact negotiations have been underway for 2 1/2 years. These discussions commenced 2 years BEFORE Mr. John Carlin formed the NARA Space Planning Team. NARA officials could claim that they haven't lied depending on how you define "plans." However, the final decision is still about a year away. Now is the time for the genealogical societies of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico to get active and write letters to their elected representatives. If they don't write now, the Southwest Branch will probably close and the records relocated to another area out of the Southwest. If there is no opposition from genealogists, researchers, and historians, NARA would be justified in closing the SW Branch in Fort Worth in the interest of "efficiency and cost-effectiveness." It can and will happen unless you get involved. Accessability to these records must come before efficiency and cost-effectiveness. And my profound thanks to the person or persons who brought this information to the attention of the "Star-Telegram." I would urge each of you send a Letter to the Editor of the "Star-Telegram" at letters@star-telegram.com We need to commend the "Star-Telegram" and Laurie Mayk for bringing this information to the attention of the public, and protest the potental loss of our records, and the smoke-screen (some would call them lies) by the NARA officials. Also, letters should be send to NARA Space Plan at space.plan@arch2.nara.gov requesting an explanation. It is time to hold the NARA officials accountable for their statements and actions. David L. White Fort Worth, Texas