Messrs. and Ladies of the Surry Historical Society: As an early VA researcher for now 50 years, I and many like me know full well that societies such as yours/ours have precious little money or time for projects such as gaining photos/film of the Loose Papers of Surry in order that someone might abstract those for the benefit of all, especially those many, many of us who live at a great distance. We are as proud of our heritage there as are those of you who are more nearby, yet we have had NO opportunity to examine and search the Loose Papers throughout the long terms of Mr. and Mrs. Emmerson. Their protection of that heritage from wear and tear and thievery was admirable, however that very need made our studies impossible. Now, with the I-net and the fine web-sites of Eve and others at our disposal, I suggest that we can raise some measure of funds for that purpose. Being unable to travel to VA to assist with that physical task, I would be happy to spend some time in a fund-raising efforts for that purpose. As I see it, we would need a) the permission of the needed authorities and of your officers, b) an appointment by your Society of a trusted soul to receive such funds and receipt those as "tax deductible" donations, c) a formal resolution or declaration by your group that such funds as are ear-marked by the donors for that purpose will be spent for only that purpose, d) we, your public, be permitted some ongoing input re who will do the photography and who the abstracting, and d) that you make widely known your support of the project. By way of suggestion only, we surely would hope that consideration be given to Steve and Yvonne in the photgraphy effort and to Ms. Weynette Haun as that person to do the abstracting from those films. In association with their efforts, we surely would encourage your powers-that-be to consider permitting those parties do so for whatever financial reward they might personally glean from their efforts, if any. Again, I would enjoy undertaking to raise some portion of the money for the project and in return want neither benefit nor recognition of any sort for whatever I might do. Incidentally, keep up the good work with the newsletter. May we all hear from you, please. Finally, is there an email address for the Society? Respectfully, Paul Drake, JD (from TN)

Dear cousins, friends and fellow researchers, I was a subscriber to the Rockbridge County, VA mailing list and Angela Ruley was the list manager. She was very helpful to me when I start looking 4 years ago for my paternal ancestors. I enjoyed the list and it reminds me very much of this list.... A great group of researchers that become friends through shared interests. Angela mentioned that a scanner was needed to take pictures of the various documents the list was asking for and at that time Rootsweb was only letting contributors have a certain amount of space for a web page. I made a donation to Rootsweb, ($35.00) if I remember correctly and gave the space to Angela to use for the Rockbridge graphic files which just 'gobbles' up space. I and several others donated the first money for the scanner. I sent $50.00 and the treasurer of the Rockbridge Historical Society acted as the collector of the money as it came in. The scanner needed was not a $99.00 one but a really nice one that was, I believe between $300.00 and $600.00. I can't remember, because as Linda said, that was in about 1997 and soon after I subscribed to the VA-SOUTHSIDE List and just occasionally wrote Angela to say hello and inquire about her family. She really was a nice person. I think the most important thing about the above is that Angela and the Clerk at the court were good friends and Angela was allowed to take the scanner right into the court house and scan the documents. I did not know about the computer. Just as Paul mentioned, someone must gain permission to scan or photograph the loose papers. Since some of you are Surry Historical Society members, can't you ask the clerk for permission? Then we can go from there is furnishing that person the funds necessary. Along with making a decision on how they can be viewed freely by all. Warmest regards, Margaret