The Draper Manuscripts are pretty wonderful. Before you order them, I would look around to make sure that they are not already available someplace close to you. Our Marshall University Special Collections has the microfilmed edition in Huntington, WV. I have used it on occasion. I dream of spending many hours reading some of it. It is not easy to read. And as any time one is reading someone's notes, it is not always entirely clear. But all in all I find it wonderful. I bought the guide to have on hand from the Wisconsin Historical Society....well I am using the name mentioned below....I am not sure exactly from whom in Wisconsin I bought it, but I could look it up if anyone is really interested. I am pretty sure that it is most likely available through the LDS FHL system. I could also check that if anyone is interested. Marsha in WV barbstanley@cox.net wrote: >...... > >(Other than the books in Montgomery Co.) > >It's my understanding that only a few Fincastle documents were given to Mr. Draper because they were going to be thrown out. Most of his collection were things he gathered – “reminiscences, documents and information for what was intended to be a series of volumes on the settlement and history of the "Trans-Allegheny West." >See – >http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/military/draper/draper.asp > >Also – “To make this large and often unwieldy collection available to the research public, the Wisconsin Historical Society has produced a microfilm edition of the entire collection, a comprehensive guide, a series of calendars for several of the major series, and several volumes of published documents from the collection.” >See – >http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/military/draper/ > >Of the 123 reels only 3 are titled Virginia Papers which I assume would contain the Fincastle documents. > >I would be interested in any more positive information anyone has about these reels before I consider ordering them. > > > >