Folks, For those concerned about the destruction of wills in Virginia, this is the latest post from the final repository. Relax. Anne >X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2655.55) >Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 16:00:39 -0500 >Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia >history <VA-HIST@listlva.lib.va.us> >Sender: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia >history <VA-HIST@listlva.lib.va.us> >From: Conley Edwards <CEdwards@LVA.LIB.VA.US> >Subject: Senate Bill 818 >Comments: To: "Va-Roots@listlva.lib.va.us" <Va-Roots@listlva.lib.va.us> >To: VA-HIST@listlva.lib.va.us > >As most of you know, the Library of Virginia maintains the official archives >of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The state archives contains more than 91 >million items documenting four centuries of Virginia history. > >We have been monitoring Senate Bill 818 and want to reassure researchers >that safeguards exist through the state's records management program to >preserve the vital information contained in wills. The Code of Virginia in >the sections known as the Virginia Public Records Act gives the Library of >Virginia authority to manage and direct records management for the >Commonwealth of Virginia. This Code section governs the retention and >disposition of the records of the circuit courts. As a result, circuit >court clerks in Virginia are either keeping the original will or creating a >facsimile of the original will. This is standard procedure. Senate Bill >818 would not change this. > >We will continue to work closely with the state's circuit court clerks on >the requirements of our records management program to ensure that the >invaluable information in these records is preserved, assuring researchers >effective and efficient access. > >We are grateful for the concerns you have expressed and will continue to >communicate and work with the Commonwealth's circuit court clerks on this >matter. As the official state repositoty we are committed to the >preservation of the documentary hertiage of Virginia and do not believe >Senate Bill 818 as currently written threatens that mission. > >************ >Conley L. Edwards >State Archivist >The Library of Virginia >800 East Broad Street >Richmond, VA 23219