APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2005-02 > 1107455460


From: "Connie Bradbury" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Deceased Genealogist's Work Files
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 09:32:18 -0900
References: <26517171.1107410892682.JavaMail.root@louie.psp.pas.earthlink.net>


At the archives where I work, when a collection is processed it is purged of
duplications mainly. Sometimes newsclippings (if from a local newspaper and
that newspaper is on microfilm) and photocopies of copyrighted material.
Questionable items are a judgment call for the archivist. One collect we
received was from a woman who had served as Attorney General. She is now
retired. It was like she cleaned out her office and threw everything into
boxes. There were 2 boxes of cancelled checks, check registers, tax returns
and other financial records. The archivist didn't want the checks and
registers but also felt the tax returns, etc. should have some restriction
placed on them. She called the woman and she said to shred everything
financial. Yeah!

One rule of thumb for anyone asking an archives to take a collection is to
"process" it before donating it. Make sure everything is properly arranged
in folders and that you haven't misfiled that letter from an old boyfriend
in one of the folders. Archives want to keep the integrity of the
collection so whatever you put in a folder will be transferred to an
archival quality folder. If it's dated papers, like letters, they will be
put in date order if not received that way.

It takes time and money for an archives to process a collection, then store
it. It's always nice to offer a donation of cash along with the papers.

Connie

----- Original Message -----
From: "doumajk" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [APG] Deceased Genealogist's Work Files


> There are many manuscript collections in various libraries that are made
> up of this type of genealogical material. Some are truly "manuscripts" of
> publications and the collection may include the research notes and sources
> which may not be identified in the publication. Some are collections of
> research which has never been published, but could be exceedingly useful
> to another researcher, as a guide for where to look and what was found,
> evaluations made, etc. This could well include files of public records
> which the new researcher could take months or years to gather, or might
> luck out to find filed by an earlier researcher.
>
> Yes, there may be privleged information, that is what genealogists deal
> with and must make a decision whether to publish or not. We all See a lot
> of personal information about the living, whether we post it on the web or
> publish in a book is a choice we all make. Yes, there may be copyright
> issues, but again, that is something the researcher must address. In many
> cases, when papers are given to a library or other repository, there is a
> deed of gift which covers access, copyright and privacy. Generally, if
> someone gives their files to a repository, the idea is for them to be
> available for others to use for research. Not to copy and publish as
> their own, but one more step in the research process. (The biggest
> objection I see here would be the financial arrangements between the
> client and the genealogist.)
>
> And some of it could be files and files of worthless junk!!!! A lot of
> places will not have the staff necessary to evaluate all that for every
> possible family and location that comes in, so again, it wil be up to the
> researcher. Rather like thousands of books on the shelves, family trees
> on-line, etc...
>
>
> Jane
>
> Jane Douma Pearson
>
>
>
>
>
> ==== APG Mailing List ====
> The Association of Professional Genealogists
> http://www.apgen.org/publications/apg-l/index.html
>

This thread: