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Archiver > GenChat > 1998-03 > 0889742832


From: Wanda Irby <>
Subject: Re: [GenChat-L] Re: GenChat-D Digest V98 #95
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 16:47:12 -0600


Right! Several courthouses have disposed of unclaimed marriage license! As well as other
old records. I have been fighting to prevent this. And at least two counties have agreed
that rather than destroy old records, they will donate them to historical or genealogical
societies.
Wanda in Texas

Jerri Chasteen wrote:

> Kevin said:
> "I may have been wrong,.. but heres another. Maybe they should have left the
> "original" <marriage records> there?
> Good question. Anyones sensible thoughts, or just a thought, I'm open for all
> discussions".
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Kevin,
> Several years ago one of the local genealogical societies learned that the court house
> was going to "dispose of" several boxes of these old, unclaimed marriage licenses,
> which had been stored in the basement for YEARS! Many people had actually gone to the
> courthouse and obtained a photocopy of the courthouse record of a marriage and were
> never informed of the stored originals, and never thought to ask!
>
> The society rescued these documents and published this "find" in the genealogical
> column in the local newspaper. These originals have since been archivally preserved,
> placed in the care of the local library, and may be copied. While it would be
> wonderful to own and display "the original", who is to say that this document would
> have been properly preserved, freely shared, or that the house would not burn down! As
> it is, the descendants have equal access, and the documents are preserved for the
> generations yet to come.
>
> jc
>
> ==== GenChat Mailing List ====
> Check out Ellen Hurdel's web page!
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/140

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