Hollis --
Thanks for your note.

(1)  We were working from the WPA typescript on microfilm.  The first 
column does not make make clear the relationship of the informant to 
enslaved persons.
I've seen the birth registers (on microfilm).  Again, the identity of 
the informant to enslaved persons is not made clear.

(2)  Overwhelmingly, the informants were individuals as opposed to 
corporations.

(3)  My understanding is that the WPA typescript and original birth 
registers are located at the Library of Virginia.  Because these 
documents are so fragile they are held in LVA's off-site storage 
facility.  The facility is open to the public only on Thursday and by 
appointment.  If someone from LVA has different information, please 
correct me.

(4)  However, microfilm -- of the WPA typescript and birth registers --  
is available in the general research area. 

(5)  Local History/Special Collections (LH/SC) has the microfilm of the 
WPA typescript -- not the birth registers.

Additional notes:
(A1)  Volume 1 with surnames A-C has 664 pages; each of the four 
remaining volumes has 600+ pages. 
(A2)  We expect to publish the remaining four volumes before the end of 
this year.
 

Leslie Anderson Morales
Reference Librarian
Local History/Special Collections
Alexandria Library
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA  22314-2420
(703) 838-4577 x213
http://www.alexandria.lib.va.us/branches/lhsc.html


Hollis Gentry wrote:

>Leslie,
>
>I have a few questions relating to the index that I
>hope you can answer.  I've viewed the microfilm on
>several occasions in the past and copied several
>entries.  However the one thing I could never
>determine was how to determine which title applied to
>each slave birth.  The first column could identify the
>owner, former owner, overseer, employer or informant. 
>Did you find entries for each of these relationships,
>or did you find that owners reported a majority of the
>births?  Furthermore, do you know if the original
>records survive?
>
>
>  
>