Ladies and Gentlemen, This was forwarded to me by a friend. (1) Is it true? (2) Is this usual practice? and (3) What else can we do to stop it? Thanks. Karen E. Sutton ============================================================= >From: [log in to unmask] >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: [VAGLOUCE-L] Re: Immediate Need To Email and Phone VA Legislators >Date: 9 Feb 2003 17:22:50 -0700 > >This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > >Classification: Query > >Message Board URL: > >http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/hAC.2ACE/1289.1 > >Message Board Post: > >To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], >[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], >[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], >[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], >[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] > >Re: SB818 Destruction of VA Wills > >Dear Sirs and Madam: > >I come from a long line of Virginians--in fact ALL of my maternal ancestors >were from Virginia--and I'm distressed by the possible passage of SB818 in >its current form. > >My concerns are for the destruction of original wills are threefold: > >1) This bill is being presented and passed too fast for constituents and >families of the Virginians with archived wills to voice their opinions in >this most important question of Virginia and our families' historical >preservation of records. Furthermore, no time is given for the retrieval of >already archived wills. > >2) The destruction of records that could be successfully retained by State >and County Libraries and Historical Societies. No time has been given for >these public sources' voices to be heard. Furthermore, there is no clause >to allow these public sources to save our original Virginia archives and I >hope one will be included. > >3) The destruction of records replicated on microfilm that does not have >longevity may cause permanent loss of records. There is no clause that >specifies the manner in which archives are to be preserved; the best manner >being digital photos and silver halide film. This, in itself, could result >in the permanent loss of Virginia heritage. Clearly, there has already been >much tragic loss of our history. > > >From http://www.archives.state.ut.us/preserv/guide/microfor.htm#longevity > >"Documents with permanent retention periods must be reformatted on the most >stable medium possible if they are to be used into the indefinite future. >Silver halide film can last more than 500 years if it is manufactured, >processed, and stored properly. When choosing a microfilm system, it is >important to decide ahead of time if the film must be of archival quality." > >I look forward to hearing more about possible remedies in SB818 for these >concerns. > >Very truly yours, > >Donna Lynn Snelling > > > >==== VAGLOUCE Mailing List ==== >Do you appreciate this list? Ever found helpful free source material on >the VAGenWeb project pages? If so, show your appreciation by contributing >a transcription to the Gloucester County Archives. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html