I don't ususally do this, but thought it needed to be sent to all of my IN list.
Subject: current situation at the Indiana State Archives
This letter was written by one of the 41 current volunteers at the Indiana
State Archives. Last year we contributed volunteers hours to equal 2 1/2
paid employees. There are 7 Archives employees. I did not write the letter,
but I support this position totally. Please act if you value or use the
Archives.
Sharon Mills
WARNING!
Records For Your Genealogical Research and
historical documents that chronicle indiana history Are At Risk
Background:
During his term, Governor OBannon appointed Co-Directors of the Indiana
Commission on Public Records (ICPR). Dr. Alan January was placed in charge
of The Indiana State Archives and Records Center. The other Co-Director
(CD2) was placed in charge of Forms Management and Micrographics (basically
the downtown operation) as well as budget matters. They were jointly
responsible for Records Preservation. (See for more info.)
While overseeing the operation of the Archives, Dr. January has nurtured a
volunteer program that has allowed researchers the opportunity to access
records, both on site and via the internet, that were previously not
available - primarily because the bare-bones Archives staff did not have
the time to process those records. Under Dr. Januarys guidance, the
volunteers have broken records each year for the number of hours worked
toward making this information available to you.
When Governor Daniels took office, one of the demands placed on him was to
appoint directors of many State agencies and offices, including the
ICPR. Until such time as he made those appointments, the current directors
remained in place. Apparently at some time this year (probably in January)
CD2 was appointed as Acting Director over the entire ICPR operation. I say
apparently because at no time was anyone at the Indiana State Archives,
employee or volunteer, officially notified of this change in leadership.
Why should this change concern you?
CD2 has made some decisions since acting as interim director that
potentially have a negative effect on your genealogy research:
· CD2 denied the acceptance of a delivery of confidential state
records. These records were consequently left on an open receiving dock at
the Government Center downtown until the Governors Office was asked to
intervene.
· CD2 had planned to destroy more than fifty skids of historic and
valuable newspapers even though the ICPR had previously made a signed
agreement to store them for the Indiana State Library.
· CD2 has asked State Archives employees (purportedly in an effort to
get caught up with the backlog created by the lack of sufficient employees)
to sample records. CD2s intent, in one example, is to randomly pull
complete records from the Indiana Dept. of Corrections, while keeping only
the photo and record cards (not the entire record) for the remainder of the
prisoners. Imagine if the full records of notorious figures like John
Dillinger, Stephen Judy and Mike Tyson just to name a few were not part
of those sample records. imagine if the full records of one of your
relatives was not included in those samples.
Because of the interim appointment, CD2 seems to be the obvious candidate
for permanent appointment to the Director position. The States fiscal
year begins July 1st, which means the funds may be available to fill the
position permanently, so the clock is ticking.
As volunteers who devote time to preserving these historic records, it is
most discomforting to imagine a director who does not place the necessary
value on the retention of this priceless information.
Remember, these are PUBLIC records, which means they are YOUR records. Are
these examples of how you want your records maintained?
What can you do?
If this issue is important to you, please take the time to write, e-mail or
call any or all of the following contacts and request that the current
Acting Director of the ICPR NOT be selected as the permanent Director.
In addition, if you have knowledge of Dr. Alan Januarys dedication to
preserving our past, please feel free to ask that he be placed in the
position of permanent ICPR Director.
Contacts:
Mitch Daniels, Indiana Governor:
Phone: 317-232-4567
US Mail: Office of the Governor
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2797
Indiana General Assembly:
Internet:
www.in.gov/legislative/contact/index.html
Betsy Burdick, Director of Cabinet & Agency Affairs:
Phone: 317-233-9997
Address: c/o Governors Office
Room 206
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2728
Internet: bburdick(a)gov.IN.gov
Jon Vanator, Assistant to Intergovernmental Affairs:
Phone: 317-233-4198
Address: c/o Governors Office
Room 105
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2728
Internet: jvanator(a)got.IN.gov
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