Good Job!!
People for generations will be thankful you did not give up.
George Young
In a message dated 8/28/2009 7:24:29 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
mmweaver1864(a)sbcglobal.net writes:
Hey, Shelbers.............
I wanted to give you an update on the book situation. Phyllis and I have
been trying to keep a lid on this for the last week and believe me....it's
been difficult to do. I am finishing up my internship at the Indiana
Historical Society. My final project was to write a brief article and transcribe
the inventory list of the books. This article will appear on the Indiana
Historical Society web site under the Online Connections. When discussing the
details with my supervisor, she asked me to send her an e-mail summarizing
what I had told her and to include a condensed list of the books in the
lean-to. She then forwarded the e-mail to her supervisor and two other people
in charge of collections and preservation. She received an immediate
response from one of them who then met with her in her office. He told her what
she needed to do to follow the proper channels so that that this can be
resolved. The bottom line is that Indiana state law provides for the
protection/maintenance/preservation of all public records. It is the
county's responsibility to do something to preserve these records. If they are
not in a position to perserve these records, the responsibility lies with
the state. A determination is made as to the historical value of the books.
For example, if there are books in the inventory that are blank or if there
are some that have no dates or names, they might determine that these are
books that should be destroyed. Any books that are set aside to be destroyed
will be offered to the county genealogical society and historical society
before they are destroyed. The records that will not be destroyed will go
to the state archives.
Although it is early in the game (so to speak), the bottom line is that
thise books will be saved!!! By this time next year, they should be safely
stored in the state archives and available to the public. Ideally, it would
be great if we could get these books digitized or microfilmed before this
happens, but Phyllis told me that the earliest that LDS could get there to
microfilm the books would be 6 months. Ultimately, the state archivist has
done a wonderful job at getting books digitized.....so, I have no doubt
that eventually these books would be available online and possibly
downloadable.
I know that the article in the Shelbyville News stated that the county was
going to try to digitize/microfilm court records. However, I don't recall
any mention of the records that are stored in the lean-to or the garage on
the property of the former Manor. My guess would be that they intend to
work with current records first....or records that are reaching the age where
they will be put in storage soon, too.
I'm so happy that the people here at the Indiana Historical Society knew
what to do....who to talk to....to get the ball rolling. I'm truly thankful
that they listened. They have also offered to take any of the records that
the state archives doesn't want and they will be glad to digitize or
microfilm them, too. So....it looks like the books are going to get a happy
ending....barring anything unforseen.
Melinda
Don't forget to check out our genealogy web site.
http://shelbycountyindiana.org
Shelby County Researchers, please send me an e-mail with your contact
information and the surnames that you are researching
(mmweaver1864(a)sbcglobal.net) and let me know whenever that information changes. I would
like to
keep track of all of our researchers. Thanks, Melinda
Any questions or problems regarding this list should be directed to me
(mmweaver1864(a)sbcglobal.net). Thanks, Melinda
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