APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2001-08 > 0997672296


From: Carmen Finley <>
Subject: [APG] Copyright permission
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 20:11:44 -0700


Craig makes good points about copyright permissions. I successfully found
John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand who made those great Virginia
maps. He willingly gave permission. A tougher one was locating a
descendant of Madison E. McElwain to get permission to print a photo from
his "Faith and Works at Middle Octorara since 1727." The book's title page
carried a reference to Millersville University in PA. I called the library
there and a helpful reference librarian gave me the phone numbers of all
the McElwains in town----less than 10 as I recall. I hit pay dirt and
after I answered a few questions as to my interest in finding a descendant,
was given the name and address of one of his grandchildren. She willingly
gave me permission.

Getting permission to reprint a Harry Fenn engraving of Cumberland Gap was
also a challenge. But I was finally referred to American Heritage
Engravers who willing gave permission.

In another case, the photo was in the custody of a library, who had been
given all the photos of J. Winston Coleman. I got a lead on this by
posting a query on a message board in Kentucky.

Heirs and legal custodians of material are really not as hard to track down
as you may think, but it does require persistence.

Occasionally I was asked for a fee, but after explaining this was a
genealogy book and there would be no profit, all but one agreed to a no-fee
use. I quickly found a substitute that did not require a fee.

Carmen Finley, CG, Ph.D.

This thread: