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Archiver > APG > 2007-07 > 1183670068


From: "Melinde Sanborn" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Why do genealogists disenfranchise themselves?
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 17:14:28 -0400
In-Reply-To: <008001c7bf3e$10c60940$86903e44@win2000a141573>


Elizabeth,

You are likely quite correct. Personally, I'm tired of paying membership to
genealogical groups who think so little of my opinion that they, with
impunity, ask me to give up my right to voice it.

Your points about administrative matters are valid. But consider the element
of scale. One of my examples has just sold its building, with no prospects
of a new location. It has written to its membership about ceasing printed
versions (except for libraries) of its famous and skillfully edited journal.
Another has already cut its journal big-time and sold several of its most
important manuscripts to private collections. The situation is so bad that
when I was last in their reading room it was filled with men standing on the
patrons' tables taking photographs of the painting over the fireplace. The
buzz asked, "Who are we selling that to?"

If it is simply a financial transaction between information providers and
seekers, then wouldn't the only unique thing these historic societies have
to offer - their manuscripts - be their main draw? If you can get better
access to most of their holdings elsewhere for less or nothing, why support
them?

If it weren't for the manuscripts, the memories of the people who gave them
in good faith, and for a certain nostalgia about the scholarship that
sometimes grows there, I'd just let it pass without comment.

Melinde

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