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Archiver > LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS > 2010-06 > 1276614875


From: Frank Collins <>
Subject: Re: [LDR] MSA records
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:14:35 -0400
References: <1955693155.6764481276606557911.JavaMail.root@sz0158a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net><26439211.6769901276607048196.JavaMail.root@sz0158a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <26439211.6769901276607048196.JavaMail.root@sz0158a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>


Hi Tom,

The Probate Records for Dorchester County are digitized. I purchased
3 CDs that cover 1852 to 1931 from the Archives for $40 a CD. Note
some of the Wills that were destroyed in the 1852 fire were
re-recorded after 1852. The records that were moved from the
Dorchester County Courthouse are primarily found under the
"Transferred" heading at the Archives. Here is the link:
http://guide.mdsa.net/transfer.cfm?action=viewSeriesList&qualifier=T&type=county&county=DORCHESTER%20COUNTY

A small number of these "Transferred" records have been scanned
(digitized) and area available at the Archives. One example is the
equity papers from 1820 to 1842. Other "Transferred" records can be
requested. Depending on the condition of the records and where they
are stored (warehouse/archives), the archives may choose to scan the
records or have the records brought over from the warehouse at a
future date.

No doubt that the Maryland Archives needs more funding, but we do have
access to their collection of records. It would be helpful to have
volunteers index what is contained in all of these "Transferred"
records.

Kate Clifford Larson, author of "Bound for the Promised Land:
Harriett Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero" is currently working
with the archives regarding the transferred records for Dorchester
County. http://www.harriettubmanbiography.com/

Frank

On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 9:04 AM, <> wrote:
>
>
> Good morning all;
>
> After having read the messages about the records that are decaying at our illustrious archives I had to weigh in on this. I have gotten the "original" records from chancery cases for Dorchester County that I needed for research. They had to come from the archives because when the courthouse in Camberidge was remodeled they "took custody" of all of the court records. Now they are packed away with all of the other records that need to be scanned and preserved but never will be. We are fortunate to still  h ave access to the probate records here in Dorchester due largely to the fact that the Register of Wills refuses to let them be transfered to Annapolis because she knows that they will never be digitized for public access. I wish someone had done the same with the chancery cases. It never fails when the budget gets tight, the first things to be cut are programs and departments that deal with Archeology and History. When that happens projects never get finished and if and wh!
en money gets fluid again they never get the funding back. I know that there are mountains of records that are housed in the archives, but there are also mountains of records in the Library of Congress and the National Archives. They are able to deal with them and I know that someone will write and say that they have other means of fundings.....so why can't we work toward something like that with the State Archives and get these records preserved and made available to the public.
>
>
>
>
>
> Tom
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