MEWALDO-L Archives

Archiver > MEWALDO > 2006-05 > 1147837946


From: Sylvia Cates <>
Subject: Re: Fwd: {not a subscriber} WALDO COUNTY RECORDS-from theARCHIVIST
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 20:52:26 -0700
References: <7.0.1.0.2.20060516104148.046ef978@feliixplace.com>
In-Reply-To: <7.0.1.0.2.20060516104148.046ef978@feliixplace.com>


Thank you Ms. Coats for writing to our list and explaining the
situation with the Waldo County records. Let me first thank you for
all the work you have done to preserve Waldo County records and say
how unfortunate it is your work will be coming to a close. I must
say I was surprised to even learn that there is an "archive." I live
out west, but have made two trips to Maine during the time you have
been working on the project. During those trips I conducted research
at the Waldo county deeds registry, probate office and elsewhere in
Waldo County. No one ever mentioned to me that there was an
archivist, even though I asked innumerable questions of the folks who
were working in those offices. So that might explain why not very
many people have come to do research - they may not have known of
your existence.

As to the original deeds not having textual value, I disagree with
the folks making that argument as a reason for destroying the deeds.
Handwritten copies often contain errors. Many microfilmed deeds are
actually films of the copies in the registers office, not films of
the original deed itself. Plus, as you note, the original deeds have
original signatures, which have historical value, and may have
textual value as well, since I have found names misspelled in
registrar's copies and presume that was not uncommon. Are the deeds
indexed, and if so, is the index available for public review? Will
the State Archives take them if the County won't keep them?

Sincerely,

Sylvia Cates


>To All Concerned:
>
>
>
>There has been a misunderstanding concerning the preservation of
>historical
>records in Waldo County Maine. Let me explain and then PLEASE PASS
>THIS
>EMAIL ON to anyone or place it on all lists, you've previously
>contacted so
>all can have CORRECT information.
>
>
>
>FIRST-- THE CITY OF BELFAST AND THE MAYOR OF BELFAST SHOULD NOT BE
>CONTACTED
>REGARDING THE COUNTY OF WALDO RECORDS. They are doing a WONDERFUL
>job of
>preserving the City of Belfast historical records!
>
>
>
>SECONDLY-When comments of concern were made it was under spontaneous
>conditions without an opportunity to explain the whole situation.
>Until now
>no opportunity for a detailed explanation has occurred nor was I
>aware that
>one was needed. Of the group I spoke to, (whom were all very aware
>of my
>occupation), only 1 person has come to research at the archive in the 3
>years I've been there. So I'm totally surprised by all this action.
>
>
>
>THIS IS THE SITUATION-
>
>As a Professional Archivist, Historian, and long time Genealogist
>I've been
>contracted to The County of Waldo, Maine Archive for 3 years. During
>that
>time thousands of documents have been recovered, cleaned, and
>catalogued
>into a system for PERMANENT RETENTION, NOT DESTRUCTION. I do have a
>concern
>involving the safe keeping of one particular collection, the approx.
>17,000
>original deeds. This is an unusual collection of deeds! As was
>done in
>counties across the U.S., individual deeds were brought into the Waldo
>County Registers of Deeds Office for registration during the 19th
>Century,
>and these "original deeds" were registered. The Register's original
>copies
>of the "original deeds" are available for public use in the numerous
>volumes
>currently held in the Waldo County Register of Deeds Office. "Original
>deeds" are usually given back to the property owner, but for some
>unknown
>reason these were not and were stored in the courthouse basement
>until I
>retrieved them. Therefore, since the TEXT of the deeds is already
>recorded,
>microfilmed, and available for public use I have been approached
>with the
>argument that I'm keeping unnecessary documents. Some people have
>verbally
>stated in public meetings, while others have written in newspaper
>articles,
>that it's not necessary to keep these "original deed artifacts",
>therefore
>the old documents should be declared "abandoned property" which
>would allow
>them to be destroyed. I have been trying to teach those people in the
>public meetings, and by responding to the newspaper reporter's negative
>statements, that the preservation of the "original deed artifacts"
>is due to
>their HISTORICAL VALUE NOT THEIR TEXTUAL VALUE. These documents are
>handwritten, in many cases by the 19th Century property owner and,
>at the
>very least, contain an original signature. Unfortunately, some citizens
>don't understand the value in retaining "old pieces of paper" and
>think the
>expense involved is unnecessary. I'm concerned that over time as
>money or
>space decline, as changes in Commissioners occur, and IF the persons
>against
>the collection continue their negative attack, this unusual
>collection might
>get discarded.
>
>
>
>IF YOU FEEL INCLINED TO WRITE, YOU CAN SEND YOUR WORDS OF SUPPORT (not
>criticisms) TO THE WALDO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY CLERK.
>THEY HAVE
>SUPPORTED THE ARCHIVE PROJECT AND THE DECISION TO KEEP THESE
>DOCUMENTS 100%.
>Should the Commissioners or County Clerk be approached again after
>I'm gone
>with the "abandoned property" issue, it would be helpful to them to
>know
>they have supporters.
>
>
>
>My second expressed concern referred to the loss of experienced
>researching
>assistance in the Archive. The public had research assistance and the
>genealogical information requests have been handled by me via the
>County
>Clerk. This form of assistance will not be available after I leave
>in the
>next few weeks. Therefore, I was expressing to the group to which I
>spoke
>that their window of opportunity for this assistance was closing.
>All the
>records in the Waldo County Archive WILL BE ACCESSIBLE to the public
>through
>the County Clerk and she is very accommodating. The County Clerk
>will be
>trained with the basics of accessing the cataloguing system and the
>archive
>holdings, but there will be no one with research and genealogical
>experience
>to assist family researchers or any other type of researcher to get
>the most
>information from the archive holdings.
>
>
>
>I apologize if my brief statements have caused undue work for
>anyone, but I
>thank all who responded with a desire to support the retention of
>historical
>records. It is important for Local Government Officials to know
>that their
>care of the local government records is considered important by the
>public.
>If you want to contact me, you may do so at
> for
>the next few weeks.
>
>
>
>Cheryl Coats
>
>Archivist
>
>Waldo County Maine
>
>
>!DSPAM:446a2f6b16344482420625055!

This thread: