NOTTSGEN-L Archives

Archiver > NOTTSGEN > 1998-05 > 0895334130


From: "John Poxon" <>
Subject: Unidentified subject!
Date: Sat, 16 May 98 08:55:30 PDT


Dear All,

I would like to offer my twopennyworth re the accessability of genealogical
records in Nottinghamshire and for that matter Derbyshire.

I live in Australia, and currently have to order films of parish records
throught he LDS at a modest cost. Ufortunately they are only avaliable for
a limited period and when reference must be made to a previously viewed
film, it must be ordred in again. This is time consuming and frustrating,
and limits effective study of the older records, particularlywhen they are
difficult to read, and in latin.

I would prefer to purchase copies of parish records on microfiche or on
film, but both the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Record Offices
claim legal reasons, essentially contracts with the church, which prevent
them from providing copies. It is interesting that the apparently more
modern Lincolnshire County Record Offices have no such restrictions, and
provide an excellent example which the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
County Record Offices might follow.

I echo and endorse the sentiments of Sandy and others who have commented
recently about this restictive situation. Frankly, I don't believe there
is any justification for any one or group, including the church, to
restrict access, including purchase of, this information. After all, it
was obtained from our ancestors as they toiled through their often
miserable lives, made all the more miserable in their times by officialdom,
and the Church.

I hope that in these enlightened times those who with doubtful authority
hold and restrict access to records will wake up to the fact that they have
an obligation to provide free ( in the sense of unfettered) access to
historical and genealogical records in their care. I agree that this
should be done on at least a cost recovery basis, but given the volume of
interest, I suggest that would not price the records out of the reach of
the avrage genealogist

John Poxon

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