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Archiver > PAPHILAD > 2006-08 > 1154461041


From: ltguidetti <>
Subject: Re: [PAPHL] PAPHILAD Digest, Vol 1, Issue 31
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 15:37:21 -0400


Dottie: >>I just got back from a research trip to Philly and the
surrounding area. I

> was searching marriage licenses at City Hall and was mildly frustrated
> that I
> could not get them right away unless I wanted to pay a larger fee. $20 per
> marriage license was I thought pretty steep. So I elected to get only
> those
> licenses for marriages after 1915. For marriages between 1885-1915 it is
> cheaper
> to get the microfilm from Family History Library. Other than the
> inconvenience I found the people very helpful and friendly.
> Laurie:>>You probably don't want to hear this now, but those records are
> fairly
> easily accessible at the archives with the only cost being a per-page
> cost.
> The hard part of going there was that there are limited printers, so
> making
> copies all depended on being there at the right time and going well
> prepared
>
>
This is something they do in Delaware County, as well. It's how they con
you out of money. (Although I can tell you that DelCo doesn't have the
archives that Philly does, on microfilm or anything.) The girls at the desk
don't want to go to the basement to get the old records. So they charge you
$15 a page in order to discourage you or so they don't have to do the
work. I had called the DelCo courthouse before I went in, to make sure I
didn't have to wait around for them, and that is what I was told. I told
the woman I wanted it and I'd pick up the copies that day.

So when I went to pick it up, it was lunchtime. Someone other than the
woman I spoke to was at the desk. I was ready to write her a check, and she
looked horrified when I asked her to verify how much. She said "you just
give me $3.00; I'll take care of them."

Heh. Spoiled their party. ;)

Lynn

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