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Archiver > PHILLY-ROOTS > 2000-01 > 0946839436


From: "Tia Sidey" <>
Subject: [PHILLY-ROOTS-L] Philadelphia Wills
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 10:57:16 -0800


I have been stewing over a problem for almost a year and feel that now the new year is here and I have discovered Philly-Roots that maybe we can all work out a solution.
My problem is at the Wills Department at 30th St. The system stinks to say the least but when I was last there, I nearly passed out. I managed to wangle my way into actually seeing a will downstairs in the basement. I requested a copy and to my horror, the man in charge tore an early 1800's will to fit the copier. The abuse of these irreplaceable documents is terrifying. When the Will Department was still on Broad St., I saw the keepers of the wills smoking and eating their lunch at tables with wills. The New Repository of wills is a disgrace. Terrible old file cabinets some of which won't close and boxes upon boxes of wills. How does one try to change the system while still having access? The people viewing the wills have more respect for the wills than the keepers. Not a white glove in site.
Are there any other horror stories out there and more importantly let's have some ideas to rectify this ghastly state of affairs.

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