ROOTS & BRANCHES

I’ve spent the last couple of “Roots & Branches” columns talking about an open records lawsuit and I understand that some probably have been left with the impression that I’m a curmudgeon who’s in favor of keeping records from genealogists.

Well, I won’t dispute the curmudgeon part.

But, no, I’m not “in favor” of closed records … just a balance that allows the overall system to work to the best benefit of all types of genealogists and the other stakeholders.

For genealogical societies that rely on memberships for part of their funding base, I understand when some of their holdings are paywalled for members only (while advocating that some basic online offerings be free to all).

For government archives that rely on in-person visitations to ensure staffing and funding, I understand why some services are only available in person.

And for public records in need to scanning to enhance access to those records, I’m happy enough when the custodians of those records make contracts with the large players in the genealogy business—folks such as for-profits Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com as well as nonprofit behemoth FamilySearch.org—to get certain jobs done most efficiently.

 So that’s why I agree with the deal that the Pennsylvania State Archives struck with Ancestry.com to digitize the 7 million death certificates that became public records overnight in 2012 due to a law change.

As part of its contract, Ancestry scanned the original certificates—another major entity would have only used microfilm-to-digital transfer of the awful Department of Health microfilms that we had complained about for years!—in color, giving genealogists the best possible reproductions of these important documents from a time period during much of which the commonwealth was the second most populous U.S. state.

 As I pointed out in a previous column, there is now no shortage of access to these documents, since the contract the state negotiated protected Pennsylvania residents with online access without having a paid Ancestry subscription. The Pennsylvania databases are also available as part of the Ancestry Library Edition, available at repositories across the country.

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While we’re on the subject of the Pennsylvania State Archives, I made my first research visit there earlier in the month and can verify that it’s more than just a pretty new building.

There are many resources loaded in the public access area and the archives staff are happy to help patrons navigate their way to those resources on computers in that area.

And the restricted access area—think originals of documents—is well appointed and paging of materials is efficient.

In addition, the State Library of Pennsylvania has returned to its newly renovated space in the Forum Building.

All in all, the welcome mat for genealogists is back in Harrisburg!