- Joined
- Mar 18, 2015
- Location
- Kent, Ohio
I believe someone else here recently posted a comment about the planned withdrawal of files by the National Archives. There is coming a time, and it is now here, when it will no longer be possible to visit and handle military and pension files - or order copies via the mails.
I am just returned from four days in the Research Room and found (what I was not looking for) that West Virginia Union military files are not available for pull any more. You either look at the (rather awful) microfilm or you go to fold3 (using the NARA access computers, free of charge).
Not only that, but I could not pull Massachusetts CMSRs because "Massachusetts is now closed" because the files are out of the archive and undergoing digitization - to become available on fold3. The same thing held for two different series of Pension Files - closed for digitization. It was disappointing that I couldn't see some of the things I travelled there to view.
Staff confirmed that this means, as with the WVa records, that those digitized materials will no longer be available for pulls and handling at NARA. Eventually, all will be closed and available only as digital versions on fold3.
I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, making all military and pension files accessible on-line will enable people all over the world to research and document their family/interests. It will no longer be essential to travel to Washington DC to find those kinds of data - indeed, I've been happy over the past year to be able to find complete records at fold3.
On the other hand.... fold3 is a paid service, not free. Although perhaps some local (USA) libraries may offer free access via Ancestry.com. There's something a little bit unsettling that public records suddenly become even a little bit "private". Then again, the casual searcher probably can sign up for the "free trial" access at fold3 - locate the file(s) they want - then cancel the membership before the trial period ends.
But the most unsettling aspect is that the records will no longer be available to hold - history in the (gentle) hand. And everyone knows what happened to many vital records back in the first half of the 20th century - they were transferred to the technological marvel of microfilm and the physical papers were discarded. Is that to be the fate of military and pension files arising from the war of 1861-1865?
Any thoughts on the moves that NARA is making?
I am just returned from four days in the Research Room and found (what I was not looking for) that West Virginia Union military files are not available for pull any more. You either look at the (rather awful) microfilm or you go to fold3 (using the NARA access computers, free of charge).
Not only that, but I could not pull Massachusetts CMSRs because "Massachusetts is now closed" because the files are out of the archive and undergoing digitization - to become available on fold3. The same thing held for two different series of Pension Files - closed for digitization. It was disappointing that I couldn't see some of the things I travelled there to view.
Staff confirmed that this means, as with the WVa records, that those digitized materials will no longer be available for pulls and handling at NARA. Eventually, all will be closed and available only as digital versions on fold3.
I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, making all military and pension files accessible on-line will enable people all over the world to research and document their family/interests. It will no longer be essential to travel to Washington DC to find those kinds of data - indeed, I've been happy over the past year to be able to find complete records at fold3.
On the other hand.... fold3 is a paid service, not free. Although perhaps some local (USA) libraries may offer free access via Ancestry.com. There's something a little bit unsettling that public records suddenly become even a little bit "private". Then again, the casual searcher probably can sign up for the "free trial" access at fold3 - locate the file(s) they want - then cancel the membership before the trial period ends.
But the most unsettling aspect is that the records will no longer be available to hold - history in the (gentle) hand. And everyone knows what happened to many vital records back in the first half of the 20th century - they were transferred to the technological marvel of microfilm and the physical papers were discarded. Is that to be the fate of military and pension files arising from the war of 1861-1865?
Any thoughts on the moves that NARA is making?