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Question: Being stonewalled at the courthouse, how do I get them to take me seriously!?
I have been looking for a particular ancestor for a long time!. I've checked everything and this is my last hope of finding him!.
I believe that the information I need is at the county courthouse!. People have gone to the courthouse and asked to see the documents, only to be told that the courthouse burned and none of those records survived!.
However, the WPA recorded them in their 1942 county records survey, even though some records were definitely lost in a 1931 fire!.
I believe the records are still there!. Where would they have gone (possibly fire or trashed but neither likely)!? I believe they are still there and the courthouse staff just doesnt want to deal with finding them, or just really don't know!.
I do professional historical research and these records deal with my subject area as well!. Writing a letter to the chancery clerk before travelling there; Don't mind digging, but they have to allow me!.
Is there anything else I can do to get them to take me seriously!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
This definitely sounds familiar!.!.!. clerks are not interested in historical value, and there have been situations where those outdated records were slated to be DUMPED by county officials, until local historians started screaming!. Although he kept very quiet on it!.!. I know of one historian, who was GIVEN the records, because who else wanted that garbage!?!?
I also have found that the record I needed in one location, supposedly burned, only to later find that the old marriage books were in the storehouse (away from the main building) and survived!. There are more stories, but you get the idea!. Our treasure is their trash, sometimes, and they are just so involved in current work, that they don't want to deal with it!.
One possible approach!.!. GET COPIES of the 1942 survey from another location, then go there with the intent that you are updating that survey!. The idea is that you have, in your hand, confirmation that they did survive any earlier fire!. Or, any print out from LDS church as to which records they have filmed, and you are working to resolve discrepancies!.
It may also be necessary to cultivate some local contact!. If it is like one small town I know of!.!. the Historical society had LONG used local record searches for revenue to them, and were extremely hostile to anyone who knew that certain records were public documents, and willing to open them up via the internet or web site!.
Such things can really bewilder a new researcher, who is told it is gone!.!. and just goes with what they are told!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Which county do you need!? Have you checked the State Archives to see if they have copies of the records!?
It's a standard policy for local governments to send their records to the State Archives for duplication and dual registration!. Even if the county's copies are gone, they very possibly had them backed up at the state level and those are still available in the capital for you to research!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Have you contacted the local genealogical or historical society to ask them what they know about the situation!? also, there are message boards/forums on a variety of genealogical websites for every county in the country!. You might try posting your dilemna there and see if anyone from the county might know something or perhaps be able to tell you who to call!. Another resource might be the local library!. I tried for 5 yrs!. to get the date of death and obit for a relative and had given up!. But one day, I decided to look to see if his little town in rural Iowa had a library!. Sure enough they did and I called there and the lady put me on hold and went and found his date of death!. She then took my email address and said she'd find the obit in their little local paper and send it to me!. That was such a pleasant surprise because there was absolutely nothing about his death at the courthouse!. So perhaps another approach might help dig up the info you need!. Good luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com