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CAJUNS, CREOLES, PIRATES AND PLANTERS Your New Louisiana Ancestors Format Volume 3, Number 8
By Damon Veach
SAVING DOCUMENTS: Most genealogists are outstanding preservationists. It takes a lot of time to search for and then record and store information found in the various research facilities around the world. Once the material is found, it is then shared through a number of ways – articles, books, publication in society quarterlies or newsletters, and, in some cases, donated to a museum or library for use by other researchers.
It is even more personal when it comes to family papers that have been handed down through generations of caring ancestors. Paper preservation requires proper storage and safe handling procedures. This means that special care has to be taken to keep the information safe from further damage. It takes a lot of effort and understanding to keep this data safe. Temperature and humidity have to be considered, and this is something that has to definitely be considered a priority.
Clean air and good circulation is important too. High heat and moisture cause the chemical process that destroys documents. Papers become discolored and brittle if not stored in the right environment. A damp environment can result in mold growth or invite pests to either eat the documents or use them for nesting material. Modern home environments offer a safe place, but basements or attics are out of the question.
Perhaps the most damaging thing to paperwork is light, especially that which contains high proportions of ultra violent, that is fluorescent and natural day light. The damage caused by this is irreversible. This promotes chemical degradation in the paper and fades the ink. It is important to store family papers in folders or boxes that will provide the needed protection from light and dust. This also means that the enclosure itself should be made of stable permanent quality materials that will not contribute to the deterioration of the important documents.
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FINDING INFORMATION: There are many archives and museums around the world that preserve important historical and genealogical material. As discussed in a previous column, each state in the U.S. has an archives facility. Some of these seem to be better than others, but the bottom line is that care is being given to save as much as possible and to provide researchers with access to the material. This is why so much importance has been given to the various ways of making the material available to the public without damaging the original documents.
Whether you are searching for information in state facilities or even in private research areas, you always have the National Archives to turn to when it comes to the earliest of records here in the U.S. It is a privilege to be able to do work here, and just being able to view the massive storage areas is a remarkable experience, something that I had the opportunity to observe several years ago. Then the Library of Congress comes to mind as another amazing accomplishment of preserving early records.
Once you know where to look for materials, you have a network of archival facilities that offer a wealth of material available to further any genealogical or historical research. It is like starting at the top and working down, but as genealogists have learned from personal experience, doing family research is just the opposite. It is necessary to take that individual approach and start at the bottom and work up. That is why starting with known family data is so important. It then becomes a stair step up to libraries, archives, and then to the national level and even to foreign archives.
Of course, once the basics have been determined, research can be a joy in Salt Lake City at the Mormon Archives. However, this is just one phase of research, and many people may never be able to visit here but can still glean materials through an exchange program with local Mormon facilities. This will be discussed later.
Right now, I want to focus on all the national facilities where much genealogical and historical material is located. Each one contains a story in itself, but the following is a list of the locations of major national research facilities in the U.S. You can check out each one individually in person or through internet availability. The list includes the following:
National Archives in Washington, DC 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, "National Archives Experience" - The Rotunda, The Public Vaults, The William McGowan Theater, The Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery
National Archives at Anchorage, AK (Pacific Alaska Region) 654 West Third Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2145 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Atlanta, GA (Southeast Region) 4712 Southpark Blvd., Ellenwood, GA 30294 Available services: Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Atlanta, GA (Southeast Region) 5780 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room
National Archives at Boston, MA (Northeast Region) Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center 380 Trapelo Road Waltham, Massachusetts 02452-6399 Available services: Microfilm Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Chicago, IL (Great Lakes Region) 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629-5898 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at College Park, MD 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 Available services: Archival Research Room, Records Management
National Archives at Dayton, OH (Great Lakes Region) 3150 Springboro Road, Dayton, OH, 45439 Available services: Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Dayton-Miamisburg, OH (Great Lakes Region) 8801 Kingsridge Drive, Dayton, OH 45458 Available services: Records Center
National Archives at Denver, CO (Rocky Mountain Region) Denver Federal Center, Building 46, Fifth Street and Center Avenue, Denver, CO 80225 Available services: Genealogy Microfilm Room, Records Management
National Archives at Denver, CO (Rocky Mountain Region) Denver Federal Center, Building 48, Fifth Street and North Avenue, Denver, CO 80225 Available services: Textual Research Room, Records Center
National Archives at Fort Worth, TX (Southwest Region) 2600 West 7th Street, Suite 162, Fort Worth, TX, 76107 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room
National Archives at Fort Worth, TX (Southwest Region) 1400 John Burgess Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76140 Available services: Archival Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Kansas City, MO (Central Plains Region) 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108-4306 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Laguna Niguel, CA (Pacific Region) 24000 Avila Rd., Suite 3513, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Available services: Records Management
National Archives at Lee's Summit, MO (Central Plains Region) 200 Space Center Drive, Lee's Summit, MO 64064-1182 Available services: Records Center, Research Room
National Archives at Lenexa, KS (Central Plains Region) 17501 West 98th Street, Lenexa, KS 66219 Available services: Records Center, Research Room
National Archives at New York City, NY (Northeast Region) 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4811 (Entrance on Houston Street, between Varick and Hudson) Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Management
National Archives at Northeast Philadelphia, PA (Mid Atlantic Region) 14700 Townsend Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Available services: Records Center, Research Room, Records Management
National Archives at Philadelphia, PA (Mid Atlantic Region) Robert N.C. Nix Federal Building, 900 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107-4292 (Entrance is on Chestnut Street between 9th and 10th Streets) Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Management
National Archives at Pittsfield, MA (Northeast Region) Silvio O. Conte National Records Center 10 Conte Drive Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201-8230 Available services: Microfilm Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at Riverside, CA (Pacific Region) 23123 Cajalco Road, Perris, CA 92570 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Center
National Archives at San Francisco, CA (Pacific Region) 1000 Commodore Dr., San Bruno, CA 94066-2350 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Center
National Archives at Seattle, WA (Pacific Alaska Region) 6125 Sand Point Way, NE., Seattle, WA 98115-7999 Available services: Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Center, Records Management
National Archives at St. Louis, MO 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 Available services: Archival Research Room
National Personnel Records Center (Civilian Records) 111 Winnebago Street, St. Louis, MO 63118-4199 Available services: Records Center, Research Room, National Personnel Records Center
National Personnel Records Center (Military Records) 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 Available services: Records Center, Research Room, National Personnel Records Center
Washington National Records Center 4205 Suitland Road, Suitland, MD 20746 Available services: Records Center, Research Room
210 Parkside Dr., West Branch, IA 52358 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
4079 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538-1999 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
500 W. U.S. Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050-1798 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
200 SE. Fourth Street, Abilene, KS 67410-2900 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125-3398 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum 2313 Red River St., Austin, TX 78705-5702 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
Richard Nixon Library, California 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda, CA 92886-3903 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
Richard Nixon Library, Maryland 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2114 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
303 Pearl St., Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5353 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307-1498 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Dr., Simi Valley, CA 93065-0699 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, TX 77845 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
1200 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
George W. Bush Presidential Library 1725 Lakepointe Drive, Lewisville, TX 75057 Available services: Presidential Library and Museum
U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents 732 North Capitol Street NW Washington, DC 20401 Available services: Affiliated Archives
Prints and Photographs Division James Madison Bldg., Rm 337 101 Independence Ave, S.E., Washington, DC 20540-4730 Available services: Affiliated Archives
Historic American Buildings Survey, National Park Service HABS/HAER Div National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Available services: Affiliated Archives
Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division 800 Nazihzuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Available services: Affiliated Archives
State Archivist Bureau of Archives and History 350 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090 Available services: Affiliated Archives
New Mexico State Records Center and Archives State Records Center and Archives, 1205 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87507 Available services: Affiliated Archives
University of North Texas Libraries 1506 Highland Avenue, Willis Library, Denton, TX 76203 Available services: Affiliated Archives
United States Military Academy Jefferson Hall Building, 758 Cullum Road, West Point, NY 10996 Available services: Affiliated Archives
William W. Jeffries Memorial Archives, 589 McNair Road # A, Annapolis, MD 21402-5029 Available services: Affiliated Archives
Yellowstone National Park Archives Yellowstone National Park Heritage & Research Center, Old Yellowstone Trail S, Gardiner, MT 59030 Available services: Affiliated Archives
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FREE SERVICE: Correspondence to this column should be directed to Damon Veach, Cajuns, Creoles, Pirates and Planters, 709 Bungalow Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5337. The e-mail address is ancestorslaveach@cox.net. Queries and book reviews are printed as space permits, and you are encouraged to take advantage of this free service. Claitor’s Publishing can serve as a distributor for self-published genealogy titles. Go to their homepage for details on how you can obtain this excellent service.
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