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Archiver > GenMassachusetts > 2000-02 > 0951253085


From: "jbuczek" <>
Subject: Re: [GM-L] Re: [Copyrights and hoarding genealogical info]
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 15:58:05 -0500


Betty... how true your statement regarding Historical Societys, not that
the statement relates to all Societys. I've recently joined my local
Society in hopes that I could provide some help and gain some knowledge.
I've suggested that they put up a web page, which met with some concern
regarding maintenance and "somebody may find the building and break-in".
WOW..... with this mentality why are they (the Historical Society) there?
I've lived in Marlborough for over 35 years and just discovered, about 10
years ago, that there was a Society and recently (5 years ago) discovered
where it was. It took a year to find out how to join, and now that I have
joined, I'm not to sure it was a good thing.

I am doing a book and web site on the history of Marlboro and have been
killing myself to find info. I was provided with a quick tour of the
Society's assests..... my mood went from amazement (they have thousands
upon thousands of documents, photos etc uniforms, dresses etc) when I saw
what was there to discouragement to disappointment and finally to anger
that here is the history of Marlboro in boxes upon boxes, but it might as
well not exist because no one really knows what they (the Society) have.
AND it would appear, at first glance, that this is what is wanted.

Congratualations on your concern and ability to convince the folks at the
Boylston Historical Society to enter into the age of the computor.... you
folks can now share the history of the town with the descendants of those
folks that once lived there and any one else that may just be curious.
Every Historical Society should...must have the same goal.

In looking at your site, I've discovered that Marlboro and Boylston share
some of the families; for those Marlboro folks that moved to that part of
Shrewsbury that became Boylston helped establish the History of both towns.


thanks ....john

PS: for those who might be thinking "why don't you do something about it",
I have. I've offered my time and effort AT NO CHARGE (not that I'm an
expert). I have also offered to set up a data base to start to find out
just what the assets consist of. Time will tell.


> Dorothy
>
> Thank you for saying that! It's that same hoarding mentality that plagues
> Historical Socieites and keeps them from sharing their information online
> for free. I have convinced the Boylston Historical Society that putting
> information online will NOT lose them research income. In fact, the
> Society's presence on the web has brought in much more research and other
> income than ever in the entire history of the society! Slowly, we are
> adding more books and records, but we will never get every book,
manuscript
> or record the society owns online, so there will always be a need to
> research at the society. I would love to see the larger Societys
> (Historical and Genealogical) share some of what they own with the online
> commuity of genealogists. If little Boyslton can do it with a staff of
ALL
> volunteers that only work two mornings a week ....why can't
they??...shame
> on them for hording!
>
> Betty

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