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Archiver > NYC-ROOTS > 2000-03 > 0952804660


From: <>
Subject: [NYC] Wonder Why?
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 14:57:40 EST


The following is from the Ancestry newsletter. Although it relates to the IL
state Archives, I am sure it is true in other states as well. I've been
reading so much from listers about the length of time it takes to get records
from agencies, I thought this may explain it.


ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES REPORT RECORD USE IN 1999
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White today announced that
the State Archives received almost 3 million requests for information and
assistance in 1999, by far and away a record number of requests in a year.
White, who in his capacity as Secretary of State is in charge of the State
Archives, credits the Internet for the increase in the number of requests.
"There is no question that the creation of the Internet has opened new
possibilities for providing information to the public," White said. "Illinois
has become a leader in providing information over the Internet and our work
with archival records demonstrates this."
According to White, the State Archives received 82,140 requests for
information in 1994. With an increased use of the Internet, the number of
requests for archived information has grown every year since.
The number of requests went up to 183,762 in 1995, 363,287 in 1996, 664,460
in 1997, and 893,266 in 1998.
"In 1999, we made the statewide marriage index available for the years 1763
to 1900," White said. "The interest in this database has led to a tripling of
requests for information from Archives, from 893,266 in 1998 to a record
2,939,496 last year."
Other databases currently available on the Internet include veteran's records
up to the Spanish American War, land records and various local government
records.

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