[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Accuracy of birth records (Was Primary vs Seondary ?)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Curtis Welch [SMTP:cwelch@CO.PINELLAS.FL.US]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 8:42 AM
> To:   ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject:      Re: Accuracy of birth records (Was Primary vs Seondary
> ?)
>
>
> 2. I didn't realize that as archivists we were responsible for or
> certify the accuracy or content of the records in our custody; I
> thought we were responsible for maintaining the authenticity of the
> record (yes, this is indeed the original copy of Anytown City Council
> Ordinance XYZ, etc.) complete with the human errors it may, or may
> not, contain.
        [Milhomme, William @ SEC]  Sorry I missed the begining of this
thread of discussion, but Curtis mentions several points that are a
concern of the state archives here in Massachusetts. Since 1848 all town
and city clerks have been required to compile annual abstracts of all
vital records recorded in the locality and forward them to a state
agency. The state archives presently certifies the documentation through
the year 1905 for researchers. Many regard the state abstracts as the
"primary source." Through the years and hundreds of thousands
(millions?) of entries later it has been determined that there are many
errors in the state abstracts. One of the most embarrassing is when a
male child is errantly listed as 'female' of vice-a-versa on the
abstract, and we are required to write the certificate with no deviation
or interpretation of the data, even when we know it is (probably) wrong.
Of course the patron requesting the certificate will call us on it (and
I will leave you to your imagination of the discussion that takes
place). We have to refer the patron to the town or city clerk where the
(true) primary record resides, and the burden of proof of the error is
left to the researcher. Amending a vital record is only accomplished
when the researcher can prove an error has occurred, beginning with the
clerk, and then the corrections clerk at Public Health. This is
especially difficult (and frustrating) if the 'primary source' at the
locality contains the same error.
                If all of the above is not enough, our staff is doing
the best it can to interpret data from poor microfilm, deteriating
original transcripts, and fading ink. Errors are still be made, many of
which won't be discovered for generations to come.

Bill Milhomme
Field Archivist
Mass. Historical Records Advisory Board
617.727.2816

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>