PAPERS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN FOCUSES ON LINCOLN'S RETURN TO CAMPAIGNING

[Anita]

(01-08-2023 11:21 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Anita,

My concern stems from the fact that NARA has permission to destroy original documents that they digitize. Obviously, they can't destroy another archive's property, but nothing stops them from destroying their own. Don't think it will happen? Civil War service records were microfilmed and then the paper records were all destroyed. Everton Conger's brother Seymour's records are out of focus and are forever impossible to read. How many other records suffered the same fate?

One of the "selling points" for digitization (which was said for microfilm) is that it removes space limitations. What happens when the digital process is corrupted by time or some other future unknown issue? Don't misunderstand me. I'm in favor of digitization (Tarbell's papers at Allegheny were digitized from the microfilm although the originals were kept), but I think something of such historical value needs to be kept in whatever formats assure it's survival.
Best
Rob

Thanks Rob. I'm with you 100 percent. I haven't been following the The National Archives and Records Administration rule concerning "Federal Records Management: Digitizing Permanent Records", which includes disposal of source documents after they've been digitized to a set of NARA standards. There's a retroactive clause that can exempt poorer quality digital records from needing to be rescanned.)
The deadline for implementation was Dec. 31, 2022.

I didn't realize this also applies to Congressional records and to Presidential Libraries.

NARA 101, PART 9. Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, and Museum Services
https://www.archives.gov/foia/directives...101-part09

Director of Archival Operations

A. Working closely with the Presidential Libraries, White House Liaison, and the Center for Legislative Archives, ensures cohesive archival practices across Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, and Museum Services, including preservation, processing, description, access review, reference, and disposal. Develops archival policy for Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, and Museum Services and has oversight for ensuring archival policy is followed in all Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, and Museum Services custodial units.

B. In support of and in collaboration with the Director for Presidential Libraries and the Presidential Library Directors, plans and coordinates a comprehensive program for the acquisition, storage, preservation, processing, review, description, access to, and disposal of Presidential records, Federal records, and donated historical materials (including artifacts) in the Presidential Libraries.