I’ve always wanted to look at the books but the vastness of the set makes me think “uh, some other day, maybe….” Thanks for making this project more accessible.
I had never heard it said that all the original paperwork had been tossed. I was always taught that many (but not all) loose documents were aging, getting interfiled, or otherwise misplaced, and that was the impetus for the secretary of state to begin the publication.
I would genuinely appreciate it if you would share a few sources about the original documents having been tossed @Denyse Allen as I’m am clearly missing a critical understanding of the situation. 😔
I think it was just the mindset of the mid-19th century when the first volumes were compiled - if something was transcribed it was considered saved. We didn’t have a state archives until the 20th century. Once they existed they saved original documents. And they have dozens of collections during the revolutionary period that were not thrown out and were not in the published books.
I have heard at least 3 talks given by DAR members who say that before the 1970s sources were not vetted or checked for accuracy. I have even asked other DAR members and they say that is the case. So, Point taken that you still need to verify sources. This is great. I have the same question about the PA Archives as my mom's father was from Pennsylvania and have ancestry there from the Revolutionary war and before (Menonites: Grossman) and German Lutherans (Runkle) , and possibly Quaker (Sankey) or Presbyterian (though the Quaker lineage is under dispute.) I can remember struggling with the physical copies at San Diego State University Library when there were no indexes in the year 2000.
While it is true we must always look to original sources and generally eschew use of published indices and abstracts, the use of the Published Pennsylvania Archives in DAR applications is a different issue from the earlier, now highly questionable DAR applications of which you speak dear Gwynn.
Due diligence is a deed a necessity if we are to climb the correct family tree. 🤗
This is great! I have a significant group of ancestors from PA who are likely to appear in those volumes. This may be my next big project!
Thanks for sharing your discoveries with us!
I’ve always wanted to look at the books but the vastness of the set makes me think “uh, some other day, maybe….” Thanks for making this project more accessible.
Shame all the documentation in those books was tossed by what was at the time the State Library staff. No way to double check it.
I had never heard it said that all the original paperwork had been tossed. I was always taught that many (but not all) loose documents were aging, getting interfiled, or otherwise misplaced, and that was the impetus for the secretary of state to begin the publication.
I would genuinely appreciate it if you would share a few sources about the original documents having been tossed @Denyse Allen as I’m am clearly missing a critical understanding of the situation. 😔
This is why collaboration is so important.
Thank you.
It’s in podcast episode one of Your Pennsylvania Ancestors where I interviewed Aaron McWilliams from the PA State Archives.
Thank you @Denys. It’s a shame the archives had such a short retention policy. Some of the record sets would prove priceless at this time.
I think it was just the mindset of the mid-19th century when the first volumes were compiled - if something was transcribed it was considered saved. We didn’t have a state archives until the 20th century. Once they existed they saved original documents. And they have dozens of collections during the revolutionary period that were not thrown out and were not in the published books.
I have heard at least 3 talks given by DAR members who say that before the 1970s sources were not vetted or checked for accuracy. I have even asked other DAR members and they say that is the case. So, Point taken that you still need to verify sources. This is great. I have the same question about the PA Archives as my mom's father was from Pennsylvania and have ancestry there from the Revolutionary war and before (Menonites: Grossman) and German Lutherans (Runkle) , and possibly Quaker (Sankey) or Presbyterian (though the Quaker lineage is under dispute.) I can remember struggling with the physical copies at San Diego State University Library when there were no indexes in the year 2000.
While it is true we must always look to original sources and generally eschew use of published indices and abstracts, the use of the Published Pennsylvania Archives in DAR applications is a different issue from the earlier, now highly questionable DAR applications of which you speak dear Gwynn.
Due diligence is a deed a necessity if we are to climb the correct family tree. 🤗