Dear
Genealogical/Historical Researcher,
The
Virginia genealogical community needs your help in
contacting members of the Virginia General Assembly to urge
passage of a bill to restore access to 19th
century county and city Order books.
A
bill passed by last year’s General Assembly, seeking to
close concealed carry gun permits from public access,
inadvertently closed a wide range of city and county order
books (in some cases going back to the 1700’s) from public
access. The attached page from the October 2013
Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter explains the
problem.
The
solution is in 2014 VA HB 100 offered by Delegate Scott
Lingamfelter, which will limit the closed period to only
five years. The bill has been assigned to the House
Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee and may come up
before a subcommittee this Thursday. If it passes the
House, it will then need to be passed by the Senate before
going to the Governor.
Please
email the members of the House Militia, Police and Public
Safety Committee (whose email addresses are below), with the
following suggested message (revise as you deem
appropriate). If the bill passes the House, I will send you
Senate contact information later.
Thank
you for your support of access to Virginia’s records!
Peter
E. Broadbent, Jr.
Former
President, Virginia Genealogical Society
Email addresses of delegates to contact:
Sample letter --
Dear Delegate:
I urge you to support HB 100 of Delegate
Scott Lingamfelter, now before the House Militia, Police and
Public Safety Committee. This bill will cure an unintended
consequence of prior legislation which has denied
researchers access to Virginia historical public records
going back to the 1700’s.
The Library of Virginia has had to withdraw
222 reels of microfilm from research access. Local clerks
have been compelled to deny researchers access to county
order books and indices from the 1800’s.
Please cure this barrier to genealogical and
historical research in Virginia by passing HB100.
Sincerely,
[your name and address]
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