Is it just coincidence that the appearance of lucrative charges more or less coincided with the huge rise in interest in genealogy? My early dives into archive research at record offices were quiet and subdued sessions at County Hall, Kingston. Later ones were bedevilled by noisy family historians. I then found the census records, which is what I had moved onto by then, were in the local library, and could be viewed without charge. I think this might still be the case, but we are forever being encouraged to pay to view census data online.

If I ever have the opportunity to deposit something of interest in a record office, I will try to stipulate that nobody should ever be charged anything to view or record it photographically.

Roll on Google Books....

Lozz.

Think yourself lucky!!!! Gwynedd Archives do not let you use a digital camera at all!!

I have also been thwarted by this rule. The staff are very helpful and will photocopy anything they can (50p for an A3 colour) but there is a huge plan of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway there which I - and others - would be very interested in a copy of. Photocopying is not an option as it's about 20ft long by about 2ft. A digital camera and careful stitching is the way forward but their use is totally banned.

Is there a way to get this rule relaxed or changed? A reasonable charge would not be a problem.

Penrhynman

Just returned from a day at Sheffield Archives. There are a few pieces of paper lying around, but no posted notices, to announce that they are being cut from a 5 day week to
a 3 day week from the 1st September. They will now open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Another downwards spiral!!!

Hands up all those who thought archives were there to facilitate research.

You also have to remember that the commies in county hall will attack front line services to prove a political point, rather than slashing their own gravytrain.

As I've previously noted, public wealth is not public sector wealth, they seem to think it is.

JohnnearCfon wrote:

Think yourself lucky!!!! Gwynedd Archives do not let you use a digital camera at all!!

This is absurd and you should complain to the County Council. Also complain to the Mormon church because their strange beliefs led them to put a lot of money into the archive service. Cumbria, Lancashire, Northamptonshire have reasonable photography charges. All records offices are wary about letting you photograph items that might be copyright, other than that, the only problem I have found was at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow where I was told that the Shipping Registers were property of the Custom service who would not permit their records to be copied. Fair enough if true, but the Lancaster records can be photographed and Dumfries have put their records on the internet.
Working on the Wadham diaries, I get 1408 photos for a 1 day license (paid for by CIHS). That is as much as I can cope with in one day.

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When I contacted the China Clay historical Archives recently at Tehidy (nr Trewoon) I was told it was free (well no charges mentioned) to browse and scan media.
As for other organisations charging, like some of you, I think excessive charges will just discourage many non professional and amateur historians. The thing is how many visitors do these places get in a day? And how many actually want to copy something?

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The thing is how many visitors do these places get in a day? And how many actually want to copy something?

For the majority of archives, the answer is probably not enough to bother opening at all.