COGenBlog

Today’s Denver Post has an article “U.S. war records available to masses,” which describes recent agreements between the National Archives and Ancestry.com. The story also mentions an offer which allows anyone to search Ancestry’s military databases free, beginning today through 31 May 2008.

To access the free records, visit < www.ancestry.com/military/ >. You will need to sign up for a free account to see individual records.

Thanks to subscriber Gerald Sherard for letting us know about this story.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will be raising copying fees effective 1 October 2007. NARA has not increased their fees in seven years and have been considering increases for some time to keep up with costs. The increases will affect copies made at NARA-Rocky Mountain Region.

The following information shows the old rates and the increased rates:

Microfilm-to-paper copy made by the customer - was $.30, increased to $.50 cents per page.

Paper-to-paper copy made by the customer - was $.15, increased to $.20 cents per page.

Certification of Documents - was $6, increased to $15.00.

Staff made paper-to-paper copies - was $.50, increased to $.75 cents per page.

Minimum mail order - was $10, increased to $15.00.

Copies ordered from NARA-Washington, DC:

Passenger Arrival Lists (NATF Form 81) - was $17.50, increased to $25.00.

Federal Census Requests (NATF Form 82) - was $17.50, increased to $25.00.

Eastern Cherokee Applications to the Court of Claims (NATF Form 83) - was $17.50, increased to$25.00.

Land Entry Records (NATF Form 84) - was $17.75, increased to $40.00.

Full pension file more than 75 years old (Civil War and after), up to and including 100 pages (NATF Form 85) - was $37, increased to$75.00.

Full pension file (pre-Civil War) (NATF Form 85) - was $37, increased to $50.00.

Pension documents packet (selected records) (NATF Form 85) - was $14.75, increased to $25.00.

Bounty land warrant application files (NATF Form 85) - was $17.75, increased to $25.00.

Military service files more than 75 years old (NATF Form 86) - was $17, increased to $25.00.

If you have land entry files or military pension files to order from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), you’ll want to do it soon before the fees increase. The increases, which are due to go into effect the end of May, will increase the fee for copying a Civil War era pension file from $37 to $125 (338% increase) and a land entry file will go from $17.75 to $40.

Time is running out to comment on the NARA proposed copying fee increases. The deadline for comments is next Friday, 27 April 2007. (Isn’t it ironic that I just reported today a new Colorado law that reduces copying fees making public records more accessible.)

Link to the proposed rule.

It’s not easy to find the links for submitting comments. Thanks to Pam Smith, president of Colorado Genealogical Society for supplying the instructions which were written by Sue Axton.

1. Go to www.regulations.gov. On this page:
2. Under “Search for” select “Documents Open for Public Comment”.
3. Under “Agency” select “National Archives and Records Administration.”
4. Under “Document Type” select “All Document Types.”
5. In the “Keyword or ID” field, type “NARA-07-0001-0001″.
6. Select “Exact Phrase”. This will take you to the “Results” page
7. On the far right side is a “Comments” column. The “Submit” button is the little yellow bubble in this column.

National Archives - Rocky Mountain Region has acquired the microfilm series M1775, Internal Revenue Service Tax Assessment Lists for Colorado and Wyoming, 1873-1918. There are seven rolls of Colorado records consisting of:

• Assessment Lists
• Alphabetical Lists of Individuals and Withholding Agent Liable to Income Tax under Sec. 2, Act of October 3, 1913
• Assessment List of Banks and Bankers Special Assessment List of Corporations, Joint Stock Companies, Etc., Taxable under Section 38, Act of August 5, 1909

For specific information about each roll go to http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/microfilm/2005.html

For information concerning location and hours for National Archives - Rocky Mountain Region, go to http://www.archives.gov/rocky-mountain/

The National Archives-Rocky Mountain Region will be offering six workshops on November 7th, 8th, and 9th. The topics will be:

• Genealogical Research Using Census Records
• Non-Census Research at NARA’s Rocky Mountain Region
• Anchors Aweigh! How to Sail through Immigration and Passenger Lists Microfilm at the National Archives
• Modern Tools for Historical Records: Using Government Computer Resources to Research Ancestors
• Using Federal Land Records: How to Find Homestead and Other Land Entries
• Fighting Your Past: Military Records at the National Archives

The workshops are 2 to 3 1/2 hours, and each costs $10.00. Pre-registration is required. For more information, see Training and Workshops or call (303) 407-5740.