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| Records stores at the Lee County Courthouse |
“We brought
back what ledgers could be salvaged and a lot of loose papers,” said Jane A.
Wilkerson, archival assistant.
Like other
counties throughout Arkansas, Lee County has struggled to find enough space to
store its historical records and ledgers. Many ledgers were stored in a
basement without temperature control. Preservation storage techniques recommend
storing records in dry and temperature-controlled areas.
The records
from Lee County are similar to records the State Archives acquired from
Hempstead County and include civil, circuit and chancery court documents. State
Archives staff worked with Lee County Circuit Clerk Diane Bowman.
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| ASA staff prepare for the long drive back from Lee County, where they are helping preserve historical records. |
Staff moved
box after box of records with the help of inmates from the Department of Arkansas Correction. About three cargo van loads worth of records were brought back to the
State Archives in two trips on June 25 and July 17.
Next, the
loose papers must be unfolded and placed in acid free folders and boxes.
Volunteers have already started doing some of the unfolding and indexing work,
which is the first step to making the records accessible to the public.
