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sign a so called "Contract of Gift", a form originating with the Mississippi State Department of Archives and History, which conveyed to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History 13 volumes of City Minutes covering the period - Jan.4, 1858;
May 2, 1903, August 5, 1916- August 6, 1956.
According to this signed document these volumes were turned over as "an unrestricted gift", giving the department
History legal title copyright
literary property right in this entire collection!
I	have in my file a letter dated February 11, 1979 and signed by Ronald E. Tomlin, Chief Archives Section, in which he said: "Custody of these volumes was transferred to the State Archives because the city council felt we could best preserve the records."
Ttiis may be true. The State Department of Archives and History may have these volumes in a humidity controlled section. Tftey may be housed in a fire-proof vault. I do not know. I have not been to Jackson to see for myself. Frankly, with the distance (about four hours of driving), and the restrictions named, the trip would	be futile and	purposeless.	Why avail
myself of information	I cannot	use?
But this question plagues me:	In our City Hall are many
other volumes of minute books — and many other valuable records — are not these records equally subjected to fire hazards —to lack of humidity control?	Could we	not examine the condition of the
volumes now housed in	the City	Hall	and learn for	ourselves
the condition? And, if correction in housing these volumes is indicated should not we, as a city, assume our own responsibility?