Files are now locked and unavailable
The Deeds at:
FamilySearch Catalog: Oregon, Columbia County, deed records, 1854-1965 — FamilySearch.org
are now locked for me. They were available a few weeks ago. I am getting this error:
- To view these images do one of the following:You may be able to view this image by visiting one of our partners' sites or the legal record custodian (fees may apply).
I have been using these for years with no problem
They are not available at any partner sites
A friend of mine who has a LDS account says they are not locked for him once he logs in.
What is going on and how to I report this to Family Search to try and get it resolved.
Thanks
Best Answers
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I have deleted the many contentious posts that don't address the question at hand.
@Mark W Stevens I am trying to find an answer to your question. I will let you know when I have an update.
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@Mark W Stevens I know it's been a while since I said I was looking into this but I have GOOD news! We were able to track down the problem and it has now been resolved. This collection will be made available again soon. I'm not sure of the exact timeline but hopefully we have done the hard work already and it won't take too long. Thanks so much for reporting this issue!!! This will be helpful to so many people. Sam 😃
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Answers
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The message
- "To view these images do one of the following: You may be able to view this image by visiting one of our partners' sites or the legal record custodian (fees may apply).
is a euphemism. 99% of the time it means that only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka LDS or Mormons) can view the records. I too, as a non-LDS user in New Zealand see that same message.
These rules are determined by a contract between the record custodian and FamilySearch, and can change at any time without warning.
If these records are not online anywhere else, the record custodian seems to be the Columbia County Clerk. If they are online elsewhere, that website may also be a record custodian.
It is almost certainly a violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution for a government to make access rights to historical records dependent on one's religion. I suggest doing the following:
- Wait for a FS Staff member to respond and confirm that the inability of non-LDS to view the records is intentional and not a mistake.
- Contact the Columbia County Clerk and express your concerns with this situation. If you live and vote there, be sure to vote in the next primary and general election for that office.
- If Columbia County persists, then talk to Reclaim the Records (https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/), an organization with a very good track record of forcing state and local governments in the US to reverse illegal rules that make it difficult or expensive for genealogists to access records.
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Thanks, I am a member of the Columbia County Museum and Historical Society and visit the courthouse weekly. I know of no changes that Columbia County has made but I will check with them as well.
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Mark
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
[ And, I happen to be a Member of the Church ... ]
Just in passing ...
As an aside ...
'Yes', the availability/accessibility, of "Records", in 'FamilySearch' ... come and go ... on a regular basis ...
[ ie. There one minute ... gone the next ... ]
Here are some "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch':
Why did some historical records disappear from FamilySearch?
Why are there access limitations on Historical Records?
What are the image restrictions in Historical Records?
I know, that these certainly may not help/assist; but, I hope, that this may provide you with, some additional, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
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Let me just say that the files I am speaking of have always been available to any Familysearch member and it is my extreme hope that this is just a glitch in the system which I was hoping by making my post I could bring to the attention of Familysearch.
When Columbia County granted access to their records to be copied by the LDS Church it was not for access to Only LDS members but for the general public.
If this lock persists then I will pursue having Columbia County revoke Familysearch from using the data
I didn't want to start a flame war, but whatever you call it it feels very discrimitory if only LDS Church members can access what was publically accessible on public documents.
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Yes, it would be great if a member of FS staff would respond when such a question is posed. Unfortunately, of late, members of staff have been less active in such threads. Some of us who are regulars have suggested it would be great if we could have a "contact list" to tag someone who could answer a question that needed staff input. So far, no contact list.
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Nope, not working in Safari - I have tried Edge and Firefox and both were locked - Thanks for the suggestion though.
By the way, I do work in the courthouse and the records are open to the public, not just county employees.
I am very appreciative that the records were copied as you never know when they're going to be sent to the state archives. I just wish I could access them again.
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