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Following on Roger's prompt - American Mining History Links, 12 Dec 1999 15:35 - I looked up some of the links listed. One struck a chord, or is it 'dischord', with recent researches into primary resources. The International Archive of Economic Geology http://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/depts/reference/anaconda.htm This includes information on the Anaconda Geological Documents Collection which is evidently a major documentary resource. However it 'was accepted by the University of Wyoming in 1987 on the condition that the collection be self-supporting. State and University funds are not available to offset the many costs of preserving, maintaining, and providing access to the collection.' That boils down to paying for access. That is by subscription with annual fees ranging from $ 7,500 to $15.00 (for an Academic and Historical Member with only limited access.) Fees for access to archives are not unknown in the UK but are usually waived on proof that interest is academic with no prospect of commercial gain. But is such a disparity in the approach to mining history, with the US National Park Service able to fund research into milling sites whilst a major university cannot find funds to archive documents, something which will eventually affect this country? Peter PS For a lighter-hearted(?) view of the site listing see my message on 'Going down the mine for your health?' ______________________________________________ Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE. Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599 University of Exeter - Department of History School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies E-mail: [log in to unmask] Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list. See http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/mining-history/ for details. Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/ _____________________________________________ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%