22 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

Records Commission I asked whether we might not begin a program of
this kind by filming the Wills in each county from 1851—we already have
such films for the period before that date—to the present. The Commission
approved the plan provided the local officers would be willing to pay the
cost of filming. I am glad to report to you that an arrangement of this
kind was made during the past fiscal year and that the actual filming is
going on at the time of this writing. Perhaps, in the future, means will be
found to make copies of the other county records.

PRESERVATION OF RECORDS ON MICROFILM

By virtue of Chapter 518 of the Acts of 1949, the Hall of Records
Commission is given some measure of control over the photocopying of
records in cases where the originals are to be destroyed. This is accom-
plished by permitting an agency which has photocopied records, in a man-
ner and with materials approved by the commission, to destroy the originals
in accordance with the provisions of the law.

While the terms of this law apply to all types of photocopies, it is
anticipated that the copies will almost invariably be made on microfilm, in
order to obtain the space saving advantages of such copies. During the past
year, the Department of Employment Security requested approval of a
project for microfilming certain of its records. A member of our staff
visited the Department and examined the equipment to be used and dis-
cussed the method of procedure to be followed in filming the records with
the person in charge of the project. On December 6, 1949, the Department
was authorized to proceed with the microfilming of the following record
series:

Original Claims

Workers'1 Wage Record Cards

Claim Record Master Cards

Claimants'1 History Cards

Benefit Account Cards

Benefit Checks.

AIDS TO RESEARCH

In my report to you last year I stated that the first volume of the
Cdendar of the Red Books would be published before the end of this year.
I regret to report now that this goal was not achieved. However, as the
manuscript was finished and in the hands of the printer in July, the book
should appear shortly.