About Archived Access to Genealogy Records

Since the pandemic, access to public records has greatly changed. Especially here in Georgia.

My experience last summer after the Georgia State Archives re-opened was appalling. First and foremost, here in Atlanta, after a year into the pandemic, masks were seldom worn in most restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores, etc. However, upon the reopening, patrons were treated as though the pandemic had just begun.

Some major changes had been made. No longer does one select his microfilm from the filing cabinets. One has to make an appointment and upon arrival, the film is on a selected desk. Let me say here that there are at least 25 microfilm readers available to the public, each reader is about 6 feet apart. Upon my visit, I was searched, told to wash my hands, and given a key to the locker room which had to be placed in a certain box afterward. Upon reaching the microfilm reader room, I sat down, and noted that I was the only person in the room. But that did not seem to matter, as one of the new employees (a karen) sat across from me, pretending to be doing something on the computer, but observing me instead. During one brief moment, my mask slipped slightly, and I pulled it high over my nose. During that brief moment the karen sprang to her feet and rushed over, informing me that I had to wear a mask. I was courteous.

But it was not over. As my appointment neared its end, concluding my work and having 10 minutes left on the clock, the karen sprang to her feet once more and emphatically…