Dear Suzanne: Common ethics and practice permits bona fide researchers to look at records, however, they must never identify a person by name or other identifiers. When I am through with records (sure that I won't have to go back) I routinely go through and eliminate last names. I read the records of the Thomas Indian School at the State Archives in Albany. Before I was permitted to look at the records I signed some sort of document pledging to keep confidentiality and attesting that I was a bona fide researcher, and had a purpose for looking at the records. Do you have any interesting records regarding orphanages? I look forward to hearing from you. Eve P. Smith, DSW Do these records present any particular legal confidentiality or privacy issues? ********************************************** Suzanne Etherington NYS Archives & Records Administration Region 6 Advisory Officer Binghamton State Office Building, Room 1606 44 Hawley Street Binghamton, NY 13901-4406 Voice: 607/721-8428 Fax: 607/721-8431 Email: [log in to unmask]