Heavy breathing on the line: The ghost of databases past

1. All negative microfilm copies of decennial population census schedules transferred to the National Archives and Records Service shall be preserved as the permanent records of such censuses. These negative copies will not be used as searching media or inserted in reading devices except when necessary for inspection incident to the proper maintenance of such records.
2. The National Archives and Records Service will, upon request by the Bureau of the Census, furnish positive prints of any negative microfilm which has been transferred to the former agency. The charge for this service will be the cost of the positive film and its development, plus a service charge of not more than ten percent.
3. At no time after the National Archives and Records Service has accepted custody of both the negative and positive microfilm copies of the schedules of a census will both negative and positive copies of that census be kept in the same city.
4. After the lapse of seventy-two years from the enumeration date of a decennial census, the National Archives and Records Service may disclose information contained in these records for use in legitimate historical, genealogical or other worth-while research, provided adequate precautions are taken to make sure that the information disclosed is not to be used to the detriment of any of the persons whose records are involved. Prior to the lapse of time specified above, the information will be disclosed only by the Bureau of the Census from microphotographic or other records in its possession.

Please let us know if these provisions are acceptable to you. If they are, we shall make the necessary arrangements to effect the movement of records now eligible for transfer.

Sincerely yours,

Roy V. Peel,

Director.

Grover to Peel:

October 10, 1952

Dr. Roy V. Peel

Director, Bureau of the Census

Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

Dear Dr. Peel:

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