My research team is looking at creating a public archive of unique
records;  records which are currently  not available online and with
little or no prospect of being placed online by anyone else, any time
soon.

  We are considering a few categories of records that meet our initial
criterion:

  1.  Public agencies which do not have filings or recordings online.
One example is a county where the older "dead-filed" Assessors Parcel
Maps are maintained by the Assessor, but (because their effect is
overwritten by the current APN maps) they are used for public agency
reference and few members of the public even know that they can be
accessed and used.  They often contain good reference data to prior
owners, and are an invaluable tool for land research.  Another example
is property tax rolls from 1850's to 1953 which are kept in a museum
archive with no index to them.  A digital reel index online would be
invaluable in planning research trips to this archive which has very
restrictive hours of operation.

  2.  Private database records of research by individuals and their
firms.  This might be public records references located by you during
research.  It is not the intent that anyone provide proprietary data
on this topic.  We're thinking that a index of researchers and their
subject references would suffice.  For instance, a land researcher
might have researched ownership on a piece of land and we'd reflect it
in an index table this way:
   123 Main St, Anytown, State   Title Chain 1852-1943  a...@yaghoo.com
Other researcher could then contact that researcher and negotiate a
cost for their records data.  A similar system for genealogy work
would be available.

  3.  Private databases of public records.  Our firm has almost a
decade of foreclosure date in one county that could be accessed by
property, by owners names, by parcel and by a dozen other parameters.
We would contribute this to the project.  Others with similar
databases of public records would be welcome to offer their data.

  4.  Family records.  What is in your basement or attic that would be
of value to the public?  Old period diaries from long lost ancestors?
Letters, travel logs, and daily journals that describe a place and
time?  Collections of unpublished writings?

  5.  Other records.  Our firm acquired a variety of old microfilm,
maps and record books from local title companies closing their doors.
The Name Index from 1856-1921 is unique and no other copy exists as an
incredibly valuable reference tool.  We've also spent years collecting
microfiche and microfilm of old newspapers, census reports and more
from around the nation.  Digitizing these has never been easier with
high resolution digital cameras.

  6.  Other public records.  Some government agencies are prohibited
by statute and code from posting or publishing certain information
online.  This includes California where formerly open Vital Records
(Birth, Death, Marriage) have mostly been removed from the internet as
laws change.  This does not mean that private firms do not have the
ability to copy these indices for online posting.  We plan to do so in
Northern California and work our way out.

  The above services would be available for an annual subscription,
just like Footnote and Ancestry offer today.

  If you have unique records and wish to participate and contribute,
then contact us as we're still discussing business structure options
(currently determining whether an LLC or nonprofit corporation would
serve these interests best).

  William Pattison brassservi...@yahoo.com