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Clerk’s office continues its process of preserving aging records

 Mathews County has again received a grant from the Library of Virginia for records preservation, thanks to the efforts of Circuit Court Clerk Angie Ingram.

The $14,563.50 grant will cover the cost of preserving three of the county’s record books: Deed Book 7, 1881-1884; Deed Book 17, 1910-1913; and Plat Book 4, 1940-1959.

Ingram said she began applying for the twice-a-year grants in 2013, shortly after she took office in 2012, for two reasons. First, many of the older books are in fragile shape, with brittle pages that have cracks, chipped edges and tears from years of use. Some of the pages have been repaired with regular transparent adhesive tape that has discolored over time, and the records are at risk.

“The books are falling apart,” said Ingram. “So many people come in and access them that it creates wear and tear.”

While most people respect the records and handle them carefully, she said, sometimes a person might leave the pages loose and t...

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