It doesn't take most of us long to record First-Hand information -- what we, our parents and cousins know. But the living typically have first-hand knowledge going back only two generations. After that, we have to turn to the Historical Record.

The Historical Record is typically found in County Archives, local repositories, facilities like the Norfolk Historical Society's Archives at the Eva Brook Donly Museum in Simcoe. (Which after a century's existence decided to re-brand itself the Norfolk Heritage Centre.) 

And therein lies a problem -- even after you determine which local repository most likely has what you need. 

Such facilities are most frequently county-level resources operated by a small group of volunteers on a shoestring budget.

As a rule, these volunteers are senior citizens doing their bit for the community. They are not high-paid professionals. Such societies can't afford to "go pro." Their budgets are hand-to-mouth efforts. Bankruptcy is never far away for such groups.

Financially, they depend on a small series of grants and fund-raisers, and the generosity of those they serve, to keep the doors open and lights on. Yet genealogists (typically seniors themselves) tend to be awfully tight with their bucks.

If you don't support the repositories that make your research possible, what will you do -- what will your children do for genealogical research -- when these repositories close?

Does it seem unreasonable to donate say $5 per afternoon of repository use to the charitable organization that makes your research possible? If you can't afford that, how about supporting them with an annual membership? If all else fails, how about donating a copy of your completed genealogy to the repository that made it all possible?

You live in Ontario. The record you need is in Texas. Will you spend $1,000 on a quick trip to Texas? Will you send the Texas archive $50 to get photocopies of what you want mailed to you? Will you search the Internet for a Texan willing to visit that Texas Archive on your behalf? Or will you say "Ah, the heck with it"?

On the other hand, even if you do support your local Archive or Repository, will it matter?