I agree with Dean about the political risk (which is an interesting point) but not about the perpetrator's privacy rights. If the file contained publicly available and widely distributed ephemera like printed postcards of her artwork or flyers announcing exhibits by her, privacy isn't an issue. My concern, is, OK, she told you that she stole this file. What has she stolen that she hasn't told you about? Lee ---- Leon C. Miller, Manuscripts Librarian Special Collections, Jones Hall Tulane University Libraries New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 ph: 504-865-5685, fx: 504-865-5761, [log in to unmask] http://specialcollections.tulane.edu -----Original Message----- From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dean DeBolt Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 2:30 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Can a living person refuse to have a subject file created for them? You are dealing with two issues: the right of the archives to create biographical files (just like libraries create vertical files) and the right of an individual to privacy. A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>