AMERICAN family researchers have joined the row over the proposed move of archives to York University and the suspension of city archivist Rita Freedman.

The Evening Press reported last week how City of York Council was considering moving priceless documents recording 800 years of York's history from their base near the Art Gallery to an extended university library.

Rita was suspended after writing an angry letter to all councillors about the proposal.

Now American genealogist Lacinda Belt has e-mailed the Evening Press to protest at the suspension, and also to raise concerns about the transfer.

She suggested that certain historical documents might be destroyed rather than make the move across the city. And she claimed it had been suggested to the council that records might be transferred instead to Salt Lake City, Utah, where numerous genealogical records are stored.

She said a "large number of folks" from the United States, Australia and elsewhere had sent e-mails to the council expressing outrage at the suspension.

"The historical documents in question are those being referred to as "modern" records, those not more than 800 years old," she said.

"They contain such items as birth and death records, land deeds, land records, etc., all types of information vital to genealogists trying to trace family roots."

Walter Belt jnr, of Texas, contacted the Evening Press to say many families all over the world had their origins in North Yorkshire, and he believed he might be descended from a 17th century Lord Mayor of York, Sir Robert Belt.

"In researching the family history, we value the wonderful records held in local archives and reference libraries, and are very sad to hear of the problems in York caused by the suspension of the respected archivist.

"The elected representatives of your city should place great value on the importance of all records and the dedicated service of the professional staff who care for them and whose knowledge of their content is made available to family historians when visiting York.

"We trust that the city authorities will quickly resolve this problem and ensure that all records are still available in your archives."

A York council spokesman stressed that no decisions had yet been taken and the authority would welcome suggestions .