This is valuable to any archival collection where public documents are maintained, acquired, and sought out. Future archival students will also benefit from the unbiased approach, respecting all sides of the situation.
American Reference Books Annual
The first-ever book-length study tackles a controversial legal principle that the public is unaware of and that most attorney’s are only vaguely ... Read morefamiliar with: Replevin. . . . Dow’s stature as a respected archivist and a Manuscript Society “in-law” puts her in a unique position to survey the replevin issue. . . . Dow succeeds in straddling the fence-conveying archivists’ passion for protecting their charges and preserving the historical record and conveying collectors’ and dealers’ passion for doing the very same thing. . . . Archivists, Collectors, Dealers, and Replevin is a thoughtful and well-reasoned explanation of both sides of the replevin issue-and heavily footnoted, as one would expect it to be. I wouldn’t say that Dow champions either the archivists or the collectors/dealers, but rather shows an admirable nonpartisan restraint that should serve both sides well.
Main Street Fine Books and Manuscripts
Archivist, Collectors, Dealers, and Repelevin represents a signal contribution to the archival literature that deserves a very wide audience indeed. Beginning with the inspired cover illustration, Elizabeth Dow's engaging essay astutely explores the perennially dark and bloody ground of archival conflict arising from the presence of public documentaries in private hands. . . . Dow's book contains much of value to a great many readers. . . Dow's imaginative assortment of case studies alone will provide engaging fodder for enlightening class discussions on subjects ranging from acquisitions and appraisal to ethics and the law.
The American Archivist
The book is very well researched, and the author has consulted a range of primary and secondary documentation. While the topic of the book is complex and multi-faceted. . ., the author has examined all aspects of the issue and described the problems with an attempt to get a balanced view. The author has a long and impressive career in archives and related fields and here has produced a very objective view of the problems and issues with lost public documents. This book would be suitable for archivists employed in the US public service, as well as librarians, historians and collectors with an interest in this area.
Collection Building
This book does an admirable job of illustrating many aspects of a complicated legal situation, providing archivists, collectors, and dealers with insight, analysis, and practical advice. Well-written and to the point, this volume is highly recommended for archivists and dealers alike.
College & Research Libraries
In Archivists, Collectors, Dealers, and Replevin: Case Studies on Private Ownership of Public Documents, respected archival practitioner and library and information science educator Elizabeth H. Dow studies the conflicts that arise from 'a legal action brought for the purpose of recovering specified items'. . . .The book contains clear prose and straightforward organization. Dow writes informative introductory chapters on the development of archival practice and the archival profession in the United States. . . .[M]anuscript and special collections librarians as well as public records specialists should own and read this small . . . book.
Archival Issues
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