Our Microfilm Guarantee

Public Libraries and Institutions:

Our microfilm guarantee can be amended to better suit your needs. If you require more liberal terms, please contact us.

National Archive Film Quality

There is a large spectrum of clarity and quality of microfilms sold by the National Archives. In fact about a third of their microfilms have a disclaimer that states the following:

The accompanying census microfilm has been copied from the original microfilm received from the Bureau of the Census by the National Archives and is the best copy available. Problems have been reported with the clarity of certain portions of the census. Since the original census schedules were destroyed after microfilming this represents the best quality microfilm available. We hope that you find the data useable for your purposes.

Census Microfilm's Guarantee

Census Microfilm obtains each Silver Master census microfilm from the National Archives. We have been guaranteed by the National Archives that we have received the "Best Copy Available" and we pass along that guarantee to our customers. However, due to poor quality photography work done at the time of microfilming, many of the microfilms have problems that are impossible for us to correct. Our return policy is designed (with the help of conscientious consumers) to make us aware of any bad master microfilms we have in our collection. It also compensates you "two for one" for your assistance. If you feel you have received a microfilm that is not the "Best Copy Available" and wish to return it, please take the following simple steps:

  1. Obtain an identical "Silver Master" microfilm roll from:

    National Archives Trust Fund
    P.O. Box 100793
    Atlanta, GA 30384

    800-234-8861 or FAX 202-501-7170
    Cost: $68.00 each.

  2. Mail us the National Archives microfilm roll along with the roll C.M. sold you (to allow for comparison with our Master) and a copy of of your original invoice.

  3. Valid claimants will receive a Voucher good for two other microfilm rolls, from our Federal Census collection, along with the return of their National Archives microfilm roll and reimbursement for their postage.

We appreciate your understanding. We always want the microfilm we sell to be the "Best Copy Available." It is simply sound business practice for us to require proof that our is not the best copy available. Any right to excercise a claim, made via this offer, expires six months from the date of the original invoice.

Microfilms returned without the benefit of the 3 steps above are restocked and assessed a fee. Those wishing to have their microfilms returned can redeem each roll by sending $5.00 per roll ($3.50 restocking fee + $1.50 postage & handling) along with a copy of their original invoice. Option to redeem films expires six months from the original invoice date.