The books were the minutes of important meetings. County court records, town
councils, planning commissions, and during wars, the draft board meetings.

The librarian opened the first book, and quickly found the page she was looking for. Rows of uneven type, obviously straight from a typewriter scattered across the page.

"Draft board meeting, July 23, 1951 ... Here it is. Ordered to report: James Duncan, Harry Elliot, Harlan Brown, Jacob Stanisczek. Dismissed on medical grounds, Harry Jackson, Doug Marlan. Motion to move proceedings into private session, made by board member Jack Daniels, seconded by Philip Rangue. Motion failed by one vote."

I thought I recognized some of those names, dear. Those people, they were ordered to report for military duty during the Korean war. I wouldn't be surprised to know if the all were. Let's look.

The librarian opened an earlier volume, and quickly leafed to another page.

"Present: Board members Rangue, Daniels, Peterson. Community members Eleanor
Black, Anne White, Henry Marlan. Absent: Board member Michaelson. Ms. White
asks for her son to be dismissed on grounds of religious belief. Board sees
no reason the boy cannot serve. Ordered to report on August 13. Eleanor
Black asks what right of appeal there is. Refer her to the commissioner."

Jamie pulled the list of names she held in her hand through her fingers,
feeling suddenly chilled. "What happened to them?"

"I imagine they went to fight in Korea."

"Can I keep looking through these, Ms. Jacobs?"

"Yes, dear. Just put them back on the shelf when you're done, please."

"Yes, ma'am."

Jamie leafed through the volumes, blowing thick dust off the top of them,
and leafing through, slowly finding the minutes of the meetings, mixed into
court records of who owes whom, the voluminous filings of lawyers and
exhibits of this and that. 

She felt the light dim as the sun set, but she ignored it, and kept
searching.

Another meeting. The notes had mistakes, neatly corrected in faded red pen,
more hastily typed than some of the others.

"Seven of the young men ordered to report for duty have not. Warrants have
been issued for their arrest. Eleanor Black has been asked to leave the
meeting due to disorderly conduct. Fifteen women stood, holding hands across
the doors to the meeting room. Sheriff Cameron escorted Eleanor Black out.
Motion made to adjourn meeting by board member Daniels."