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National Archives To Start Digitizing Collection

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By SHARON TATE MOODY, Tribune correspondent

Published: October 21, 2007

Do you organize 10 billion pieces of paper and make them available to researchers? That's the situation facing our National Archives.

As family historians, we probably know more about the National Archives than the average citizen. But most of us don't have any true idea of the scope and depth of materials held there.

Among the archives' massive collection are those 10 billion pieces of paper, more than 93,000 motion picture films, 5.5 million maps, charts and architectural drawings, 18 million aerial photographs, 207,000 sound and video recordings and more.

The National Archives is responsible for safeguarding records of all three branches of the federal government. Plus, these records belong to 'we the people of the United States,' and the agency must provide access to documents.

Currently, nearly all archival holdings are available only in their original form at archival facilities in Washington, or regional facilities. Barely a fraction of the materials has been microfilmed.

Meanwhile, microfilm is a medium rapidly becoming obsolete. The preferred method of reproducing documents is through digital imaging.

A project being launched at the National Archive is to begin digitizing much of the collection and has a draft plan to digitize records most requested by researchers and put searchable descriptions of all holdings online.

Clear information is supposed to be provided about how the records may be located and used.

These include official military personnel files for millions of veterans, federal population census records from 1790 through 1930, Mathew Brady Civil War photographs, ship passenger arrival lists and naturalization documents, Freedmen's Bureau materials, case files documenting more than 10 million land entries, and American Indian school records.

The project's objectives are to provide online access to an increased number of our holdings and enhance preservation of records by reducing wear and tear on the originals.

Once copied digitally, original records may be relocated to less expensive archival storage locations.

The plan is available online at www.archives.gov/about/plans-reports/strategic-pla....

Go to www.archives.gov/comment/digitizing-plan .html to view the draft plan for the project.

You can give your input by clicking 'Comment on Draft Policy' to the left of the screen under 'Your Voice Matters.' Comments are due by Nov. 9.

Encourage Youth Research

To encourage and recognize youth as the next generation of family historians, the National Genealogical Society established the Rubincam Youth Award. The society gives the award annually to a student in one or two age categories.

A winning student between ages 16 and 18 will receive a $500 cash prize, a plaque, enrollment in the society's NGS Home Study Course, and a one-year society membership. Another winning student between ages 13 and 15 will receive a plaque, enrollment in the study course, and a one-year society membership.

If you know of a young person interested in his or her family history, encourage them to enter. You can find details on submission guidelines at www.ngsgenealogy .org/comrubincam.cfm. The deadline is Jan. 31, 2008.

Sharon Tate Moody is president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Send your genealogy questions and event announcements to her in care of BayLife, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606 or wmoody3@tampabay .rr.com. She regrets

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