disclaimer all opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of fold3 (ancestry.com), the...
TRANSCRIPT
DISCLAIMER
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of Fold3 (Ancestry.com), the National Archives (NARA), or the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS).
Outline
Overview of a Mass Digitization Project War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records
Camera Operators Make Archival Decisions
Digitization of War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records
Fold3 - NARA partnership begins (2007)
Federation of Genealogical Societies starts $3.7 million campaign (April 2011)
180,000 Pension Records, 7.2 million pages, 3,619 Hollinger boxes (1,800 ft³)
Cost of digitization: $0.45 a page (estimated by FGS)
The Workspace
Project Specifications: Two Types of Planetary Cameras
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
(21.1 megapixel)
Remote Scan Manager(Proprietary Software)
1-2 MB file size
Allows Capture of 18.5 in X 12.25 in
6,000 images/week275,000 images/year
PhaseOne IQ 180 (80 megapixel)
Capture One Software
25-30 MB file size
Allows Capture of 25 in X 34 in
4,500 images/week230,000 images/year
* Project reached 28% completion by July 2013
The Records
War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records NARA Record Group 15:
Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Arranged alphabetically by name of soldier Date span: 1808-1968 Bulk dates: 1855-1900Languages: English, German, French, Latin,
Spanish, Native American languages, Hebrew
NARA’s Digitization Strategy
Digitization for online access (primary) and for preservation (secondary)
Partners must digitize entire series
Public access is free within NARA research rooms
Fold3-NARA Agreement
Fold3 produces images at 300 ppi (grayscale) for microfilm and at least 300 ppi (color) for paper
Fold3 donates copy of digitized material to NARA
Five years after digitization, NARA obtains “full and unrestricted rights to use the Digitized Materials on websites operated by or for NARA”
Technical and functional metadata created according to NARA standards
Fold3-NARA Cost Sharing
Fold3 Costs NARA CostsConservation and Preservation Activities
Preparing Metadata
Collecting and Re-shelving
Digitizing/Scanning
Quality Control in Utah
Web Hosting of Content
Shipping and Handling
Training for records Handling
Initial Space Requirements
Follow-up Quality Control
Managing the NARA Staff and Project
Fold3 Camera Operators Make Archival Decisions at the Item Level
AccessioningAppraisalArrangementDescriptionPreservation (Conservation)Quality ControlAdvocacy
Accessioning
Fold3 Operators create digital records (surrogates of NARA materials)
The act of clicking the camera shutter initiates a process of electronic records accessioning
Fold3’s Administrative Metadata captures: Time that Image was Created Name or ID of Camera Operator File size
Appraisal
Fold3 Operators appraise NARA records at the item level:
Archival misfiles and orphans“Intentionally drawn”
information
Example of Intentional Markings
Arrangement
Arranging each box (.5 ft³) takes an hour
Impose an item-level order based on physical size and
readabilityJackets, Wrappers, Survivor’s and Widow’s Briefs, Claims, and other correspondence
Perfect the alphabetical “original order” given by U.S. Pension Office
Example of “Natural Reading Order”
Description
Fold3 Camera Operators create descriptive metadata for about 11% of all pension application files
Operators write paper “Target Sheets” that contain Name of Soldier, Name of Pension Applicant, Regiment and Rank
Operators utilize NARA’s finding aids: Index to War of 1812 Pension Application
Files Index to the CMSR for the Volunteer
Soldiers who Served During the War of 1812
Example of a Target Sheet
Conservation
Trained by NARA conservators, Fold3 Camera Operators handle paper records carefully, use drapery weights and apply imaging slugs
Fold3 Camera Operators analyze records that require conservation treatment (about 5%)
Conduct minor conservation, including fastener removal (w/microspatula) and polyester sleeves
Example of Conservation Appraisal
Example of Imaging Slug
Preservation
Fold3 Camera Operators manage and preserve electronic files of the digital surrogates that they create
Operators keep digital files 3-4 months before certification process is complete
Quality Control
Fold3 Camera Operators prepare a set of digital images (approx. 700-800 images each week) to be manually checked by NARA staff for completeness and visual clarity
After Fold3 headquarters in Utah uses an automated crop and de-skew software program, images are checked for technical quality
Advocacy
Camera operators select files for use in NARA exhibits and museum to commemorate the War of 1812
Locate records or photographs that include documentation of U.S. Presidents, Native Americans, and other significant historical figures.
Write short 500-word descriptions of selected pension files for blogs on Fold3 website to increase web traffic
Conclusions
Collaboration between Fold3 and NARA is a model for other archival organizations considering mass digitization projects
Camera operators should be better integrated into archival community
Respect for the professionalism of camera operators, digitizers, or scanners should grow along with the increasing demands for the mass digitization of archives
Contact
For copies of this powerpoint, contact [email protected]
I would like to thank Michelle Wilson (Fold3) and Jessica Hartman (Fold3) for assistance with this powerpoint.