MAWORCES-L Archives

From: Betty Thomas <>
Subject: [MAWORCES] County Histories to Go Online
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:54:13 -0400

August 20, 2007




North America Local and County Histories to Go Online

from FamilySearch.org (August 15, 2007):

Three genealogical libraries pool their
collections in massive digitization effort

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH­Thousands of published
family histories, city and county histories,
historic city directories, and related records
are coming to the Internet. The Allen County
Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library,
and FamilySearch's Family History Library in Salt
Lake City announced the joint project today. When
complete, it will be the most comprehensive
collection of city and county histories on the
Web­and access will be free at
<http://www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu>www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu.

The digital history project will target over
100,000 published family histories and thousands
of local histories that are rich in names as well
as biographical and genealogical data associated
with those names. "Publishing those collections
from the three libraries involved will make a
significant and attractive family history digital
library online for genealogists and historians,"
said David Rencher, director of Records and Information for FamilySearch.

"I believe the most immediate, substantial
contribution of this collaboration will be the
addition of local history materials," said Allen
County Public Library's Genealogy Center Manager,
Curt Witcher. The collaborative project will
digitally scan thousands of historic city
directories, as well as city and county histories
from North America. The ACPL and the Family
History Library have the largest collections of
city and county histories from North America. "I
believe the strength of our two well known, well
used, and well loved institutions working
together is a terrific benefit to the genealogical community," added Witcher.

Once digitized, the collections will have "every
word" search capability, which allows users to
search by name, location, date, or other field
across the collection. The search results are
then linked to high quality digital images of the
original publication. Digitization efforts have
begun. New additions will be noted and
hyperlinked in the Family History Library Catalog
at FamilySearch.org as they are digitized. The
collection can be accessed currently at
<http://www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu>www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu.

FamilySearch is providing the computers,
scanners, and camera operators required to
complete the project. FamilySearch is a nonprofit
organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch
maintains the world's largest repository of
genealogical resources accessed through
FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in
Salt Lake City, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries.


Betty


Professional Genealogy Research - http://mysite.verizon.net/bettylt/
Wicks,Hammond, Heintz,Bradfield,Walbridge - http://BettyT.tripod.com
Boylston Historical Society & Museum http://www.boylstonhistory.org
GenWeb Coordinator for:
Genesee, NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenese
Wyoming, NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~nywyomin
Worcester, MA http://www.rootsweb.com/~maworces
Commonwealth of Massachusetts http://www.rootsweb.com/~magenweb/

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