Look

A leisurely Look at Michigan’s stories and traditions from yesterday to yesteryear.

Thank God for Michigan–The Project

By Mark Harvey, Archives of Michigan | April 1, 2009

In 2007, the Archives of Michigan was awarded a National Historical Publication and Records Commission (NHPRC) Digitizing Historical Records grant.  The project, named, “Thank God for Michigan” set the ambitious task of digitizing every government-related Civil War record in the Archives collection (about 100,000 pages).   The grant guidelines required minimal processing of archival collections and getting the materials to the researcher online just as they would find them in person.  This meant that very little, if any, item level metadata (description, keywords, etc.) is used.  Users are presented with the box of papers organized by the Civil War Unit including all the folder titles.  Discovery of what is in each folder past that is up to the user.  We hope to add a social tagging feature so such collections can be also described by the user.

Letter to Michigan Adjutant General John Robertson

With phase one completed (all images online and linked to the encoded archival description (EAD finding aid) it is now time to test the theory that people might rather have more content and less description than vice-versa.  So the question becomes:

Would you rather have 10-20 pages of records from George A. Custer with detailed description or would you like to have access to all of the records of the Michigan Seventh Cavalry with only folder level description?

There are two ways we would like users to access the service records:

1. browse or search the collection from the EAD online finding aid.  When you see [view image], clicking it will take you to the contents of the folder.

2. Browse or search the collection from the Seeking Michigan Discover collection page.  Once you select a folder, try the “Show All” option at the bottom to see all the contents at once.

Finally, we need to evaluate the user experience.  When you have conducted some searching and/or browsing, please take a moment to answer our brief survey.  The results will be used to write usability reports for the granting agency.  We hope in the next iteration of our website to have the finding aid on the same website as the images, that is not technically possible at this time.

Thank you,

-Mark Harvey, Archives of Michigan

Comments

  1. Don Warner

    April 14th, 2009 : 11:55 am

    I am loving the new site and just wanted to dropm a quick note of appreciation for your foresight and efforts. I enjoy every trip to the library and archives, but having some of these online is just GREAT! Keep up the good work.
    Thanks,
    Don

  2. Linda Haney

    June 2nd, 2009 : 12:35 pm

    More and more people are re-discovering their Civil War roots and wanting to know obtain information. How thoughtful of you to make these documents readily available online! It is way overdue!! Kudos! I’ll be watching for more.

    “Pillars of Honor”
    keeping alive the memories of Civil War veterans

  3. Art Dembinski

    July 9th, 2009 : 6:44 pm

    Now if the many researchers, who have pulled (and paid for) copies of Michigan Civil War veteran’s military and pension papers, would be so kind as to post them somewhere on the internet available for anyone to find using a search engine, the project of keeping alive the memories of Civil War veterans would take a great leap forward.

  4. Paul Weichlein

    September 23rd, 2009 : 10:48 pm

    I stand by the last two comments and say the Revolution defined our type of Government but the Civil War defined our Nation. Read not only these but all that is now offered on line and see our true basis for existence.
    This is a fine addition to our history, HaaZaaah!!!!

    “All who were, We will remember”
    (Momument in Springfield K.Y.)

  5. Ann Jousma Miller

    October 12th, 2010 : 10:51 am

    I have received a request from the town of Ewen Michigan in the Western Upper Peninsula, wanting a headstone for the only Civil War Vet buried in their local cemetery. Can you tell me if there are any grants available for this headstone or if you can make one available especially for Civil War Vets? I sincerely appreciate, Ann Jousma Miller

  6. Brian Iverson

    October 17th, 2010 : 3:38 pm

    This an interesting and commendable activity but why was the project given the name it was? The project name has nothing to do with the grant or the focus of the project and is actually misleading. Thumbs down.

  7. Bob Garrett, Archives of Michigan

    October 18th, 2010 : 1:27 pm

    “Thank God for Michigan!” is a quote that has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln. The phrase thus has a connection to both the Civil War and the State of Michigan.

    Regardless, I’m pleased that you find the project commendable. Thank you for your interest!

  8. tripletmom04

    October 23rd, 2010 : 11:31 am

    I cannot find my great great uncle in the MI Civil War records. His name was Jacob Conrad. Records show he enlisted in Kalamazoo, and was living probably in Cass Co at the time.

  9. Biogeek

    January 20th, 2011 : 11:24 pm

    Ann, Any Civil War vet is entitled to a free grave marker from the US government. If there is a Sons of Civil War Veterans group in your area they can probably assist you in making the request to the government. They helped me to obtain one for one of my ancestors, whose grave was previously unmarked.
    Art (or anyone else) If you can point me somewhere to upload all of the Civil War pension application documents I have scanned in I would be happy for other people to have access.

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