| DECEMBER 19, 2013 -- The National Grange is beginning a large project focused on preserving the organization's 146-year history and is seeking volunteers to assist.
"We are scanning, photographing and otherwise capturing many of the vast collection of our records in an effort to make sure this history isn't lost," National Grange Communications Director Amanda Leigh Brozana said. "It's a huge undertaking and will take much more than just our staff to complete even a portion of this project before our 150th Anniversary in 2017."
Some of the many documents being captured include the Journal of Proceedings dating back to 1873, minutes from the Assembly of Demeter dating back to 1893, Juvenile Grange Quarterly reports records and charter books.
Brozana said the project will require hundreds of volunteer hours from dedicated Grange members and history buffs others interested in the organization, but, she said "practically anyone with a computer and internet connection can help."
Volunteers will be provided PDFs, JPGs or text documents of historical records as well as Excel spreadsheets for some. Those preserving things such as Sixth and Seventh Degree records will be asked to look at the original files and put the information into the specified fields of the spreadsheet. Others who are assisting in the digitization of Journal of Proceedings and other books will be given text documents and provided the original book to make sure all materials transcribed by a computer program is accurate. The documents will then be turned into e-books.
"Many of our records are handwritten, so it's impossible to allow a computer program to translate them. When you look back, though, the history is engrossing and you can see all the possibilities of how it can engage our members and the descendants of our members" Brozana said.
Anyone interested in assisting can contact the Comunications Director, Amanda Leigh Brozana by email at abrozana@nationalgrange.org. |
