This document summarizes a project to digitize letters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) relating to Native American history in Montana. The project aims to create an online database of over 1-2 million BIA documents spanning 1907-1939, starting with documents about the Blackfeet tribe. A portable digitization studio was designed using a DSLR camera, laptop, and carrying case to digitize materials onsite at the National Archives according to their policy of only using ambient light. Metadata will be added and images processed before being made available online through the Montana Memory Project.
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University of Montana Digitization at the National Archives
1. Case study: Digitizing BIA Letters at the National ArchivesSteve McCannNorthwest Archivists Western RoundupSeattle, 2010
2. Project OverviewMission: Create a researchers database of BIA LettersModel: SWORP Collection (SW Oregon Research Project)SWORP aims to repatriate these materials to the Native American Tribes.http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv14723Focus: Native American History of MontanaEstimated 1 2 million documents in BIA letters1st Pass: Blackfeetdocuments, 1907 1939Typed possible OCR candidatesSponsors: Smithsonian, and both the NAS and Mansfield Library at UM
3. National Archives Digitization PolicyCameras & scanners allowed, but with ambient light onlyNo FlashAt their very best, page images can provide an experience that is extremely close to the physical reality of the book.Sutherland, Juliet. A Mass Digitization Primer. Library Trends. Vol. 57,No. 1. Summer 2008. pp. 17-23.
4. Effects of Light on Archival MaterialsEffects evident depending on materialAnywhere from ~ 100 photo flashes to 108 & up(Schaeffer, 2001)Best Practice = No flash photography, it is a distraction to users. (Millerand Galbraith, 2010)
5. Designing a Portable Digitization StudioEquipment List:Camera: Canon Rebel XSILens: Canon EF-S 18-55 ISTripod: Manfrotto 055X Pro with a center post that folds out horizontallyTripod Head: 484RC2 Mini BallLaptop: Dell 131LCarrying Case: Pelican 1300Bubble level that is attached to the hot shoeSeagate 500GB external hard driveTotal cost: ~ $1,400
6. Workflow for Digitizing: v.1Staffing: 2 ResearchersRequest MaterialsSet up equipment1 captures & 1 turns pagesTransfer images from camera to PCFTP images to library server
7. Workflow for Digitizing: v.2Staffing: 2 ResearchersRequest MaterialsSet up equipment1 captures & 1 turns pagesTransfer images from PC to external hard driveTransfer images from camera to PC
8. Capabilities of Digital CamerasCanon Rebel XSI3.39 Megapixels24 bit RAW15-16 MB~ 2,200 x 1,500 pixels~ 31 x 21 inches= 72 PPI~ 120 hours~ 15,000 captures= 125 captures per hour
10. Processing MaterialsBatch conversions: RAW to JPGRAW to TIFF (size ballooned x3)Automatic light levels & SharpeningOwnership established with banding once the images are placed on the web.
11. Final ProductABBYY FineReader OCR:Central Classified Files 1907-1939 Blackfeet Agency 054National Archives and Records AdministrationWashington DCLb IA" DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORUNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE BlaokfeotAeency, Browninc, Montana, January 25, 1916./ <l損br />Co.i'aissloner of Indian Affairs, p* 贈 g o !Washin(jton, D. 0. 'J i 3 ? ISir: 5 e * JX w ^r STransmitted herewith is certified stenographic ___/ .transcript of the proceedings of the meeting of those members of the tribe who were opposed to the delegation headed "by Robert J. Hamilton, which meeting was held at the Agency on January HO, in accordance with Office tele-Tarn of the 12th instant.Very respectfully.Superintendent. 1GH7
13. Questions?References:Cox, Richard J. 2007. Machines in the archives: Technology and the coming transformation of archival reference. First Monday 12, no. 11:. Miller, Lisa, Galbraith, Steven K., and RLG Partnership Working Group on Streamlining Photography and Scanning. 2010. "Capture and Release": Digital Cameras in the Reading Room. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research. Rose, Steve, and Evison, Gillian. 2005. The Use of Personal Scanners and Digital Cameras within OULS Reading Rooms: Offering a Customer Focused Service for the 21st Century. Oxford University Library Services. Schaeffer, Terry T. 2001. Effects of light on materials in collections : data on photoflash and related sources. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute. Sutherland, Juliet. 2008. A Mass Digitization Primer. Library Trends 57, no. 1:17-23.