Using the fragments of the past to influence and shape the future

Project Updates

"The American Missionary Association and the Promise of a Multi-cultural America: 1839-1954" project has five project objectives:
(1) To convert 5,000 objects from the records of the A.M.A. to Internet accessible formats;
(2) To create high resolution images of each item as a preservation strategy;
(3) To convert existing finding aids to Internet accessible formats;
(4) To obtain input from K-12 curriculum specialists for the development of curriculum materials based on the scanned materials;
(5) To create a CD-ROM version of the scanned images for dissemination to schools, libraries, and A.M.A. related institutions across the country.

The Amistad Research Center and the LSU Digital Library began work on this collaborative project in October, 1999. While waiting on equipment to be purchased and installed, grant personnel spent the first few months in planning and training meetings.

Digitization of the 5,000 items and creation of an A.M.A. collection finding aid began in January 2000 at the Amistad Research Center. At the same time, the LSU Digital Library system was being redesigned to provide users with better and faster search and retrieval options.

Archival images being created at the Amistad Research Center will eventually be placed on CD-ROM for storage and future retrieval. The lower resolution jpeg images being created from the archival images and the administrative metadata for each of these images are being uploaded to the LSU Digital Library system. During this process, catalog sheets are created for each image that is processed. The images are then cataloged, using 15 elements in the Dublin Core metadata set, by a grant funded cataloger working at the LSU Digital Library.

Once an image has been scanned, cataloged and checked, the image catalog sheet is processed and becomes a searchable item in the LSU Digital Library.

Currently, the Amistad Research Center plans to release the first portion of the A.M.A. images in the Spring of 2000. The images will be accessible through the LSU Digital Library.

Please check back for regular updates on the status of our project.

Last updated 9 March 2000