Conducting Archival Research OnlineConducting Archival Research Online

Trevor BondTrevor Bond

Cheryl GunselmanCheryl Gunselman

Ben DeCreaseBen DeCrease

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• The Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA) is a regional consortium that provides enhanced access to archival and manuscript materials through a union database of Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids.

• The union database includes finding aids for more than 2500 archives and manuscripts collections in sixteen different repositories in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Over the next year participating repositories will expand to twenty-nine.

• The consortium brings together academic (public and private), state, historical societies, and municipal archives.

What is NWDA?What is NWDA?

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Some Research TopicsSome Research TopicsFrom NWDA Finding AidsFrom NWDA Finding Aids

• Arts & Humanities• Business, Industry & Labor• City & Town Life• Colleges & Universities• Environment & Natural Resources• Ethnic and Religious Groups• Government & Politics• Home & Family• Native Americans• Pioneers• Sexuality• …and more!

Inuit mother named Wegaruk, carrying sleeping baby on her back, 1905, by B. B. Dobbs. AWC0043, University of Washington Special Collections.

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How is NWDA funded?How is NWDA funded?

• National Endowment for the Humanities—Division of Preservation and Access and National Historical Publications and Records Commission

• Phase 1 (2002-2004) and Phase 2 (2005-2007) grants from each agency

Mexican farm workers pose in camp. Hood River, Oregon, ca. 1942-1947. Extension Bulletin Illustrations Photograph Collection (P20), Photo No. P20:791. Oregon State University Archives.

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• July 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004: $350,000 NEH grant and $138,000 NHPRC grant

• Formation of a consortium composed of sixteen archives repositories at thirteen institutions in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon

• A union database of 2,200+ EAD encoded finding aids was assembled

– 2,264 on Dec. 30, 2004 at end of NEH grant period

– 2,500 as of August 20, 2005

Phase 1 Grant OverviewPhase 1 Grant Overview

Birdseye view of Tacoma, Washington, 1878. #WAS1120. University of Washington Special Collections.

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• Montana Historical Society• University of Montana• University of Idaho• Whitworth College• Washington State University• Washington State Archives: Main, Northwest,

and Central Washington branches• Western Washington University—Center for Pacific Northwest Studies• Seattle Municipal Archives• University of Washington• Pacific Lutheran University• Oregon Historical Society• Oregon State University: University Archives and Special Collections• University of Oregon

Phase 1 Grant ParticipantsPhase 1 Grant Participants

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Phase 2 Grant OverviewPhase 2 Grant Overview

• July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007: Grants of $300,000 from NEH and $178,000 from NHPRC

• Thirteen additional repositories added to consortium including three repositories through the NHPRC grant (two from Alaska)

• At least 1,600 additional finding aids scheduled to be added to the database

• Development of a sustainable, business plan

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• Alaska State Library (NHPRC)• City of Portland Archives• Eastern Washington State

Historical Society, Museum of Arts and Culture

• Gonzaga University• Idaho State Historical Society• Lane Community

College Archives (NHPRC)• Lewis & Clark College

(non grant-funded partner)• Seattle Museum of History and Industry• University of Alaska – Fairbanks (NHPRC)• Washington State Archives –

Eastern, Puget Sound and Southwest Regional Branches

• Whitman College

Phase 2 Grant ParticipantsPhase 2 Grant Participants

Continental divide at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana, ca. 1932.Picket 4858, University of Washington Digital Collections.

Exploring the Exploring the

NWDA Website NWDA Website hosted by WSUhosted by WSU

nwda.wsulibs.wsu.edunwda.wsulibs.wsu.edu

Keyword Searching

Searching with Browsing Terms

Searching Searching OptionsOptions

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Keyword Keyword Search Search

for for yakamayakama

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Results forResults forKeyword Keyword Search Search

10 collection guidesContain the term yakama (using

yakima there were 207 results)

Repository name

Number of times keyword appears in guide

Collection summary

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Hits in contextHits in contextkeywords displayed with nearby text keywords displayed with nearby text

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InventoryInventoryportion ofportion of

the finding aid the finding aid

Provides detailed box

and folder information

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PrinterPrinterfriendly friendly versionversion

of the findingof the findingaid.aid.

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Browse by Browse by repository repository

selection of

Washington State University

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Results for Results for repository search repository search

692 WSU

collection guides

retrieved

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Advanced Advanced

SearchingSearching

This search interface

allows users to narrow

their results by using the

multiple search criteria

simultaneously:

• NWDA Institution

• Keyword

This function allows the user

to select which part of the finding

aid they want the keyword to

appear.

• NWDA Browsing Terms

Users can limit their search by

material type or subject.

Database Usage StatisticsDatabase Usage StatisticsJuly 2005 - April 2006July 2005 - April 2006

Plans for the FuturePlans for the Future

• Organizational sustainability

• Expansion of numbers of finding aids

• Expansion of member repositories

• Addition of digital content

Oregon Agricultural School Football Team, 1909. P025:2581, Oregon State University Archives.