Saving History Through Digitization

The Daily Journal, a newspaper produced in Ogdensburg, New York, on October 27, 1862, has recently been digitized and made available online through the efforts of City Historian Julie Madlin, the Northern New York Library Network, and Chuck Henry. This digitization process has preserved an important piece of Ogdensburg's past and made it accessible to a wider audience. In this post, we will explore the significance of digitizing The Daily Journal and the impact it has on preserving local history.

The Daily Journal was a prominent newspaper in Ogdensburg during the mid-19th century. It provided the community with news, advertisements, and other information about local events and people. During this time, Ogdensburg was a bustling port city on the St. Lawrence River, and the Civil War was raging in the United States. The newspaper provides a unique perspective on how the war affected the city and its residents.

Thanks to the efforts of City Historian Julie Madlin, this issue of The Daily Journal was hand-delivered to the Northern New York Library Network, where it was photographed. This process involved carefully handling the fragile newspaper and using specialized equipment to capture high-quality images. These images were then enhanced by Chuck Henry using software, ensuring that the text and images were clear and legible. The final result is a digital version of the newspaper that will soon be available on the New York Heritage Newspaper site.

So, why is it important to digitize The Daily Journal and other historical newspapers? The answer lies in the preservation and accessibility of local history. Newspapers are valuable historical documents that provide a window into the past. They offer a unique perspective on events, people, and daily life that cannot be found in other sources. By digitizing The Daily Journal, it is now possible for anyone with an internet connection to access and explore this piece of Ogdensburg's history.

Digitization also helps to preserve fragile and deteriorating newspapers. The original copy of The Daily Journal from October 27, 1862, is over 150 years old and is at risk of being lost to time. By creating a digital version, the newspaper is now protected from further damage and can be accessed by future generations. This is especially important for small, local newspapers like The Daily Journal, which may not have been preserved in other formats.

Moreover, digitization allows for easier and more efficient research. Historians, genealogists, and other researchers can now search for specific names, events, or topics within The Daily Journal without having to physically browse through the entire newspaper. This saves time and resources and opens up new possibilities for studying and understanding local history.

In addition to preserving and making historical newspapers accessible, digitization also promotes collaboration and community engagement. The process of digitizing The Daily Journal involved the efforts of multiple individuals and organizations, highlighting the importance of working together to preserve and share local history.

In conclusion, the digitization of The Daily Journal from October 27, 1862, provides a valuable resource for researchers, promotes community engagement, and ensures that this piece of local history is not lost to time. Thanks to the efforts of City Historian Julie Madlin, the Northern New York Library Network, and Chuck Henry, this newspaper will continue to be a valuable source of information and insight for years to come.