Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Thomas Strong Line, 2009 Strong Family Reunion

Would you like to do some genealogy? You probably already have an idea of where you might fit in, but let me remind you of some broad areas of need.

Preservation Copy

We have four 4-drawer filing cabinets of paper records. If those records get lost in a fire, flood, or tornado, our thousands upon thousands of carefully collected documents are gone forever. We plan to run these pages through a scanner, one page at a time.

The Historian, President, and Webmaster will each have a copy of the scanned computer files. That way, if some disaster happens to the original, our records are safe.

We are looking for a few people who understand the importance of this preservation project, and are experienced in carefully scanning documents into their computer, and who have their own scanner.

What I’d like to do is handle this project a bit like “Netflix.” For each volunteer accepted into the Preservation Copy project, I will send out a few file folders at a time (via U.S. Mail), along with a flash drive. When the volunteer finishes scanning images onto the flash drive, mail the package back.

I then check the work to ensure it meets our quality standards and is properly organized. Assuming it is, I send out a few more file folders. Just like Netflix, there is no time limit – send the folders back when you are finished.

I will try to send folders which most closely match the volunteer’s genealogical interest. That way we have more and more people becoming familiar with our wealth of genealogical information.

Manuscripts in Progress

We have thousands upon thousands of computer files. Some of them may be the original manuscripts for the 5 volumes of Strong Updates books. Some of them may be rewrites-in-progress of those same books. Many of them represent new information submitted over the years. Many of them are intended to become new Updates books, above and beyond the books already published.

Birth and Death Records for Joseph and Sarah (d/o Elder John Strong) Barnard, 1676-1696, Deerfield, Massachusetts

Many of the files appear to be indexing projects; some files appear to be books contributed to the Historian Archive for our own use. It will actually take quite a lot of looking to figure out precisely what we do have!

We are looking for a few people who are extremely familiar with the current Strong Updates volumes and the original 2 Dwight volumes. We need people who can look at hundreds upon hundreds of files and figure out if they are the original manuscript, a possibly updated version of the original Update volume manuscript, a rewrite in progress, new information, and so on.

These people would need to be comfortable with Microsoft Word documents, PDF documents, and be able to come up with a plan for turning all these files into useful Preliminary Information updates.

Each volunteer accepted into the Manuscripts in Progress project would be given all the computer files related to a specific line of descent (Jedediah, Mary, Thomas, Sarah, etc.). This project is very much a “voyage of discovery” in that we really don’t know what we have! But first and foremost we hope that we have a copy of the original Jedediah Book manuscript, which we can make available on CD.

Historian File Triage

The “Manuscripts in Progress” project begins with all the files we have related to a specific line of descent. Where do we get those files in the first place? We have some work ahead of us before the “Manuscripts in Progress” project can begin.

Ebenezer Strong Line, 2009 Strong Family Reunion

First, the files need to be recovered from the failing floppy disks and hard drive. I’ve done that. Next, the files need to be converted to a usable file format – most of what I have was created a decade or two ago, under MS-DOS and Windows 3.11. As of this writing I have a file conversion tool that should work, but haven’t yet done the thousands upon thousands of file conversions. Certain projects, such as the book index projects, may not convert at all.

At that point, file triage can begin. We need a computer expert who is very good comparing groups of files, weeding out the duplicates, and sorting thousands upon thousands of files into a very organized fashion.

The files are already in folders indicating their family line – folders are named JED (for Jedediah line), HES (for Hester/Ester line), etc. Files are usually named according to the “person number” used in the Dwight and Updates volumes. Unfortunately, the files give no clue as to whether they represent the original manuscript, are new contributed information, are the manuscript for a new Update volume, and so on.

The Historian File Triage person’s task will be to sort these groups of files according to line of descendancy. All the Mary files go in one place; all the Jedediah files another place; Ebenezer another; and so on. Those file collections become the beginning of the “Manuscripts in Progress” project.

As the SFAA Webmaster, the Historian File Triage is really my own task. It’s a large task, and if we have someone else available with the right expertise, I will gladly delegate this task!

Prospecting for Treasure

I have no doubt that many Strong Family Association of America members have treasure troves of Strong-related genealogical information. We may have people appear, and offer to make their own treasures available to the Association, as a result of learning about this project in the Newsletter or from the Web site.

We need a small number of people willing to keep track of who has what genealogical information available. With SFAA Historian and/or Board approval, we need volunteers to organize collecting and using these materials.

Technical Expertise

Sarah Strong, Return Strong, and Experience Strong Lines, 2009 Strong Family Reunion (Edward Barnard, SFAA Webmaster)

Throughout these articles, we have described ways of becoming a nearly-world-class online presence. This includes creating a Digital Library, publishing books and other materials on CD, and making materials available for instant download upon purchase.

While all these things fall within the SFAA Webmaster’s purview, any of the following are ways to become involved:

• Set up the SFAA process for publishing on CD, including costs, revenue, revenue splitting (if any), etc.
• Set up the SFAA process for purchasing CDs online, including investigating various options
• Set up the SFAA store front for purchasing materials online for instant download, including investigating the various options available
• Set up the SFAA Digital Library or Digital Archive, perhaps using the “Dspace” software
• Act as the Digital Librarian
• Act as a Message Board Moderator

Other Expertise

Chances are that you have long since realized that you would like to become involved, and you have a very good idea of how you can contribute. Your expertise might not be on the list above! Please contact us and share your ideas. Enthusiasm is contagious!

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Mary Strong Line, 2009 Strong Family Reunion

Wow! This is Part 19 and counting! I hope you have enjoyed reading about our ideas. Maybe you have even thought of ways you would like to contribute! It won’t take long for us to build some momentum, and have fun in the process!

In fact, we can bring some happy results to the 2010 Strong Family Reunion in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Here is what I think we can accomplish over the next year:

• Make the Jedediah book (Strong Updates Volume 1) available on CD
• Begin making a preservation copy of the paper records
• Figure out what we have in the way of manuscript files

With that bit of experience under our belts, we should have a very good idea of whether we want to proceed with the Preliminary Information project, or stop with preserving the Historian Archives.

I expect that by time we reach the next Reunion, we will already have some momentum, and we can propose an official project based on the experience gained in our “pilot project.”

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Stronghold Castle Turret Stairs, 2009 Reunion Tour

We began Part 1 by posing the question, “Why would I want to join?” We answered, “Let’s do some genealogy, in a way that will be interesting to our membership.”

We continued by posing the question, “How do we get this project off the ground?” We answered, “Create an interesting online presence, and focus on early results that we can show off.”

In answering those two questions, we have accomplished some amazing results! But more importantly, we have completely prepared ourselves to take on a Future Strong Updates program. We have the means, we have the material, we have the training, and we have the processes.

We have made our wealth of knowledge available through the Newsletter and online. We have become more interactive than ever before, in a manner particularly appealing to the younger generation. We have published our works already in progress on CD and as instant download.

At this point, if we as an Association decide to take on a Future Strong Updates project, we’ll know exactly how to do so.

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Grinnell Genealogy 1887, Grand Ledge Michigan

To the best of my knowledge, we all have two parents. Most of us who have studied the Strong side of the family have also gathered information on other non-Strong parts of the family.

In principle, everything I’ve suggested that applies to collecting and disseminating our Strong Family heritage, applies to our allied families as well. I see no reason why our Digital Library couldn’t include photos and documents related to other families, so long as they are correctly cataloged. We thus provide a greater service, and greater interest, to our members at large.

In principle, we can provide books on CD regarding these allied families, so long as we don’t lose our original focus. By providing an outlet for sharing their own heritage, we do a service to specific members, while gaining additional interest and widening our own scope of influence. At that point we have an established process, and can provide advice and experience. It’s a possibility… but a long way down the road!

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

In Creating for the Future, I proposed generating future Strong Updates books from an Official Strong Genealogy Database. The other large value of this approach is that we can take things in bite-size pieces.

Someone can pick up one specific family unit, or one specific file folder from the Historian Archives and do the research surrounding that one specific topic. Rather than taking on a daunting multi-year task all at once, someone can take on one manageable piece, and when that’s complete, come back for the next piece.

Board for Certification of Genealogists: Genealogical Standards Manual

Over time, we finish the task. We have room for “many hands making light work” in that we have room for varying levels of expertise. We could have editors expert at reviewing draft manuscripts. We can have our best genealogists and historians making the actual updates, resolving conflicts between information submitted, ensuring all material meets our standards, and so on. Others could assemble and organize information received, that is, do the preliminary “ground work” for our genealogists and historians. In the process, everyone gains more and more expertise as they gain more and more experience with their part of the project.

When we published our “Preliminary Information” books on CD, we learned how to make that process actually work. We created an end-quality process, established editorial controls, and we all gained experience. So, whenever any part of the Future Updates program becomes ready for publishing, we already know exactly what to do, because we did it before with the Preliminary Information CDs.

We have the option of publishing chapter by chapter as the material becomes available, or to publish as entire volumes. Either way, we have the satisfaction of seeing our work in print as soon as it’s complete.

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Establishing Genealogical Standards

Before we type one single name into our Official Strong Genealogy database, we establish our quality and editorial standards. There is one and only one master copy of the database. The SFAA Historian is the only person who updates the master copy. He or she then distributes copies to the other project members for their use.

It doesn’t really matter if we use Family Tree Maker, Legacy, or something else, so long as it can be used to record what we want to record, and generate book sections for our Future Updates program. I use Legacy, so I’ll use it as my example.

Legacy has a large set of Source Citation templates that comply with Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace by Elizabeth Shown Mills, an unofficial but widely-used high standard of citation. We have not printed extensive and detailed source citations in our bound volumes, but we don’t have the same limits in a book on CD. We can add 50 pages of bibliography for free.

Imagine the value to future Strong Historians in generations to come, if we carefully document every source of information as it’s used. The Official Strong Genealogy database can be the source of our Strong Update books on CD for sure, but its real value is to our Historians in their day-to-day investigations. We can keep any number of research notes and anecdotes attached to any specific individual, thus passing on our detailed knowledge to the next generation of Historians.

In the same way, when the time comes, we can decide on the other editorial and genealogical standards to be followed.

A genealogy program doesn’t have the same “flow” as a manuscript. If you’re writing about the entire Thomas (son of Elder John Strong) line, it’s hard to see how that flows when you’re looking at the computer screen displaying (for example) the David Strong family unit and nothing else. On the other hand, we all use these sorts of genealogy programs, and are quite comfortable with them.

In short, creating a book by first creating an Official Strong Genealogy database sounds like a weird way to do it. But we create something of tremendous ongoing day-to-day value to our Historians. It’s easy and intuitive to update information as it comes in (and meets our genealogical standards for inclusion). Information doesn’t need to wait for months and years to be processed and disseminated.

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Jedediah Strong Descendants at 2009 Reunion

Remember that as we embark upon this suggested Future Updates program:

• We have already created a nearly-world-class online presence;
• We have a group of trained editors/compilers;
• We have stimulated renewed interest and participation in the Association; and
• We have gained volumes of new information from that interest.

What I’d like to suggest is that at this point we start over, with a “real” updates program – but with a twist. We now have a luxury that did not exist 15 or 25 years ago. We can take things one manageable bite at a time, while retaining top genealogical standards and complete quality control. We can take things on a piece at a time as people become available.

My suggestion is simple: Begin an Official Strong Genealogy database. It doesn’t really matter if we use Family Tree Maker, Legacy, or something else, so long as it can be used to record what we want to record, and generate book sections for our Future Updates program.

The next article, Creating for the Future, explains this technique in detail.

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

In past articles, I described turning our Historian Archives into an online presence, and into a useful resource available to our membership. It’s a large multi-year project, but it’s manageable and relatively straight-forward. We can tackle one piece of the project at a time, as time permits, knowing where that piece fits into the overall plan. Each step produces tangible results – always a good feeling.

J.E. and Katie Gilbert at the Dixon Historical Society

We continue with a similar approach. Let’s take things in small manageable bite-sized pieces, and tackle what we can as time permits. As with the Preliminary Information program, this is merely my own suggestion. Whether it has merit remains to be seen!

In the past (and present), Strong Updates have been in the form of book manuscripts. We have a number of large Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, and Professional Write documents which are the manuscripts for past and future Strong Updates.

If we are publishing on CD, we can include many other types of media – color charts, photo albums and slide shows, and so on. But our basic genealogical information remains in book form.

In the world of genealogy, there are two (or more) ways of creating that book. The first is with a word processor. That’s what we’ve been doing all along. The second way is to begin with a genealogy program such as Family Tree Maker, The Master Genealogist, or Legacy Family Tree. Use the genealogy program to generate the book sections, and use (for example) Microsoft Word to assemble those sections into a book, add the front matter, extra essays and photos, and so on.

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Why the Draper Manuscripts Exist

One of the initial goals of our Historian Archives project, is to protect those four large 4-drawer filing cabinets from natural disasters such as fire, flood, or tornado.

We do that by running every page through a scanner, one page at a time. That gives an image of every page. It’s a photograph, not searchable text. It’s not searchable or otherwise usable.

Scanning those pages will take countless hours. The result is less than useful. A picture of a page, on a computer screen, is not easy to use. It is a picture, not book text. That means you can’t search through the files for a particular name, or anything else.

So… Why is this important? We are creating a preservation copy that we hope we never need to look at again. If the original papers get destroyed by fire, water, or vermin, we still have the information in those scanned images. Without that preservation copy, everything would be gone forever.

Creating that preservation copy is a meticulous but undoubtedly boring project. Scan one page, then scan the next page, the next page, and the next. Keep those images correctly organized and cataloged. Move on to the next file folder, and the next.

Fortunately, this is a perfect case of “many hands make light work.” If we happen to have several people who understand the importance of the project, and are willing to take on a half dozen file folders at a time, we could perhaps finish that project in a single year.

Note that this Preservation Copy project does not include converting each page to text. We are making no attempt to interpret, transcribe, index, or retype the documents.

We are each extremely tempted to make those pages useful. However, that means the project will take literally 10 times as many hours. We’ll never finish!

Meanwhile, of course, we do have that row of filing cabinets full of useful information. How do we go about sharing that knowledge? That’s what the next step is all about – creating a manageable Future Updates program.

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Sharing our Knowledge is a series of articles about the Historian Archives Project and how you can become involved.

Surviving the Disk Errors

We began Part 1 by posing the question, “Why would I want to join?” For someone under age 30, the answer includes a substantial online presence, and significant interaction. That interaction usually begins as online interaction.

Here in Part 11, we need to ask the question, “How do we get this project off the ground?” Our answer is the same – we create that substantial, interesting, and interactive online presence first. Both the Newsletter and the Web site allow us to talk about the project. But we need to also use our Web site to show the project, and become the central point of interacting with our members and potential members.

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