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Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-02 > 1203093938


From: "Rod Fleck" <>
Subject: [SUVCW] Seattle GAR Post No. 1 1915 Album available on-line
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:45:38 -0800
In-Reply-To: <mailman.1281.1203062541.8336.suvcw@rootsweb.com>


Brothers -

I wanted to share with you an article we are working on from our Camp
Newsletter (Governor Isaac Stevens Camp No. 1 - Washington State - an
"at-large camp) about what we consider to be a very innovative partnership
project. As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, wouldn't it
be a remarkable legacy if we could leave more and more projects like this as
part of that celebration?

Yours in Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty

Rod Fleck
Sr. Vice Commander of Governor Isaac Stevens Camp No. 1


Seattle G.A.R. Post Photo Album Now Available On-Line
http://content.lib.washington.edu/garweb/


Recently the University of Washington announced the availability of a G.A.R.
treasure on line-the photo album of the Seattle G.A.R. Post No. 1. See the
article at
http://uwnews.org/uweek/special/faces/index.asp

How this got to become one of the new additions of the UW's digital library
collection is an interesting story. Working in the Seattle Public Library,
Denise Ottoson came across a reference to the Seattle G.A.R. Post No. 1
photo album. In the Library's special collections, made more available with
the opening of the "new location", Denise was excited with what she found.
At about the same time, Lee Corbin came across the same reference and was
equally excited.

One of the challenges with the album, with its large black and white
portraits of each member, was the fragile condition of the item. The
library was in a quandary-how do they provide access to such a fragile item?
Brother Corbin approached Brother Rod Fleck and asked what were some of the
legal issues associated with the item. Instead of focusing on the legal
issues, Brother Fleck suggested that a meeting be called in order to address
the access question. Brother Fleck had been part of a nationally recognized
on-line digital museum project (www.communitymuseum.org) for the community
he lives in.

Darlene Hamilton & Jodee Fenton met with Brothers Corbin and Fleck and
talked about a digital solution to the issue of access. With a few phone
calls between the Seattle Public Library and the University of Washington's
Library staff, lead by Ann Graham, a project came into existence. It would
take another two years to pass, as this project was one of those extra duty
assignments for everyone, but now the 1915 images are available for anyone
to see. With the assistance of Denise Ottoson, regional historian and
member of the Friends of the G.A.R. cemetery, additional background
information was provided where ever possible.

The 106 images are truly remarkable and the "meta-data" tags attached to
each image providing the service record of the soldier, obituary information
when available, burial location, etc., is a remarkable contribution not only
the history of the G.A.R. but of the great Seattle region.

What the Seattle Public Library did here should serve as a model to other
organizations. Thank you to all involved!


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