Finished! Looks like this project is out of data at the moment!
HELLO VOLUNTEERS! We've just added pages from the final collection for this project--Coll. 26: The Barclay Collection. This should be some new and interesting content regarding mapping the Northeastern Boundary of the United States!
FAQ
Upside down image? Text too small to read?
Use the image control toolbar located in the upper right corner of the image viewer. You can use these tools to rotate and zoom in and out--once the image is rotated, you can draw the lines and transcribe as normal.
Do the page numbers need to be transcribed?
No, we are tracking page numbers internally. There are often multiples of the same number, which can get confusing. The page numbers do not need to be recorded in the transcriptions.
Why enter spelling, punctuation, capitalization and abbreviations exactly as they appear?
Our goal is to present transcriptions that represent the original as exactly as possible. In addition to transcribing, we are also cataloging each page with more standardized spellings and eventually the collection can be searched using the catalog information as well as the full text transcriptions. This will allow users to effectively search the collection and be immersed in the language and writing style of the period, without 21st Century interpretation. PLEASE TYPE EACH LINE EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS.
Why is it important to make these collections more widely available?
These collections represent a significant aspect of Maine history and its relationship to one of its most prized natural resources, land. The three collections consist of deeds, affidavits, indentures, land grant applications, correspondence and related manuscripts, as well as hundreds of hand-drawn maps. They represent some of the most frequently used collections at the Maine Historical Society, as well as pages of unexplored and unpublished holdings. While frequently used by traditional scholars, our project goal is to make the papers widely accessible to a broader audience.
The themes described in the Proprietor papers are particularly relevant today in respect to Maine’s economic development; division of land and distribution of wealth; the establishment of political boundaries; land use and attitudes towards the environment; and the sovereignty of, and obligations to Wabanaki People within Maine's modern boarders. The Barclay Collection articulates Maine’s role in the national narrative, and documents relevant topics including international borders, interactions with Indigenous nations, foreign relations, and political tension.
Where are the collections now?
These items are part of the archival collections at Maine Historical Society's Brown Research Library.
What will be done with the data when the project is completed?
The digital versions of these collections, along with available transcriptions, will be made available through Maine Historical Society's digital repository, the Maine Memory Network. The digital presentation of this collection is part of a two and a half year National Endowment for the Humanities grant and is expected to be completed in the winter of 2022-2023.