Goals of transcribing U.S. Mint documents
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
I’ve possibly intruded a little too much on the usual message board topics with posts concerning transcriptions and related subjects. For this I apologize. For many, this is of no interest; however, several members have asked about the purpose and goals.
The Goals are:
Clear, accurate conversion of handwritten and non-OCR typed documents into a form that can be searched, recovered and read by automated systems and individuals. (Basically - get people to information as directly as possible.)
Limits – format fidelity is not required; tabular content is not required. Both of these are unnecessary because the transcription is intended to be displayed in conjunction with an image of the original.
Purpose:
Open access to numismatic history, processes, economics and individuals that are presently poorly understood.
Comments
A great deal of the content we read in numismatic periodicals, books, auction catalogs, etc. is simply regurgitated from other secondary sources. The Mint documents in the National Archives represent the largest untapped source of new information related to U.S. coinage. The cost of making it accessible online isn't trivial, but technology makes it more possible than when Walter Breen started examining this material in the 1950s. Documents today can be scanned, posted on the Internet, and transcribed, making them completely searchable and freely available.
This is a great project and I commend your efforts Roger. This provides a historical resource to collectors and those who want to research particular issues. Thank you for all your work and thank you to those who are helping you. Cheers, RickO
The many volunteers deserve the most recognition! Not only do they do the work, but because their names and contributions will not be known unless individuals wish to divulge their participation.