Archival Digitization and Accessibility in a Small Island Nation: A Case Study

Summary

Archaeologists, anthropologists, researchers and educators are all aware of crucial role that archival documents play in the discovery process. Those who work in the Caribbean are painfully aware of the absence of accessible archived documents in many island nations.  During the summer of 2016, through a grant with the British Library Endangered Archives Program (EAP914), the Zemi Foundation began working with the Turks and Caicos National Museum on the development of a National Archives. A fraction of the countries 16th through 20th Century rare documents had been stabilized previously, but due to their fragile condition, were inaccessible to researchers and members of the community. The digitization of these documents are the main focal point of this project.  Additionally, to assist in access to the records, a searchable database was created. This paper addresses the various measures used to digitize, and make accessible these rare, archival collections.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2017   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 122