USS Essex Log Books Digitization Pilot Project

[Ann]

Hello Everyone - Another USS Essex Log Book is ready for downloading from the Internet Archive and I should have the next one done in a day or two. This book is #2 in the series and is from 1877. Book #1 in the series is the next one to be completed. I'll be transcribing them as well, but that won't be until next month sometime. The file is a bit large because of the image quality constraints I must meet, at about 316 mb - it is a big book, 383 pages plus the title pages and covers.

Here's the link if you're interested:

http://www.archive.org/details/LogBookO ... mber301877

Ann

[Ann]

Hello All - I've uploaded another log book - you can find it here:

http://tinyurl.com/4outoqr

The next will be up very soon, and they will come faster after that. I had to set the project aside for a couple of months finishing up a grant and editing my book - finished editing 1050 images. Ugh.

There are two sizes for the file - both really big - I may put a smaller version up, too, but it's all about the quality with the grant, and so far the smaller version look like crap, so we'll see.

Ann

[daniel_reetz]

Ann, this is great work, thank you for sharing it with us.

[daniel_reetz]

And I think a lot of users here would be inspired by the setup you shared on the Archive:

http://www.archive.org/stream/UssEssexL ... 1/mode/2up

[Ann]

Hey Dan - thanks bunches for the link and the compliment. I've uploaded #3 but don't have the proper URL yet - I'll post it when I do. #4 is in the works, too. I really wish I could have used our machine in the archives, but no such luck. We still have it for other projects, though.

[sixtysix]

Ann,
well done, its fascinating and I believe future generations will be grateful to you for scanning these log books. what camera and lens are you using.

thanks

[Ann]

Hey SS - Thanks! We'll be transcribing the log books as part of our grant &, of course, we'll be diving on the wreck as soon as the ice is out - it's been covered in sand for the last 2 years but I saw a late fall satellite image of the area and the sand has shifted, uncovering the wreck.

I use a Canon Rebel XSi with the lens that came with it in the box- a EF-S 18-55 mm.

The link Dan put up to my Archives project shows the set-up I use with the camera's live-view function.

I've uploaded Book 4 and Books 5 and 6 are being edited. Here's the link to #4:

http://tinyurl.com/4fem8ot

Enjoy!

[Ann]

We've got the first 5 log books edited and uploaded to the Internet Archive and transcribed and uploaded to the Internet Archive:

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query ... log%20book

Also there is Book #40 that I need to re-edit and hasn't been transcribed yet. Transcription is taking so long, but the hand-writing isn't too hard to figure out most times. We'll be writing the next grant for the next batch of 4 or 5 books in the Autumn, and we'll work on it over the winter. We've got a good system down now, it just takes a bunch of time.

Ann