Oklahoma Historical Society improves digital output with new scanner

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division recently purchased a new microfilm conversion scanner that will work twice as fast as the old scanner and allow more items to be digitized in a shorter amount of time.

The scanner's primary use is to digitize the OHS microfilm collection, particularly the newspapers. The scanner will create digital files of each newspaper page. The digital files are eventually added to The Gateway to Oklahoma History, a free online repository of Oklahoma history brought to you by the OHS Research Division in partnership with the University of North Texas. All items found on The Gateway are word-searchable and free to download or share. The digitization projects involve working directly with local communities to increase access to their own histories.

The OHS newspaper archives contain over 40 million pages on 40,000 rolls of microfilm, and the goal is to digitize all of them. The collection spans 179 years, from 1844 to the present, and it continues to grow with the collection of more than 90 current titles every week. It is the oldest, largest and most complete collection of Oklahoma newspapers available.

The scanner was purchased using the Research Division's earned revenue.

The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.