Editor's Note: This story was previously posted on StratfordToday.ca.
NEWS RELEASE
PERTH COUNTY
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Earlier this year, Stratford-Perth Archives launched a new newspaper database via the OurDigitalWorld website. The website is a “discovery portal” that brings together content from archives and libraries across the province providing free online public access to past issues of local newspapers. Not only are the newspapers available for viewing, but each issue is keyword searchable making it easy to locate specific content.
In the first six weeks since launch, there have been over 38,000 views of the Perth County database by users from across North America and from as far away as Norway and New Zealand. Pre-1950 issues scanned so far are available. The Archives have digitized 18 Perth County papers so far, 13 of which are available online. Publications include:
- Atwood Bee
- Canadian Colonist (for local German community)
- County of Perth Electioneering Monitor
- County of Perth Herald
- Listowel Banner
- Listowel Standard
- Milverton Sun
- Mitchell Advocate
- Mitchell Times
- Monkton Times
- Stratford Advertiser
- Stratford Beacon Herald
- Stratford Examiner
- Stratford Gazette
- Stratford Mirror
- Stratford Times (late 1800’s)
- Stratford Times
- Stratford Weekly Herald
“We first focused on newspapers that were not already available on microfilm, such as the Stratford Mirror. We can better preserve the fragile original paper copies of these historic newspapers by making the electronic copies available for research use,” said Jennifer Georgiou, Assistant Archivist, who spearheaded the project. “While we have made great strides over the last three years, there is still more work to be done. The scanning project continues and more issues and titles will be added to the database each year.”
“It is wonderful to see these important pieces of Perth County’s history preserved for future generations,” said Rhonda Ehgoetz, Warden of Perth County. “It is a great opportunity for researchers and those who want to walk down memory lane and revisit stories from the past. I commend Stratford-Perth Archives staff for their hard work and look forward to seeing this database grow.”
All pre-1950 issues scanned so far are available for free online access at: www.vitacollections.ca/s-pacollections/search . Post-1949 issues scanned so far are available to browse and search in the same way via public computers in the Archives’ reading room. Recent issues of the Listowel Banner, Mitchell Advocate, Mitchell Times, Stratford Beacon Herald, Stratford Gazette and Stratford Times are available as well but only on public computers in the Archives’ reading room. Stratford-Perth Archives is grateful to the Perth County branch of Ontario Ancestors who provided seed money for this project.
Quick Links:
- Stratford-Perth Archives’ Finding Aids and Digitized Collections: www.perthcounty.ca/en/living-here/finding-aids-and-digitized-collections.aspx
- OurDigitalWorld/OurOntario database: vitacollections.ca/s-pacollections/search
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