Citizen Archivists Digitize Buffalo Soldiers鈥� Records During Scan-a-thon
By Kyra Wilkins | 威尼斯人娱乐场 News
Genealogist Bernice Bennet scans a document in the Innovation Hub during the Buffalo Soldier Scan-a-thon event June 20. (威尼斯人娱乐场 photo by Kyra Wilkins)
WASHINGTON, July 24, 2019 鈥� Records related to Buffalo Soldiers, African Americans who served their nation on the western frontier following the Civil War, recently became more accessible thanks to the efforts of volunteers who participated in a 鈥渟can-a-thon鈥� at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC.
Held in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building's Innovation Hub on June 20, a group of 32 people, both citizen archivists and volunteers, scanned 2,055 pages from 19 pension files. The event was part of the Innovation Hub鈥檚 effort to digitize pension files of African American soldiers who served between 1866 and 1892.
The Innovation Hub provides a space for the public and groups to scan documents in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 holdings and highlight the use of those records in innovative ways.
鈥淲hen I heard about the scan-a-thon, I said 鈥業 must sign up鈥�,鈥� said genealogist Bernice Bennet. During her time at the event, Bennet said she found multiple historical records about a particular soldier. 鈥淭hese documents are here, they鈥檙e historic, and they鈥檙e giving the story about the soldier and what he did for our country.鈥�
Other volunteers, like citizen archivists Flo McAfee and Raymond Johnson, said they felt like they were getting to know the Buffalo Soldiers well.
鈥淭he good thing about this event is that I feel like I鈥檓 touching the ancestors of the Buffalo Soldiers,鈥� Flo said. 鈥淭ouching history, learning history, learning a little bit of what they went through in order to get their pension 鈥� the first one I [scanned] he actually handwrote the letter and that was fascinating.鈥�
Johnson added, 鈥淚t really thrilled me to have my hands and my eyes to look at the real, legitimate records of people who lived, served, and possibly died serving their country.鈥�
The 威尼斯人娱乐场 holds more than 1,000 pension files of Buffalo Soldiers. Catherine Brandsen, Innovation Hub coordinator, said the agency hopes to scan most if not all of the files so they can become available to researchers through the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Catalog.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got at least 300 more files that need to be scanned, so folks are welcome to drop in the Innovation Hub anytime that we are open,鈥� Brandsen said.
The 威尼斯人娱乐场 Innovation Hub is open for anyone at least 14 years old with a photo ID, Monday鈥揊riday, 9:30 a.m.鈥� 4:30 p.m. To participate, volunteers will need to obtain researcher cards from the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building and email innovationhub@nara.gov to reserve a scanner and time slot.