John Wellsman wrote:
> Is there anyone out there who would be interested in having a common
> database for local history purposes? Those individuals and organisations
> who use the computer will have a database adapted to their own special
> needs but would it not be useful to have, in addition, a second simple
> database which could be fed with simple and common facts from the main base
> and which could be open to all.
>
> I know that it is far easier said than done. But if we had a common form
> with common fields such as:
>
> 1 Name
> 2 Date
> ` 3 Place/Location
> 4 Reference
> 4 Rem 1
> 5 Rem 2
>
> This could be in a common type, I suggest Access, which could then be read
> by anyone. There is far more to the problem than this but if sufficient
> people are interested it could be a very useful link between those of
> common interest.
>
> Please let me know if you are interested.
>
> John Welsman
> Chiltern Open Air Museum
> 09:50 31/10/99
Dear John
Yes, I would certainly be interested in participating in any exploratory work,
and then continuing if the idea seems feasible in practice. It would certainly
be a mammoth task, but may be ideally suited for small organisations who do not
already have extremely costly tailor-made (ie, idiosyncratic) systems.
This would come at just the right time for me as I have been collecting data on
the Victorian Turkish bath for the past nine years. This is all entered in the
DOS database Masterfile Professional which, as you may know, was probably
unique in allowing the easy interconnection and searching of a relational
database AND a free-text database.
Alas, they have no plans to go over to Windows, and I am just about to start
splitting the database into Access and Word components, all of which looks as
if it will be a lot of work--and end up being less easily searched.
Nevertheless, I need to proceed as I have just started a website and want to be
able to link it to the Access component.
I am no expert on Access, but the card-index part of MPRO does seem to transfer
over fairly easily, though there will probably need to be a fair amount of
reformatting.
My professional background is that of librarianship, specialising in
cataloguing and classification, and having in the mid-70s contributed slightly
to the international MARC database.
Do keep in touch, and let me know if there is any other interest.
Best wishes
Malcolm
29 Clinton Road
Leatherhead
KT22 8NU
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