Log on to the past
Detailed descriptions of over 350,000 historic Hampshire documents are now accessible, worldwide, at the touch of a button. Hampshire Record Office already welcomes many overseas visitors in person, and they have been able to access electronic catalogues in the searchroom via DServe for several years. We have now launched detailed catalogues of documents on the Internet via DServe. This new facility means instant access to a mass of insights about how and where Hampshire people lived, recorded in the historic records of schools, churches, local government, poor law and other aspects of life, over nearly 1,000 years.
This goal marks the huge progress over recent years in converting 50 years of typewritten catalogues into electronic format, alongside cataloguing directly onto computer. Hampshire Record Office helped develop an electronic cataloguing system, called CALM 2000, which is now used nationwide. Over half of Hampshire Record Office's catalogues are now fully available online at <http://www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/catalog/index.html>.
Both staff and volunteers have contributed to this mammoth task, and now the end is in view: by the end of 2004 all the Record Office's catalogues should be converted into electronic format and accessible online via the internet.
New records are being added continually, so check the site regularly for updates. There is a feedback form available online, and comments will contribute to the future development of this facility.
Hampshire Record Office, via its support organisation, Hampshire Archives Trust, is already working on using the electronic catalogue to give access to digital images of the documents themselves. Hampshire Photographic Project started in September, with the aim to make 10,000 historic Hampshire photographs accessible on the web by spring 2005.
These new developments coincide with the celebration of Hampshire Record Office's tenth anniversary in its purpose-built premises in Winchester. On 19 November 1993 Her Majesty the Queen officially opened the new, award-winning building. Four years later, in 1997, Hampshire Record Office celebrated 50 years of existence.
Please pass on details of our online catalogue to colleagues and customers.
Regards,
Heather Needham
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Heather Needham
Senior Archivist
(Customer Services/IT Manager)
Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street,
Winchester, Hants SO23 8TH
Tel: 01962 846137/846154, fax: 01962 878681
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Hampshire Record Office Web site: http://www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/
Text Phone: 0808 100 2484
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