Digital archives can be an incredibly useful tool for family researchers, providing them with easy access to historical records, a way to preserve family records, a platform for collaboration, and the convenience of 24/7 access from anywhere in the world. Have you used one yet?
What is a Digital Archive?
A digital archive is a collection of digital records and resources that are stored and managed for long-term preservation and access. It may include text documents, images, audio recordings, video footage, and other forms of digital content.
Digital archives are used to preserve and make available important cultural and historical materials, such as government records, personal papers, photographs, and research data. They are often created by libraries, museums, archives, and other organizations that seek to preserve and share their collections with a wider audience.
Digital archives typically use advanced technologies and tools to ensure the integrity, authenticity, and accessibility of the stored materials. This may involve practices such as metadata creation, digital preservation techniques, and user-friendly search interfaces.
How Are Digital Archives Useful to Family Researchers?
Digital archives can be incredibly useful to family researchers for a number of reasons. Here are a few examples:
- Access to historical records: Digital archives often contain digitized versions of historical records, such as census records, birth, marriage and death certificates, military records, immigration records, and more. This can make it easier for family researchers to access these records without having to physically visit archives or libraries, which may be difficult or impossible for them to do.
- Preservation of family records: Digital archives can also be a great way to preserve family records, such as photographs, letters, and other documents. By scanning and uploading these records to a digital archive, family researchers can ensure that they are preserved for future generations and can be easily shared with other family members.
- Collaboration: Digital archives can also be a great way for family researchers to collaborate with other researchers who may be working on the same family lines. By sharing information and records through digital archives, researchers can help each other fill in gaps in their research and gain new insights into their family histories.
- Convenience: Digital archives are often available 24/7, so family researchers can access them whenever it is convenient for them. They can also be accessed from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, which is especially useful for researchers who live far from the archives they need to access.
Where are Digital Archives?
Some Kentucky institutions have digital archives that provide online access to their unique collections of materials related to their institutional history, local history, and culture. Some of these include:
Kentucky Digital Library The Kentucky Digital Library provides access to digital collections from a variety of institutions across the state, including universities, historical societies, and libraries. The collections cover a wide range of topics, including history, literature, and culture. The KDL is a collaborative effort between KDLA and other institutions across the state.
Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections The Kentucky Historical Society’s digital collections include photographs, manuscripts, and other materials related to Kentucky history and culture. The collections cover topics such as the Civil War, African American history, and Kentucky governors.
Louisville Digital Library The Louisville Digital Library provides access to digital collections from the Louisville Free Public Library and other institutions in the Louisville area. The collections cover topics such as Louisville history, architecture, and culture.
Kentucky Oral History Commission The Kentucky Oral History Commission is part of the Kentucky Historical Society and collects and preserves oral histories related to Kentucky history and culture. The commission’s website includes a searchable database of over 10,000 interviews.
Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History is part of the Kentucky Historical Society and includes several digital collections related to Kentucky history, including Civil War Governors of Kentucky, a database of documents related to the Civil War in Kentucky.
Central Kentucky Digital Library The Central Kentucky Digital Library is a collaborative effort between several libraries in central Kentucky and includes several digital collections related to the history and culture of the region. The collections include photographs, maps, and historical documents.
University and College Collections
University of Kentucky Libraries Digital Collections The University of Kentucky Libraries’ digital collections include photographs, manuscripts, and other materials related to Kentucky history and culture. The collections cover topics such as coal mining, horse racing, and Appalachian culture.
Western Kentucky University Library Special Collections The Western Kentucky University Library Special Collections contains a variety of digital collections related to Kentucky history and culture, including photographs, manuscripts, and oral histories. Some of the collections cover topics such as folk music, Civil War letters, and Kentucky politics.
Berea College Special Collections and Archives The Berea College Special Collections and Archives includes several digital collections related to the history and culture of Appalachia and Kentucky, including photographs, manuscripts, and recordings of traditional music.
Northern Kentucky University Digital Collections The Northern Kentucky University Digital Collections include a variety of digital materials related to Kentucky history and culture, including photographs, maps, and historical documents.
Eastern Kentucky University Digital Archives The Eastern Kentucky University Digital Archives includes several collections related to Kentucky history and culture, including photographs, yearbooks, and historical documents.
Murray State University Digital Commons The Murray State University Digital Commons includes several collections related to Kentucky history and culture, including photographs, manuscripts, and oral histories.
Centre College Digital Archives  The Centre College Digital Archives includes several collections related to the history of Centre College and Kentucky, including photographs, yearbooks, and historical documents.
Transylvania University Digital Archives The Transylvania University Digital Archives includes several collections related to the history of Transylvania University and Kentucky, including photographs, manuscripts, and historical documents.
Digital Archives in Surrounding States
Here are some more digital archives and collections for the surrounding states of Kentucky:
Archives of Appalachia Digital Collections The Archives of Appalachia is located at East Tennessee State University and collects materials related to the Southern Appalachian region. Its digital collections include photographs, oral histories, and more.
Tennessee Virtual Archive The Tennessee Virtual Archive provides access to digitized materials from archives, libraries, and museums across Tennessee, including photographs, manuscripts, and more.
Digital Collections of the Tennessee State Library and Archives  The Tennessee State Library and Archives offers access to a variety of digital collections, including census records, military records, and more.
Digital Archives of the Virginia Memory The Virginia Memory provides access to millions of digitized materials related to Virginia’s history and culture, including photographs, letters, and more.
West Virginia History OnView West Virginia History OnView is a digital repository of photographs, maps, manuscripts, and more related to West Virginia’s history.
Ohio Memory Ohio Memory is a collaborative digital library project that provides access to thousands of primary sources from Ohio’s history, including photographs, manuscripts, and more.
Indiana Memory Indiana Memory is a digital library collaboration between the Indiana State Library and various Indiana cultural institutions. It provides access to digitized materials related to Indiana’s history, including photographs, manuscripts, and more.
Missouri Digital Heritage Missouri Digital Heritage provides access to digitized materials from various Missouri cultural institutions, including the Missouri State Archives and Missouri State Library. It includes photographs, newspapers, and more.
Illinois Digital Archives The Illinois Digital Archives is a project of the Illinois State Library and provides access to digitized materials related to Illinois’ history, including newspapers, photographs, and more.
Digital Public Library of America
Free Archives Outside of Kentucky
Certainly there are many digital archives and collections outside of Kentucky that can be useful for genealogical and historical research. Here are a few examples:
Chronicling America Chronicling America is a digital newspaper archive maintained by the Library of Congress. It includes digitized newspapers from across the United States, including many from Kentucky. The newspapers cover a wide range of time periods and topics.
Library of Congress Digital Collections The Library of Congress offers a vast collection of digital materials, including photographs, maps, manuscripts, and more, that can be searched and browsed online.
National Archives and Records Administration The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper and holds millions of records related to the United States government, including census records, military records, and immigration records.
Digital Public Library of America The Digital Public Library of America is a platform that provides access to millions of digital materials from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States.
FamilySearch FamilySearch is a free genealogy website run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The website offers access to billions of historical records, including census records, birth and death certificates, and more.
Internet Archive The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library that provides free access to millions of digitized materials, including books, images, audio recordings, and more.
HathiTrust Digital Library HathiTrust is a partnership of academic and research institutions that provides access to millions of digitized materials, including books, journals, and government documents.
Digital Library of Georgia The Digital Library of Georgia is a collaboration between Georgia’s libraries, archives, and museums, and provides access to millions of digitized materials related to Georgia’s history and culture.
New York Public Library Digital Collections The New York Public Library offers access to over 800,000 digitized items, including photographs, manuscripts, maps, and more.
These are just a few more examples of digital archives and collections for the surrounding states of Kentucky. Again, there are many more resources available depending on your research interests and geographic focus.
