This article appeared in the April 2, 2003 Cambridge Chronicle.

Tips and tools for techno-historians

By Susie Davidson

CORRESPONDENT

For preservationists, historians and genealogists, the internet has revolutionalized the painstakingly tedious research which has long characterized the field. Documents, archival collections, governmental records, even direct contact with previously unknown family members are now available at the click of a mouse for those who seek to collate and catalogue historical data.

This Sunday, the Cambridge Historical Society will attempt to facilitate this process even more for archivers of antiquity. From 2-4 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, in the Sakey Lecture Hall, the Internet and historical research will be the topic of "Cambridge History in Cyberspace." Moderated by preservation consultant, researcher and CHS vice president Karen Davis, the forum’s panel members will highlight helpful search engines and Web sites and share their individual experiences in creating their historical sites.

“The Internet can save time and resources, and can be an invaluable service when undertaking research projects,” said CHS Director Sally Purrington Hild. “The Web is becoming essential for tourism as well, as a virtual Yellow Pages directory. Therefore, we are hosting a panel discussion to help people learn about how they can use the Internet to their best advantage.”

In addition to Davis, panelists will include Sarah Burks, who is the Webmaster and designated property administrator for the Cambridge Historical Commission, the Rev. Dr. Herbert Vetter, who founded www.harvardsquarelibrary.org, and its Webmaster, lifelong Cambridge resident Andrew Drane, who designed the online History of Cambridge by Abiel Holmes. CHS Webmaster Lewis Bushnell will round out the panel.

"Searching the web is now an integral part of doing historical research, and it is amazing what is out there if you know where to look," said Davis, who also serves as chairman of CHS’ program committee and who holds a master’s degree in Preservation Studies from Boston University. “We will emphasize Cambridge History and Cambridge-related Web sites, but the information will be transferable to other aspects of searching the internet,” she added.

"The Historical Commission's web pages, part of the City of Cambridge's website, offer historical and regulatory links as well as information on current projects to its viewers,” said Burks, who noted the ease of updating and general availability of electronic information for this purpose. “Using the internet saves time, makes distant collections accessible, and it can be a lot of fun too. It's a great way to share Cambridge history with a broad audience,” she said.

Vetter, who is Minister at Large, Emeritus, of the First Parish in Cambridge, and Director Emeritus of the Cambridge Forum, edited the bicentennial online edition of the premiere history of the town, which was written by the Rev. Abiel Holmes and published in 1801. (The Chronicle published an illustrated story about this production on January 9, 2002.) “This first History of Cambridge, written by the minister of the church in Harvard Square 200 years ago, is now available on this website,” said Hild, noting that it receives over 12,000 hits a month, from more than 50 nations on six continents.

Cambridge Forum’s national public affairs radio broadcasts are in their fourth decade. Furthermore, its events are now also webcast worldwide, as a part of the WGBH Forum Network.

Vetter, who lives in Cambridge with his wife Dorothy, produced a weekly television show, "Cambridge...USA" for five years, which was aired jointly by Cambridge Forum and the City of Cambridge on TV-5 Boston.

The non-profit CHS is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Cambridge and the ca. 1685 Hooper-Lee-Nichols House.

Admission is free for the Sunday panel; attendees are encouraged to share sites they have found helpful. Please RSVP to the Cambridge Historical Society at 617-547-4252. For more information about the CHS or the program, please call or visit www.cambridgehistory.org.