From: "Maggie Stewart" <maggieohio(a)columbus.rr.com>
To: USGW-CENSUS-STATE-COORDINATORS-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: What does being a transcriber mean?
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 16:42:42 -0400
Following is something that I am trying to create to put on
our main pages to give folks an idea of what they are
starting when they volunteer to be a transcriber. Any
suggestions/additions/deletions are appreciated.
Maggie
=====
What does being a transcriber mean?
The USGenWeb Archives Census Project was founded to put all of the U.S.
census
records on-line in a standard format, where everyone can use them for
research,
FREE of charge. Like everything we do in the USGenWeb, this is being done
in
the
spirit of sharing, and you now have your chance to help us by sharing your
resources and time to assure that all future researchers will have the
benefit of
all of the census enumerations at the click of the mouse.
Transcribing a census is an incredible gift to the present and future
researcher.
It requires dedication and patient attention to detail. It is a large
undertaking
and the first timer should start with one roll of film to start so as to
not
get overwhelmed. Our definition of transcribing is to transfer data from
microfilm
or other original document into text format using one of our data entry
forms.
We provide our volunteer transcribers with either a database program or a
template
that has been created so that our file managers can convert them to
the standardized text output to meet the goals of the project.
We have two database programs:
1. CART (only for years 1850, 1860, and 1870) PC Only
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/usgwcart/index.html
2. CENTRANS (currently for 1850, 1880, and 1920) MAC & PC
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/help/centrans.htm
[The programmer is writing updates which will eventually
include all years.]
We have templates for all years and some specialty census records.
[These are available by request from msz_acp(a)yahoo.com]
1. MSExCel Spreadsheet
2. MSWorks Spreadsheet
3. Tab Text Templates
For MAC users we have a coordinator who specializes in MAC's and will
help you with those templates.
About Standard Format:
To standardize means to bring into conformity with a standard.
The elements of an ACP-standardized transcription from the transcribers
standpoint include:
1. Every field filled in
2. All appropriate blanks filled in (not *all* blanks are needed to be
filled in.
..like a wife's occupation but.. anyewhere there are ditto's.. or presumed
dittos'..
the field must be filled in
To assist you in your endeavor we have help pages at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/help/
and there is a page specific for every year with probably more than you
ever
wanted to know about that census year included.
If you still have questions there is now a GenConnect Board for your
specific questions
related to volunteering to transcribe or proofread at
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Archives/Census/FAQ
The Archives Census Project has mailing lists: the USGWARCH-CEN-L list and
the USGWARCH-CART-L
to assist transcribers in their transcriptions.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/lists.htm
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