preservearchives:

Filled With Stories: The Homestead Records Digitization Project is a short film on how original records of those who claimed land under the Homestead Act of 1862 are being digitized. This video was done in partnership with Homestead National Monument of America and the National Archives and Records Administration. It discusses the digitization process from beginning to end and gives an in-depth look at how records are conserved by paper conservators before digitization. Our superstar staff Amy Lubick and Jackie Budell explain why records receive conservation before being digitized, and why it is safer not to wear white gloves when handling fragile paper records.

The National Archives Conservation Lab began preparing for this partnership digitization project in June 2009. Our conservators continue to work on this project today, with over 1500 certificates treated to date. The records are from the Bureau of Land Management, Homestead Final Certificates RG49.

(via todaysdocument)