Norfolk County Archives has launched a new online newspaper database, which includes Simcoe Reformer newspapers dating back more than a century.
Article content
For the last two years, archivists have been digitizing local newspapers using advanced scanning technology.
Supported, in part, by federal government funding, more than 60,000 pages, including those from the Reformer, the Waterford Star, the Delhi News Record and the Port Dover Maple Leaf, covering the years 1860 to 1971, have been uploaded to the platform.
“Newspapers are an important historical record in every community,” Joshua Klar, Norfolk County’s archivist, said in report approved by councilors in December. “These invaluable resources are now digitally preserved and much more accessible than they have ever been in their hardcopy format.”
Klar said in the first week of its launch, the database had 297 visits to the platform with more than 2,250 searches. The digitization of newspapers will continue into next year so new content can be added monthly.
Article content
“The database offers keyword searchable text, allowing users to easily explore Norfolk County’s rich history,” said a news release issued by the municipality.
In 2020, Norfolk County Archives acquired the entirety of the Simcoe Reformer’s newspaper archives dating from 1860 to 2010.
Staff began digitizing local newspapers in 2022 with the acquisition of a digital microfilm scanner. The following year, the archives acquired an overhead scanner now being used to digitize hardcopy-bound newspaper volumes.
About $2,000 was spent in 2024 from the county budget for the digitization.
The database is accessible through the Norfolk County Heritage and Culture website at norfolkheritage.ca or norfolkcountynewspapers.andornot.net/
Share this article in your social network