USS Essex Log Book Project IV: Editing/Transcription

The USS Essex Log Book Project IV: Editing/Transcription is a continuation of the USS Essex Log Books Digitization Pilot Project (3491L-10-RA), where the files used in this project were produced, and the USS Essex Log Book Projects II and III: Editing/Transcription (3932L-11-RA, 1211-13137) where 5 log books were edited and transcribed. The purpose of this project was to edit RAW images of two USS Essex log books into .tif files and transcribe the type-written log book pages into searchable and accessible .pdf files. The 2 log books date from 1.3.1918-12.31.1918 (#60), and 1.1.1919-6.30.1919 (#61). During the image editing process that utilized Graphic Converter software with batch capability and Adobe LightRoom, metadata for each image was recorded in an Excel spreadsheet file, data easily obtained from the image file itself. The resulting .tif files were combined into .pdf files and uploaded to the Internet Archive for free downloading - the files are very large due to the size of the log books, even using compression. The individual .tif files for book 60 total 38 GB (879 files) and book 61 totals 17 GB (417 files). Project transcribers used the .tif files for reference to create transcribed versions of the log books using Miscrosoft Word, following the guidelines set forth in Transcribing Manuscripts: Rules Worked Out by the Minnesota Historical Society. The list of rules that were determined to fit this project and set forth in the grant proposal were followed throughout the transcription process of the two type-written log books. One set of transcriptions was required for this project, agreed upon by MNHS staff Joe Hooever. Project proofreaders proofread the transcriptions, making corrections and annotations where necessary. A final version of each transcribed log book was saved and uploaded to the Internet Archive, free for downloading (see attached files). A list of pertinent tags is connected to the Internet Archive versions of the two log books that includes other US Navy vessels the USS Essex encountered and other keywords that researchers, historians, and geneaologists would find useful. The target for this project - the editing and transcribing of USS Essex Log Books 60 and 61 and their uploading to the Internet Archive to ensure public access - has been achieved. The maritime background of MHM's project staff's ability to decipher the nautical acronyms in the log books made the work progress without difficulty and allowed the production of the transcribed log books