Blair County Genealogical Society seeks donations to digitize newspapers

Genealogical Society accepting funds to preserve area newspapers

To preserve local history, the Blair County Genealogical Society is accepting donations to digitize area newspapers, including many out-of-print publications.

After those newspapers are digitized in their library system, people can inquire for PDF newspaper clippings priced per page in person at the Genealogical Society and via email.

"There's tidbits about family that have gone missing, like a birthday party or a 50th wedding anniversary or a baptism," said Jim Snyder Jr., president of the Blair County Genealogical Society Inc.

He said the project costs $6,000 to digitize 14 newspapers.

Newspapers include: Bedford Gazette (1805-1809, 1832-1847, 1850-1855); Blair Press (1964-1980); Blair County Whig (1863-1866); Catholic Registered Mail Newsletter (1935-1952); Hollidaysburg Canal & Portage (1836-1839); Hollidaysburg Democratic Standard (1841-1843); Hollidaysburg Register (1849-1852, 1968-1971); Hollidaysburg Register & Blair Co. Inquirer (1846-1849); Hollidaysburg Register & Huntingdon Co. Inquirer (1839-1842, 1846-1849); Martinsburg Cove Echo (1872-1874); Morrisons Cove Herald (1885-2009); The Cove News (1942-1947); Tyrone Star (1858-1860, 1867-1871) and Williamsburg Temperance Vindicator (1868-1870).

Because these newspapers are already available to the society through microfilm, Snyder said IMR Digital will use a 35 millimeter frame and digitize them into PDF documents, making them available for digital access.

"We have read these newspapers, and everything is indexed," he said.

Meanwhile, they're also working on digitizing family Bibles which hold births, marriages and death dates. So far, they've already scanned 225 Bibles into PDF documents. People can also currently search for obituaries under Library Holdings on their website at https://bcgslibrary.org/obituaries/.

As local towns such as Martinsburg and Hollidaysburg will be celebrating 200 years within the next decade, Snyder said digitizing local papers can bring history into the hands of the next generation.

"We're trying to make it easier for everyone and expand our research capabilities," he said.

Donations can be made by check or via PayPal at their website: https://bcgslibrary.org/.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.