State seeks public’s help transcribing historical documents

AUGUSTA — The Maine State Archives and Maine State Library launched the Digital Maine Transcription Project http://www.digitalmaine.net/projects/ this week, inviting the public to lend a hand in making Maine’s historical documents more accessible.

The volunteer transcription project works in conjunction with DigitalMaine at http://digitalmaine.com/ which hosts digitized items from all over the state. The website now gives users the option to type the contents of these historic documents, which will make them text-searchable, allowing researchers to easily find documents that reference a particular subject of interest. Additionally, having a typed version of these documents will make them accessible to those who cannot read cursive and to those with visual impairment, via computer programs that can read typed text aloud.

“It’s a different and new way for people to engage with the collections,” said Archivist II Heather Moran. “Transcription is a time-consuming process, but one that comes with great benefits.”

The Digital Maine Transcription Project is part of a greater goal of promoting access to the historic records of the state, and participation is greatly encouraged. Anyone who enjoys getting lost in Maine’s historical documents will find a treasure trove of information in the Digital Maine documents, and those who are willing to type while they read will be making a lasting impact in sharing Maine history with others.

“Spreading the work out to the public means that several people can each transcribe only a handful of pages and they will complete the work it would have taken our staffs maybe years to finish,” said Kate Herbert, project manager and employee of both MSA and MSL.

Staff members began planning for the project this past summer after learning about the enthusiastic public response to similar initiatives at the National Archives and the Smithsonian.

Currently available for transcription on the Digital Maine site are: Civil War hospital records, slavery and African-American history documents, militia records from the Revolutionary War and War of 1812; correspondence from the library’s Dahlov Ipcar collection (American painter, illustrator, and author), and town records. Archives and Library staff will update the site with new material as transcriptions are completed.

Participants simply create their own login to begin typing documents on the site, and can complete entire documents or parts of documents, depending on how much time they want to commit.

Public warned about business email scams
Maine’s Bureau of Financial Institutions is warning company owners and employees about Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams. Several banks in Maine have reported BEC attempts targeting their commercial customers.
“Business Email Compromise scams aren’t new, but their frequency and sophistication appear to be increasing,” Superintendent Lloyd LaFountain said. “Banks and credit unions have heightened their awareness about BEC scams, but it’s important for businesses-large and small-to know they can be targeted anytime.”
BEC scams, also referred to as CEO fraud, seek to obtain a wire transfer of money from an employee in the finance or Accounts Payables office of a business. This is done by sending an e-mail to the employee, or a series of messages, posing as a senior executive of the company. National reports indicate that the e-mails have become more convincing and more difficult to detect as being fraudulent. Additionally, some scammers are sending multiple messages over time to make sure they have the trust of their targets before asking for the wire transfer.
“Although some BEC attempts can be identified by closely reading the e-mail, these and other types of scams often evolve over time and become more difficult to recognize,” LaFountain said. “We live in an age when requests for money or for our personal information over the phone or through e-mail should be carefully evaluated and confirmed as being authentic.”
The Bureau of Financial Institutions encourages anyone receiving an e-mail requesting a wire transfer of funds to a vendor or other entity to double-check with the person requesting the transaction by speaking directly with that individual or sending a separate message to that person.
Additionally, the Bureau reminds all consumers to never give out their Social Security Number, banking or credit card numbers or other personal information unless they are certain the request is legitimate. Further, the Bureau reminds the public that most financial institutions and government agencies never make these requests through unsolicited e-mails or phone calls.
More information about financial scams and personal financial literacy is available on the Bureau’s website www.maine.gov/pfr/financialinstitutions. Assistance with questions, concerns or other issues involving banks or credit unions can also be obtained by calling 1-800-965-5235 (toll free in Maine) or 207-624-8570.