Historical past Nebraska will identify its new digitization lab in Lincoln for Donald R. Swanson, following a $50,000 present to the Historical past Nebraska Basis from the Swanson Biggs Adams Household Basis. The lab can be named the Donald R. Swanson Digitization Laboratory and can be positioned inside Historical past Nebraska headquarters in Lincoln.
Swanson, who retired from Lincoln Phone & Telegraph Co. as secretary-treasurer in 1987, died in 2017.
He lengthy supported Historical past Nebraska, its reference room and the addition of historic expertise. The Swanson Biggs Adams Household Basis continued Swanson’s legacy of help with a present in 2021 to assist Historical past Nebraska in its efforts to make its collections accessible on-line.
Lately, Historical past Nebraska renovated the basement at its Lincoln headquarters and turned it right into a full-time digitization lab, which can now bear Swanson’s identify.
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“The Swanson Biggs Adams Household Basis has lengthy supported the archiving efforts that many Nebraskans rely on for genealogical analysis,” stated Libby Jacobs, president. “We’re happy to enhance entry to historic knowledge that the digitization lab supplies whereas, on the similar time, honoring the fervour that Donald Swanson had for Nebraska historical past.”
Tyler Vacha, govt director of the Historical past Nebraska Basis, stated the lab permits for a extra environment friendly digitization course of, supplies area for bigger tools to digitize the outsized objects in its archives, and elevated staffing.
Within the final 18 months, Historical past Nebraska digitized greater than 100,000 data in-house, and 13 million data have been digitized by means of Historical past Nebraska’s collaborations with exterior companions. But, Vacha stated, there are various hundreds of thousands extra remaining to digitize.
“With the brand new lab, Historical past Nebraska has the area so as to add vital tools and permit workers to higher coordinate and collaborate, resulting in elevated effectivity and sooner digitization,” he stated. “This beneficiant present from the Swanson Biggs Adams Basis aids Historical past Nebraska in offering entry to our archives, and allows Historical past Nebraska to really make Nebraska’s historical past open to all.
The Historical past Nebraska Basis, a 501(c)3 nonprofit group, is devoted to supporting and selling the mission and work of Historical past Nebraska. Historical past Nebraska Basis’s mission is to “unfold consciousness of Historical past Nebraska’s efforts and search monetary help from these with a ardour for Nebraska’s wealthy and various historical past.” All donations are tax-deductible to the complete extent of the legislation. For extra data, contact Vacha at tyler@historynebraskafoundation.org or 402-853-4282.