Footnote just keeps getting BIGGER and BETTER
Footnote.com first appeared on my monitor just about the time I was gearing up for my classroom project Reading Women’s Lives. It looked like a site with lots of potential, but I was a little wary of posting Arline’s personal correspondence online for all to read.
Fast-forward two and a half years and over 58 MILLION original historic documents — the growth and impact of Footnote is monumental. As a former English teacher, I am especially excited about Footnote’s potential for classroom interaction. I saw my last-semester Seniors come to life when they read and transcribed my grandmother’s original correspondence. In deciphering the archaic handwriting and colloquialisms, the students became more aware of early twentieth century culture. One question led to ten more, their personal response with the original documents drove the lessons each day.
Of course, any scholar or lover of history can interact with the documents as well; we can all be students again, excited by the discovery of learning. I am delighted to see Footnote’s partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration and can only imagine the future archive content, but it is exciting to think that my contributions of obituaries clipped from 100 years ago from Midwest newspapers can be used by other Footnote readers to help answer their family history questions. That’s truly collaborative learning.
Access to the 1930 US Census is available free of charge at Footnote.com throughout the month of August; and Footnote has also extended the special membership subscription rate of $59.95 until August 10. Go to Footnote.com for more details.
