Saturday, June 13, 2009

Digital Vault

The Digital Vault website delivers a fluid and handsome exploration tool for mining the documents and photos stored within the archives of the United States. Click "continue" at lower righthandside to enter site and you can then delve into the collection by selecting documents you are shown. You can then fine tune the search to see items you are interested in such as military, music, politics etc.
The website is very well executed and will allow you to waste some time as you learn and explore.

A search feature is also available if you have specific interests and there is a the ability to create your own collection and do challenges called "Pathways". I put "music" in search and randomly clicked a result and was then faced with the "Statement of Intention" of Maria von Trapp of "Sound of Music" fame from her immigration to US from Salzburg, Austria. Now, I ask you, how often will you find something as unusual as that?

Take a look and see for yourself.