Internet resources: British historians get access to special search engine

In March 2011 scholars and history buffs will get an access to the new search system on the Internet. The portal will be developed within the framework of the project “Connected History”. 

The “Connected History” project will link up currently separate databases of source materials and give academics or members of the public a single site that lets them search all the collections. Once completed the search engine will index digitized books, newspapers, manuscripts, genealogical records, maps and images that date from 1500-1900.

Currently 12 institutions have signed up to contribute their collections but more are expected to join in the future. The initial partners include the Institute of Historical Research, the University of Hertfordshire and King's College, London.  The University of Sheffield is heading the project.

Much of the work involved in the “Connected Histories” project will be tagging and annotating entries so classification systems are standardized, thus it will simplify data retrieval. Professor Robert Shoemaker from the University of Sheffield clarified that the scientists were trying to provide a level of structured searching by names, places and dates. He also added that some educational institutions had already revamped their libraries to meet the requirements of the search engine.