Powerpoint accompanying a television appearance on Chronicling America and the Vermont Digital Newspaper Project in the spring of 2014. As well, you can also view this episode, and the 131 past episodes, through the Rutland Historical Society’s webpage by visiting this page: Historically Speaking. Then, click on the highlighted link, “Rutland Community Access PEGTV’s On Demand.” Type in “Historically Speaking” in the search box, and the episode will be listed.

1. BIRDIE MACLENNAN, PROJECT DIRECTOR
ERENST ANIP, PROJECT LIBRARIAN
KARYN NORWOOD, DIGITAL SUPPORT
University of Vermont Libraries

2. VERMONT DIGITAL NEWSPAPER
PROJECT (VTDNP) - BACKGROUND
 Part of the National Digital Newspaper Program
 A partnership between
State Projects
 NEH funds state projects in 2 year cycles
 States form Advisory Board to select & digitize ~100,000 pages of historical newspapers
(1836-1922) for LC’s Chronicling America website
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

3. COLLABORATION THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS http://library.uvm.edu/vtnp/

4. WHAT’S AVAILABLE?
36 states funded; 7 million + pages available
 VTDNP Phase 1 (2010-2012)  100,000 pages added
 VTDNP Phase 2 (2012-2014)  100,000 pages in the works!
http://rutlandhistory.com
• Historical Resources
• Rutland Newspapers
• Digitized issues ….
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

5. USES, TIPS & TRICKS
Let’s see some more examples!
News of a horrific fire and the immediate
rebuilding plan of a factory in Burlington were
detailed in great depth in the Burlington Weekly
Free Press on May 2, 1918.
Topics, periods, notable people, economics, politics, culture, history, science, literature,
architecture, local history--pretty much something for everyone!

6. THE CASE OF VIRO SMALL,
A.K.A. “BLACK SAM”
Burlington Weekly Free Press,
January 3, 1879, page 4.
www.blackamericaweb.com
Only 1 result, but a new discovery!
What is known about him?
• Born in 1854 in Buford, South
Carolina into slavery.
• One of the first black wrestlers in
the country.
• Lived in and fought out of Rutland &
St. Albans, Vermont for a time.
• A champion collar-and-elbow
wrestler. Won Vermont’s collar-and-
elbow championship twice. Won at
least 63 matches in ten years.
• Last known match was in 1885.

7. Other Search Parameters:
• All States and a Basic Search
for “Viro Small”
• Advanced Search for
Phrases: “Viro Small” and
“Black Sam” and Years
1870-1890
• Advanced Search: Trying
alternate names of “Samuel
Hackett” and “Samuel
Hadley” with wrestling.
• Advanced Search: Including
any words: wrestling, black,
collar, wrestling, match.

8. The Evening World, NYC, December 15,
1888, page 2.
The Sun, NYC, September 4, 1882, page 1.
The Sun, NYC, April 24, 1883, page 1.
Another new
discovery!
Recovered
and fighting
again in less
than a year.
New York Tribune, February 18, 1883, page 12.

9. GENEALOGY SEARCHES
Why are local newspapers useful for the genealogist?
• Local news
• Marriages & deaths
• Participant lists (military recruitments, parties,
organizations, meetings, etc.)
• Advertisements
• Social & political functions
• Local individual updates
• Legal notices

10. Diversify Your Search Terms
& Expand/Narrow Search Parameters
1. Try the full name, first and middle initial and last name (e.g.,
W.D. Barrows), maiden name, or just a last name. Consider that
first names might be abbreviated (Chas. for Charles). A woman
usually was identified by her husband’s first and last name.
2.Try searching also schools, affiliated organizations, street
names, family businesses, military regiments.
3. Historic vocabulary: Words have changed! Try “nuptial”
instead of “marriage” or “proprietor” or “dealer” instead of
“owner” or “business.”
4. Consider typos & spelling variations & technology restrictions
(the search software is NOT PERFECT).
5. Do attempt advanced searches.
An excerpt from the “Business Cards” section of
the Vermont Daily Transcript from 1868, which
contains now uncommonly used words such as
proprietor, dealer, dry goods, notions, and
chancery.

11. VERMONT MARBLE
- ROCK SOLID HISTORY!
The Rutland Daily Globe, 09
June 1873. p. 3.
The Rutland Daily Globe, 10
May 1873 – front page.
The Bennington Banner, 20 August
1891, suppl, p. 6.
Finding these in
Chronicling America

12. MARBLE INDUSTRY
AND THE PROCTOR FAMILY
The San Francisco call. (San
Francisco [Calif.]), 06 Sept.
1901. p. 7. The New York Daily Tribune, 23 June
1906. p. 54, feature article.

13. SOCIAL MEDIA & OUTREACH:
BRINGING THE PAST TO THE
PEOPLE
http://www.pinterest.com/vtdnp/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vtdnp/

14. …MORE WAYS TO FIND US:
WEBSITE: http://library.uvm.edu/vtnp/