Digitization of "Der Deutsche Correspondent"

Newspapers are important for providing genealogical information and historical context for family research. Marylanders with German heritage will soon have access to an invaluable resource with the digitization of the German-language newspaper, Der Deutsche Correspondent.

The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS) holds a significant collection of the paper, which contains approximately 84,000 pages contained in 98 bound volumes. It is almost complete from 1880 through 1918.

In partnership with the Charles Edward Hilgenberg Archives, the MdHS has currently digitized approximately 40,000 pages of the newspaper with the intent to create a digital archive.  While the images are not yet available, Dr. Gary B. Ruppert has published two volumes of translations and transcriptions covering five years of the newspaper; from 1879-1883. The first volume is entitled The German Correspondent, Baltimore, Maryland: Translation and Transcription of Death Notices & Obituaries, 1879-1883 and the second volume is entitled The German Correspondent, Baltimore, Maryland: Translation and Transcription of Marriages, Deaths and Selected Articles of Genealogical Interest, 1879-1883. These two volumes demonstrate the wealth of information to be found in this newspaper.

There is also a plan to digitize the Der Deutsche Correspondent newspaper from the Library of Congress’s microfilm copies. The University of Maryland Library’s spring edition of their Link newsletter indicated it will be a two-year project. The first images will be available on the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America website (www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov). 

Debra A. Hoffman, "Digitization of 'Der Deutsche Correspondent'," Ancestral Leaves, posted 8 March 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]