digital transcription of its World War I collection of California soldiers’ photos, journals, and letters home. Transcribing the handwritten text on digitized documents and photos allows them to be searched online, expanding public access to invaluable materials that document the experiences of Californians who served in the First World War.Members of the public can access these files and join the transcription effort from anywhere there is internet service. This is a unique opportunity to participate in the library’s first crowdsourced transcription project.
Visit the collection at https://fromthepage.com/castatelibrary/world-war-i-collection The State Library also invites the public to visit the library to view California in World War I: 100th Anniversary of Armistice, a joint exhibit with the California Military Department and State Military Museum.
The exhibit features period arms, uniforms, division flags and insignias, and a gasmask manufactured to protect soldiers during combat – items on loan from the California State Military Museum and Center for Military History.
Archival materials from the State Library collection, including personal letters written by soldiers while overseas, diaries, photo albums, and photographs, are on view. The Memorial Vestibule on the first floor of the Library and Courts Building permanently commemorates the Californians who served in World War I.
California in World War I: 100th Anniversary of Armistice is open to the public through March 2019 during regular State Library hours, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm.
Source: CA. State Library
