Originally posted on BMH Editor’s Blog June 8, 2012.

The summer issue of the Brethren Digital Archives News has been delivered to inboxes around the country.

The newsletter includes information about publications from the Brethren movement that have been archived at the Internet Archive.

Hard copies of the newsletter will also be available at Brethren conferences in the U.S. this summer.

The mission of the Brethren Digital Archives is to digitize some or all of the periodicals produced from the beginning of publication to the year 2000 by each of the Brethren bodies who trace their origin to the baptism near Schwarzenau, Germany in 1708. Groups participating in the collaborative effort include the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, the Conservative Grace Brethren International, the Church of the Brethren, the Dunkard Brethren, the Old German Baptist Brethren (New Conference), the Old German Baptist Brethren, and colleges, libraries, and archives affiliated with those groups.

Photo by Liz Cutler Gates

The Brethren Digital Archives group met April 23, 2012, at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookeville, Ohio. The project is entering into a Phase 2 of digitizing historical Brethren periodicals.

The Brethren Digital Archives committee met on April 23 at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookeville, Ohio. The group is guiding a project to digitize Brethren periodicals and publications.

Periodicals to be scanned for the archive from the Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) in the next phase of the project include “The Brethren’s Missionary Visitor,” “Der Bruderbote,” “The Gospel Messenger,” and the “Progressive Christian.” Other periodicals will be scanned from various institutions, including Bridgewater (Va.) College and Elizabethtown (Pa.) College.

The most extensive undertaking will be “The Gospel Messenger,” which is bound by year in 82 volumes, many of which are oversized. The group also hopes to include the various Brethren almanacs in the digitization project at some point in the future.

This is the second phase of periodicals to be digitized. The hope is to scan from originals, as in Phase 1, but some periodicals may have to be scanned from microfilm.

Check out the publications already available in the online archive at http://archive.org/details/brethrendigitalarchives . Periodicals can be read online, or downloaded in a variety of forms including PDF. The text is searchable, and there is an audio component to hear the text read out loud.

Some funds remain from Phase 1, but additional fundraising efforts will be needed to meet the needs of this next phase. The committee plans to meet again in March of next year.

– Virginia Harness is archival intern for the Brethren Historical Library and Archives at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.

Originally posted on the BMH Editor’s Blog April 24, 2012.

The Brethren Digital Archives committee met on Monday, April 23.

As the first phase of digitizing historic Brethren publications nears completion, the Brethren Digital Archives committee met Monday in Brookville, Ohio. The Brethren Heritage Center hosted the meeting.

The group reviewed the list of publications yet to be scanned and made plans to be certain the work is accomplished. They also discussed promoting the project among the cooperating groups. While much of the effort has been funded through a grant from Lyrasis, the nation’s largest regional membership organization for libraries and information professionals, additional monies still need to be raised to complete this first phase.

Digitized Brethren Periodicals Dating from 1851 to 2000

—-Volunteers Needed! —-

Review each digitized page on-line at www.archives.org for:

• Missing pages
• Pages in correct order
• Correct metadata
• Image quality

Each volunteer will be assigned a periodical and date range to review.

To offer assistance with this very important work, please contact BDA coordinator Eric Bradley, eric AT ericbradley DOT com to register.

May God bless you!

On online archives of Brethren publications from the mid-19th century to the year 2000 is nearing reality as the Brethren Digital Archives committee met on Monday, March 28 at Winona Lake, Ind. With more than $15,000 in hand the group is ready to begin scanning the first set of old documents, many of which are crumbling on library shelves.

At today’s meeting, the group made plans to begin delivering publications to scanning centers by early summer. They have partnered with Lyrasis, the nation’s largest regional membership organization for libraries and information professionals, to see the venture completed. It is hoped to scan 22 periodicals and 10 almanacs that are attributed to the Brethren movement as part of this first phase. The final documents will be available at no charge on the Internet Archive.

Included in this project are publications attributed to the Grace Brethren movement: the Brethren Missionary Herald magazine, which published from 1939 to 1996 and two academic journals published by Grace Theological Seminary, Grace Journal (1960-1973), and Grace Theological Journal (1980-1991).

The Brethren Digital Archives committee met today at CE National in Winona Lake, Ind.

A second phase will begin as soon as funds are raised. This will include oversized publications and ones that are not bound, which is a requirement of the grant under which the first phase is being done.

If you would like to donate to the archives project, donations may be sent to the Brethren Missionary Herald Company, Box 544, Winona Lake, Ind., 46590, or the Brethren Heritage Center, 428 Wolf Creek St. Suite No. H1, Brookville, OH 45309-1297. Be sure to designate Brethren Digital Archives with your gift.

Volunteers are also needed to check the accuracy of the documents once they are scanned. If you would like to help, call the Brethren Heritage Center at (937) 833-5222 or email mail@brethrenheritagecenter.org.

BDA Newsletter 1.1

Welcome to the first edition of the newsletter for the Brethren Digital Archives.

We are representatives of the various groups that trace our spiritual heritage  to Alexander Mack and have partnered to create a digital archive of our various  publications.

This newsletter will be sent regularly to individuals who are interested in this important project. If you would like to receive it via email, please register with your email address at our website, brethrendigitalarchives.org.

For immediate release (September 22, 2010)
For more information, contact Larry E Heisey, leheisey@gmail.com, (937) 339-1995
Photos are available. Contact Liz Gates, lcgates@bmhbooks.com, to access the online archive.

Archives Project to Move 19th Century Documents into the 21st Century

A 1911 issue of The Gospel Messenger, the official publication of the Church of the Brethren.

Moving the 19th century into the 21st century might seem an impossible task, but the Brethren Digital Archives hopes to accomplish just that by making available digital copies of old printed publications, some that date back to 1854.

The group plans an online archive of newspapers, magazines, journals, and almanacs produced by the various Brethren groups that trace their spiritual heritage to Alexander Mack and the baptism of eight believers in Schwarzenau, Germany in 1708. The documents to be included in the project span the years 1854 to 2000.

The Brethren Digital Archives committee has partnered with Lyrasis, the nation’s largest regional membership organization serving libraries and information professionals, to create an online archive of Brethren documents printed in the U.S. from the mid-1800s to 2000. Grant funds make it possible to scan these publications at a rate far below the original $150,000 estimate. Now it is hoped to complete the project, including oversized documents, for approximately $50,000.

Much of this funding must be raised before the end of the year, to ensure the project gets underway. The grant which makes the costs so attractive runs out at the end of 2010 and while there is hope the grant will be extended, there is no promise. Gifts to the project may be made through the Brethren Heritage Center, 428 Wolf Creek St., Suite H1, Brookville, OH 45309-1297. (Be sure to specify Brethren Digital Archives with your gift.)

Meeting of the Brethren Digital Archives committee at Brookville, Ohio, September 13, 2010.

There are also volunteer opportunities for individuals to help check the accuracy of the documents once they are scanned. If you are able to help, call the Brethren Heritage Center at (937) 833-5222.

The committee requests prayer for the project, as well, asking that the work would be completed well and in a timely fashion. They also want to be good stewards of the funds that have been provided for the work that is to be done.

Plans are being made to scan the following documents and make them available on the Web:
• Ashland Theological Journal (1981-2000)
• Bible Monitor (1922-2000)
• Christian Family Companion (1865-1873)
• Christian Family Companion and Gospel Visitor (1874-1875)
• Der Brüderbote (1875-1877)
• Der Brüderbote (1880-1892)
• Der Evangelische Besuch (1852-1861)
• Grace Journal (1960-1973)
• Grace Theological Journal (1980-1991)
• Messenger (1965-2000)
• Schwarzenau (1939-1942)
• The Brethren at Work (1876-1883)
• The Brethren Evangelist (1885-2000) and The Brethren’s Evangelist (1883-1884)
• The Brethren Missionary Herald (1939-1996)
• The Brethren’s Missionary Visitor (1894-1896)
• The Gospel Messenger (1883-1964)
• The Gospel Preacher (1879-1882)
• The Gospel Visitor (1857-1873) and The Monthly Gospel-Visitor (1851-1856)
• The Inglenook (1900-1913)
• The Missionary Visitor (1902-1930)
• The Pilgrim (1870-1871 & 1875-1876) and The Weekly Pilgrim (1872-1874)
• The Pilgrim (1954-2000)
• The Primitive Christian (1876 & 1880-1883) and The Primitive Christian and Pilgrim (1876-1879)
• The Progressive Christian (1878-1882)

In addition, almanacs published by Brethren groups in the late 19th century will be included. So far, this includes:
• The Brethren’s Almanac (Holsinger, 1871-1874)
• Pilgrim Almanac (Brumbaughs, 1873-1874)
• The Brethren Family Almanac (Brumbaughs & Quinter who had purchased Holsinger, 1875)
• Brethren’s Almanac (Brumbaugh’s & Quinter, 1876-1879)
• The Brethren’s Family Almanac (1880-1917, ‘s dropped in 1903)
• Brethren Annual (started by Holsinger about 1884 with almanac format until 1915-1924)
• The Brethren’s Family Almanac, 1875, J. Quinter
• The Brethren’s Annual For the Year of Grace, 1885 (Holsinger)
• Our Almanac and Annual Register, 1880, 1883, 1885 (Kurtz)
• The Brethren at Work, Almanac and Annual Register for All The People, 1882, Brethren At Work Steam Printing House

Some of the Brethren Digital Archives committee (left to right): Liz Cutler Gates, Brethren Missionary Herald; Darryl Filbrun, Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference; Gary Kochheiser, Conservative Grace Brethren; Steve Bayer, Old German Baptist Brethren; Paul Stump, Brethren Heritage Center; Eric Bradley, Morgan Library, Grace College and Seminary; Larry Heisey, Brethren Heritage Center. Seated, Shirley Frick, Bible Monitor.

The Brethren Digital Archives is a collaborative effort of publishers, libraries, and archives affiliated with the various branches of the Brethren movement. Partners in the project are:
• Bethany Theological Seminary / Lilly Library
• Ashland University / Library / Brethren Church / Archives
• Brethren Church / The Brethren Evangelist
• Brethren Heritage Center
• Brethren Historical Library and Archives
• Brethren Journal Association / Brethren Life & Thought
• Bridgewater College / Alexander Mack Library
• Grace College and Seminary / Morgan Library
• Church of the Brethren / Messenger
• Conservative Grace Brethren / The Voice Newsletter
• Dunkard Brethren / Bible Monitor
• Elizabethtown College / High Library / Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies
• Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches / Brethren Missionary Herald
• Juniata College / Beeghly Library
• Manchester College Archives and Brethren Historical Collection / Funderburg Library
• McPherson College / Miller Library
• Old German Baptist Brethren Church New Conference / The Testimony
• Old German Baptist Brethren Church / The Vindicator
• Old Brethren / The Pilgrim

For more information, see brethrendigitalarchives.org.

The Archives committee hopes to create a digital record of documents produced by the various Brethren groups that trace their spiritual heritage to Alexander Mack.

Meeting Monday, September 13, at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, the committee made further plans to partner to Lyrasis to create an online archive of documents printed in the mid-1800s to 2000. Grant funds make it possible to scan these publications at a rate far below the original $150,000 estimate. Now it is hoped to complete the project, including oversized documents, for approximately $50,000.

Much of this funding needs to be raised before the end of the year, to ensure the project gets underway. The grant which makes the costs so attractive runs out at the end of 2010 and while there is hope the grant will be extended, there is no promise. Gifts to the project may be made through the Brethren Missionary Herald Company, Box 544, Winona Lake, Ind., or the Brethren Heritage Center, 428 Wolf Creek St., Suite No. H1, Brookville, OH 45309-1297. (Be sure to specify Brethren Digital Archives with your gift.)

There are also volunteer opportunities for individuals to help check the accuracy of the documents once they are scanned. If you are able to help, contact the Brethren Heritage Center at 937-833-5222.

The committee requests prayer for the project, as well, asking that the work would be completed well and in a timely fashion. They also want to be good stewards of the funds that have been provided for the work that is to be done.

Plans are being made to scan the following documents and make them available on the Web:

Ashland Theological Journal
Bible Monitor (1922-2000)
Christian Family Companion (1865-1873)
Christian Family Companion and Gospel Visitor (1874-1875)
Der Brüderbote (1875-1877)
Der Brüderbote (1880-1892)
Der Evangelische Besuch (1852-1861)
Grace Journal (1960-1973)
Grace Theological Journal (1980-1991)
Messenger (1965-2000)
Schwarzenau (1939-1942)
The Brethren at Work (1876-1883)
The Brethren Evangelist (1885-2000) and The Brethren’s Evangelist (1883-1884)
The Brethren Missionary Herald (1939-1996)
The Brethren’s Missionary Visitor (1894-1896)
The Gospel Messenger (1883-1964)
The Gospel Preacher (1879-1882)
The Gospel Visitor (1857-1873) and The Monthly Gospel-Visiter (1851-1856)
The Inglenook (1900-1913)
The Missionary Visitor (1902-1930)
The Pilgrim (1870-1871 & 1875-1876) and The Weekly Pilgrim (1872-1874)
The Pilgrim (1954-2000)
The Primitive Christian (1876 & 1880-1883) and The Primitive Christian and Pilgrim (1876-1879)
The Progressive Christian (1878-1882)

In addition, almanacs published by Brethren groups in the late 19th century will be included. So far, this includes:

The Brethren’s Almanac (Holsinger, 1871-1874)
Pilgrim Almanac (Brumbaughs, 1873-1874)
The Brethren Family Almanac (Brumbaughs & Quinter who had purchased Holsinger, 1875)
Brethren’s Almanac (Brumbaugh’s & Quinter, 1876-1879)
The Brethren’s Family Almanac (1880-1917, ‘s dropped in 1903)
Brethren Annual (started by Holsinger about 1884 with almanac format until 1915-1924)
The Brethren’s Family Almanac, 1875, J. Quinter
The Brethren’s Annual For the Year of Grace 1885 (Holsinger)
Our Almanac and Annual Register, 1880, 1883, 1885 (Kurtz)
The Brethren at Work, Almanac and Annual Register for All The People, 1882, Brethren At Work Steam Printing House

The Brethren Digital Archives is a collaborative effort of publishers, libraries, and archives affiliated with the various branches of the Brethren movement.  For more information, see Brethren Digital Archives.

Portions from BMH Editor’s Blog

The effort to digitize Brethren publications and to make them available on the World Wide Web moved forward on Monday (August 1) as the Brethren Digital Archives committee met in Brookville, Ohio.

The committee includes representatives of groups that trace their spiritual heritage to Alexander Mack and a group of eight believers who were baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708.

At Monday’s meeting, the group decided to partner with Lyrasis, the nation’s largest regional membership organization serving libraries and information professionals, to scan more than 26 of the most significant publications. Once scanned, they will be available at no charge in a searchable digital format on archive.org.

Total cost of this project is estimated at $35,000, but because of a grant that has been received, it is far less than the original $150,000 originally estimated to complete this portion of the project.

Portions from BMH Editor’s Blog