Updates on digitization

Published: Jun 17, 2012

It is an exciting time at Spectator, as we make great strides in our effort to digitize every volume of the paper. Through digitization, we are preserving the stories of our past and building a foundation for the future. In addition to preserving the history of Spectator and Columbia, digitization serves as a valuable tool for the paper’s staff, making it significantly easier to access information for historical pieces and features.

Thanks to Ernest Brod, Bernard Nussbaum, and the class of 1958, who last year kicked-started this project with a $25,000 contribution, we have finally made the archive digitization a reality. So far we have digitized the 925 editions from 1953 to 1961.  Our ultimate goal is to digitize every edition from 1877 to the present in an online searchable database. We have already raised $30,000 for our digitization efforts, but still have a lot of work to do before reaching our $75,000 goal—the cost of digitizing all past editions of Spectator.

With the generous support of our alumni, family, and friends, completing the digitization project in the near future is more than just feasible. As [Editor in Chief] Sarah Darville noted, “We are completely capable of closing the deal on digitization within the next year.” Help us preserve the history of Spectator by making a general donation to the digitization fund or by supporting your class year. Click here to make a contribution today.