Early American Imprints, 1639-1819 (Evans and Shaw-Shoemaker) -- Online

Through 30 September we have a trial to Early American Imprints – the digital version. What is it? Please jump to the second paragraph. To access it go to the University Libraries' Trial Databases Page at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/freetrials.html (Early American Imprints is listed first) and click on the words click here. This is a trial for the UB community: patrons will need to enter their UB Card library number and password to retrieve the sign-on information to access the trial. Your UB Card library number is 14 numbers long and begins with 29072. Enter this complete number as your User Name (without dashes or spaces) and beneath it -- as your Password -- enter the first letter of your first name and the first letter of your last name, both capitalized. This will retrieve a screen that displays the special User Name and Password you must use to access the trial. Now click on the link above this information and use the given User Name and Password. (Please contact me if you have difficulty accessing the trial.) Note that the components that comprise Early American Imprints (Evans, 1639-1800 and Shaw-Shoemaker, 1801-1819) would cost us something approaching $200,000, to which must be added a $2,000 annual maintenance fee for each collection. Both are in progress. Nonetheless, this isn't unusual. These kinds of collections are increasingly coming to market and they are never inexpensive, but they are incredible in their potential. Disregard the price for a moment: Is this something we should hope for and "work" toward? Please comment.

For years the microform collection Early American Imprints -- covering American non-serial publications from 1639 through 1819 -- has been a vital resource for students of early America. Many of the major texts noted in the bibliographies (on which the collection is based) have been reprinted, and researchers wishing to use the entire collection in one easily accessed package have had the option of visiting Buffalo State's Butler Library, which holds the corresponding microform collection. This is a large collection in microform (actually microprint), and even larger in its digital edition. In total, nearly 75,000 items will be included (books, broadsides, pamphlets, government materials). Also included will be the works of European authors reprinted for the American book trade. Thousands of items not reproduced in the microform edition will be included in this edition. To be sure, the digital collection is convenient; but -- because of its search capabilities -- it is far more than that. For some researchers it promises to be revolutionary and transformative. Each item is thoroughly cataloged and the database is searchable by fields (title, subjects, genres, author, place of publication, publisher, year of publication). Further, the full text of each document is searchable using Boolean and proximity operators (and, or, not, adj, near). Wildcard searching is also supported -- this is actually critical for a period when Brown is Browne, clerk is cleark, and rails is rayls. Documents are displayed in facsimile and may be printed in multiple 25 page blocks (see the directions). Incidentally, the Help screens are excellent: clear, concise, and easily followed.

Early American Imprints is complemented by the American Periodicals Series Online http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/aps.html and Early English Books http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/eeb.html. The latter includes books published in the American colonies. Note that early American government documents are now available to the UB community through the U.S. Congressional Serial Set (1817-1980), with American State Papers (1789-1838) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/serial_set.html. Finally, in the future we will want to trial Early American Newspapers (1690-1876) http://www.readex.com/scholarl/earlamnp.html. Note that we hold this newspaper collection in microform, but the online version will be truly remarkable.

The man who began it all: Charles Evans accomplished what was assumed to be impossible and he did it without a computer! For a biography of Evans, visit the American National Biography http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/anbio.html

. . . with dim job prospects, and aged fifty-one, Evans decided to devote all his time to completing this project. His announcement of the imminent completion of volume one of The American Bibliography: A Chronological Dictionary of All Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America from the Genesis of Printing in 1639 Down to and Including the Year 1820 . . . was greeted with general skepticism. It was generally felt that such a massive undertaking would be beyond the capabilities of one who had not yet made a significant mark in bibliographical studies. However, Evans with immense determination and supreme self-confidence single-mindedly committed himself to the task. In addition to the scholarly work of identifying and annotating all citations, he assumed such practical tasks as selecting the paper and binding, finding the most economical printers, even mailing the orders and looking after the billing. Acquiring the money to finance each volume was an ongoing problem, with Evans continually striving to obtain loans and find sufficient subscribers. The first volume . . . was published in November 1903. – From the American National Biography