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Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Personnel Service Files

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:32 pm
by BFBSM
As of today, 581,553 of 640,000 files are available online in our Personnel Records of the First World War database. Please visit the Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Service Files page for more details on the digitization project.

Library and Archives Canada is digitizing the service files systematically, from box 1 to box 10686, which roughly corresponds to alphabetical order. Please note that over the years, the content of some boxes has had to be moved and, you might find that the file you want, with a surname that is supposed to have been digitized, is now located in another box that has not yet been digitized. So far, we have digitized the following files:

Latest box digitized: Box 9926 and last name Venables.
Please check the database regularly for new additions and if you still have questions after checking the database, you may contact us directly at 1-866-578-7777 for more assistance.
https://thediscoverblog.com/2018/04/15/ ... pril-2018/

Posted 15 April, 2018

Re: Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Personnel Service Files

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:40 pm
by Phil
Hot of the press I guess, I just checked this the other day and they were only at “Timson." Thanks for the update!

Update of May 2018

Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 12:22 pm
by BFBSM
As of today, 592,203 of 640,000 files are available online in our Personnel Records of the First World War database. Please visit the Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Service Files page for more details on the digitization project.

Library and Archives Canada is digitizing the service files systematically, from box 1 to box 10686, which roughly corresponds to alphabetical order. Please note that over the years, the content of some boxes has had to be moved and, you might find that the file you want, with a surname that is supposed to have been digitized, is now located in another box that has not yet been digitized. So far, we have digitized the following files:

Latest box digitized: Box 10117 and last name Waterous.
Please check the database regularly for new additions and if you still have questions after checking the database, you may contact us directly at 1-866-578-7777 for more assistance.
https://thediscoverblog.com/2018/05/15/ ... -may-2018/

Update of 15 June 2018

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:26 pm
by BFBSM
As of today, 601,736 of 640,000 files are available online in our Personnel Records of the First World War database. Please visit the Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Service Files page for more details on the digitization project.
Library and Archives Canada is digitizing the service files systematically, from box 1 to box 10686, which roughly corresponds to alphabetical order. Please note that over the years, the content of some boxes has had to be moved and, you might find that the file you want, with a surname that is supposed to have been digitized, is now located in another box that has not yet been digitized. So far, we have digitized the following files:
Latest box digitized: Box 10331 and last name Whittey.
Please check the database regularly for new additions and if you still have questions after checking the database, you may contact us directly at 1-866-578-7777 for more assistance.

https://thediscoverblog.com/2018/06/15/ ... june-2018/

Update as of 15 July 2018

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:27 pm
by BFBSM
As of today, 608,399 of 640,000 files are available online in our Personnel Records of the First World War database. Please visit the Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Service Files page for more details on the digitization project.

Library and Archives Canada is digitizing the service files systematically, from box 1 to box 10686, which roughly corresponds to alphabetical order. Please note that over the years, the content of some boxes has had to be moved and, you might find that the file you want, with a surname that is supposed to have been digitized, is now located in another box that has not yet been digitized. So far, we have digitized the following files:

Latest box digitized: Box 10449 and last name Wilson.
Please check the database regularly for new additions and if you still have questions after checking the database, you may contact us directly at 1-866-578-7777Call: 1-866-578-7777 for more assistance.
https://thediscoverblog.com/2018/07/15/ ... july-2018/

The Canadian Expeditionary Force digitization project is complete!

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:31 pm
by BFBSM
The Canadian Expeditionary Force digitization project is complete!
How does a cultural institution like Library and Archives Canada (LAC) complete a groundbreaking digital imaging project? By bringing together a great set of ingredients, of course! Blend a team of professionals. Add a dose of technological equipment and know-how. Mix dedication and hard work for five years. The satisfying result: a comprehensive research tool for Canadians and people around the world to use.

Before the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) document scanning could begin, over 260 kilograms of brass fasteners had to be carefully removed from the files. Then another team prepared the documents for scanning based on size and condition. This was followed by the actual digital imaging using various types of scanners. The CEF project was LAC’s largest digitization endeavour to date. At its peak, this project brought together more than 50 trained professionals.

With approximately 30 million pages digitized now that the project has come to an end, LAC has provided easy access to the records of 622,290* soldiers who enlisted in the CEF during the First World War. In addition, generating over half a petabyte of high-resolution still-image data enables LAC to better protect the documents themselves for future generations.
https://thediscoverblog.com/2018/08/15/ ... -complete/

Re: Digitization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Personnel Service Files

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 7:42 am
by Phil
That's great news!