Library and Archives Canada Announces Completion of Canadian Expeditionary Force Digitization Project, Approximately 30 Million Pages Digitized

From Library and Archives Canada:

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.
*Although the number of files was estimated at 640,000, the final file count was 622,290. This is because for the project, LAC digitally linked the documents of soldiers who enlisted multiple times and therefore had more than one file.

Direct to Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) Website and Database
See Also: First World War Resources (via LAC)

Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Data Files, Digital Preservation, Libraries, News