Montana State Historic Preservation Office
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MHS/SHPO Supports the Project
Copy of E-mails, Feb. 8, 2007
Hello Rolene, Mark, and Richard,
Many thanks for your support. We're quite excited about this and will work hard to make it happen.
Mark asked:
> I'm curious to know what currently exists in the way of a GIS cadastral system for the Butte-Anaconda-Walkerville NHL that links to Butte archives or other historical info. Is their currently some kind of map searching capability and who has access to it?
Ellen Crain's archival database (in MS Access) is linked to the BSB GIS cadastral system. Exactly how, I don't know, but that will be among the first things for our Computer Technology group to work on - figuring out how to interface with both. Actually, I'm certain that we will have a conceptual map of how to do that long before the grant is awarded (if it is). Ellen and the Archives are the most critical collaborators, and she is fully supportive.
Mark asked:
> As far as a demonstration proposal, I think it would be nice to apply it to another Montana NHLDs.
That is my thought as well. The main reason for including a few (say, 10) other sites scattered across the country is that it looks better to Google Earth to have spatial separation rather than "just" 6000 spots in Butte. We think that may enhance the possibility of Google Earth embracing it so that our features are automatically included in "everyone's" Google Earth. Without that, the way it would work is people would come to our site, download our file, which upon opening would call the user's Google Earth and our stuff would be there - but just for those who have downloaded our file.
Mark asked:
> One important piece for the applicants to address will be maintenance of the system
This will be covered to the degree possible by, at a minimum, my own continued participation (read: maintenance) without pay after the grant term is completed.
Thanks very much!! We will keep you appraised of developments, of course, and any additional comments are always welcome.
cheers dick
Message from Schliesman, Rolene 2/8/2007
- [Original Message]
- From: Schliesman, Rolene <rschliesman@mt.gov>
- To: Richard I. Gibson <rigibson@earthlink.net>
- Date: 2/8/2007 2:21:24 PM
- Subject: FW: Butte CPR grant plan - Virtual Historic Butte
Hi Dick,
It's a go! Nice job!
Would you email Mark about his comments below? His email address is mbaumler@mt.gov and the director's is rsims@mt.gov.
Congratulations.
Rolene
Message from Baumler, Mark 2/8/2007
- -----Original Message-----
- From: Baumler, Mark
- Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 2:16 PM
- To: Sims, Richard; Schliesman, Rolene
- Cc: Shovers, Brian
- Subject: RE: Butte CPR grant plan - Virtual Historic Butte
It's a green light from me too. Montana lags well-behind in these spatial databases - especially user-friendly, public ones. Not sure what our contribution would be exactly (access to records/files?) but our support as friends and collaborators is ensured. In addition to library/archives, don't forget NR signs too.
This would be a fitting culmination to the many years of effort and support SHPO put into the NHL revision with others.
I'm curious to know what currently exists in the way of a GIS cadastral system for the Butte-Anaconda-Walkerville NHL that links to Butte archives or other historical info. Is their currently some kind of map searching capability and who has access to it?
As far as a demonstration proposal, I think it would be nice to apply it to another Montana NHL. Much more likely to find future support on a state basis (ie tourism, NPS, FWP). It seems unlikely that Butte would become a national repository - which doesn't mean it shouldn't promote this application as a model for other states to benefit from.
One important piece for the applicants to address will be maintenance of the system - some commitment to ongoing updating of Virtual Historic Butte even if only on a limited basis or as information is provided to them in linkable format.
Mark MTSHPO
Message from Sims, Richard 2/8/2007
- -----Original Message-----
- From: Sims, Richard
- Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:25 AM
- To: Schliesman, Rolene; Baumler, Mark
- Subject: RE: Butte CPR grant plan - Virtual Historic Butte
Yes, I am ready to help as well. I met some of those folks. Good workers.
Message from Schliesman, Rolene 2/8/2007
- -----Original Message-----
- From: Schliesman, Rolene
- Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 10:55 AM
- To: Baumler, Mark; Sims, Richard
- Subject: FW: Butte CPR grant plan - Virtual Historic Butte
Mark and Richard,
This is an invitation to collaborate with Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization. They are an advocacy group that has been making many positive changes in Butte. They roll up their sleeves and re-roof buildings, host fun and successful fundraisers for their cause, and have helped us tremendously in efforts for a new preservation ordinance in their community. Also they were one of our statewide Preservation Award winners last biennium.
The attached proposal is in draft stage. You will note Dick proposes to include MHS for $11,000. This is not a request for funding, rather it is the amount proposed FOR the Montana Historical Society.
I think this is a worthy project and a fabulous outreach possibility. Please let me know if I can be of help.
Rolene
Message from Richard I. Gibson 2/8/2007
- [Original Message]
- From: Richard I. Gibson <rigibson@earthlink.net>
- To: Brian Shovers <bshovers@mt.gov>; Rolene Schliesman <rschliesman@mt.gov>
- Date: 2/6/2007 10:47:30 AM
- Subject: Butte CPR grant plan - Virtual Historic Butte
Dear Brian and Rolene -
Butte CPR (instigated by me) is planning to apply for a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create "Virtual Historic Butte". The summary goal is:
To create a digital, cutting-edge, user-friendly framework for access to information on the 6,015 contributing properties in the Butte-Anaconda-Walkerville National Historic Landmark District for researchers, students, and the general public. The interface would incorporate Google Earth style technology, as well as ultimately WikiMedia interactivity. Long-term goal (Phase 2) is to have this project serve as both a model and a central repository for similar information provided by all NHLs and NHLDs in the nation. For the current project, in addition to Butte, we would create a demonstration-level inclusion of information on selected additional NHLs or NHLDs around the country.
I'm attaching the draft proposal (we are presently working on the 25-page narrative and tweaking the budget - e.g., I think that MHS should be higher, and the Butte libraries lower dollar figures). What I seek is your expression of interest in collaborating. I was not sure which of you, or both, would be the right ones to approach, hence both! Any other input or comments would of course be welcome as well. The most important collaborator would be the Butte Archives, and Ellen has already expressed support and interest, but a range of collaborations will not only enhance the project, but will admirably fulfill the stated goals for projects that the NEH wants to support in this IMLS/NEH digital initiative. I'm really excited about it. Even though the idea came from "Virtual Historic Savannah," I know that our plan to use Google Earth as the driver and Wiki-style connectivity to other NHLs will be vastly easier to use than the Savannah project (10 minutes+ to get to, even on DSL broadband).
Thanks for your time!
Best regards,
dick
