[This story has been updated to correct the name of ArcaSearch, which was misspelled in an earlier version.]
History survives through artifacts, but in the face of fire, flood, and deterioration, the artifacts themselves can struggle to arrive to the present day. The Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s Office and the Fifth Judicial District Court are making efforts to preserve historic county records through a sweeping digitization project. ArcaSearch, a digital archiving firm based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, will scan and digitize nearly 320 volumes of documents between the two offices and ensure their preservation for decades to come.
“In school, I wish I’d paid more attention in history, but this job in itself is a history course,” said ArcaSearch traveling team member Rod Kaiser. “Seeing these documents shows you how different life used to be.”
