19th Century News Coming Online

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19th Century News Coming Online

Posted by michael on Saturday June 12, 2004 @05:30AM from the datamining dept.

mfh writes "The BBC is reporting that approximately a million news stories from the 19th century are going online. The project will cost roughly $3.6 mil USD (converted from UK pounds) and include 100 years of news and images from publications that are no longer copyright protected, and currently only available at the Newspaper Library in Colindale, North London. 52000 newspapers and magazines will be included and the project should take 18 months to complete. This is good news for Slashdotters, as this online archival project will provide a plethora of background material for articles and comments, and possibly pave the way for better online library projects with more current material."

22 of 185 comments (clear)

Ye Olde Slashdott by Anonymous Coward · 2004-06-12 05:31 · Score: 5, Funny

... approximately a million news stories from the 19th century are going online ... This is good news for Slashdotters ...

This story is a dupe: http://yeoldeslashdott/article.asm?yere=1842&monet h=Junius&sid=-524841
Dupes by Anonymous Coward · 2004-06-12 05:32 · Score: 4, Funny

I just hope we don't start getting dupes from 1859 around here...
1. Re:Dupes by sentientbeing · 2004-06-12 07:04 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yeah imagine the science and tech news though.
  
  In todays news
  A loose organisation of gentlemen alchemists are currently awaiting a funding decision for research into the recently discovered "philosphers stone".
  A succesful working model of the stone has been built in london and commentators estimate the stone being able to convert 500lbs of lead into gold within the year.
  
  international news from the colonies, an american team based in arizona are currently building a large cannon in preparation for the manned trip to the moon.
  "Our steam powered cannon is almost complete and we are currently packing the hollowed-out-cannonball with food and weapons"
  
  "we will also be equipping the lunasphere with cotton wool face masks to prevent any contamination from the noxious fume which is rumoured to surround the moon"
  
  the masks are tied around the face of the lunanauts with silk ribbons provided by the womens institute.
  
  no mention is reported how the explorers intend to return to earth.
  
  --
  
  ------
  beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
slashdot.... by mikeeeeeee · 2004-06-12 05:39 · Score: 2, Funny

the ultimate source of yesterday's news
Anyone ever read a small town newspaper? by iXiXi · 2004-06-12 05:44 · Score: 5, Funny

I hope these stories aren't like the small town papers I used to read growing up in the Appalacian Valley. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith had dinner at old widow Jackson's house Sunday after church meeting. Her leg is healing fine. They sat around and watched Andy Griffith reruns and ate collard greens n' such." ..some of these small towns seem to be stuck in the 19th century. So, I would expect the mentality of the writers and editors of the 19th century to be similar.
1. Re:Anyone ever read a small town newspaper? by Esion+Modnar · 2004-06-12 05:51 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  seem to be stuck in the 19th century. So, I would expect the mentality of the writers and editors of the 19th century to be similar.
  Yes. I would say that writers and editors of the 19th century would be, by necessity, stuck in the 19th century.
  Just as I seem to be stuck in the 21st century. Dammit, where's my helicopter belt?
  
  --
  
  They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
Page 3 anyone? by colonslashslash · 2004-06-12 05:45 · Score: 4, Funny

52000 free editions of Page 3 coming our way? Excellent!
For non-UK ./'ers, Page 3 is a page in one of our more popular tabloids, The Sun, that publishes a large picture of a semi-naked lady every day. In fact, Page 3 is the only reason anyone ever buys The Sun.

--
She's built like a steak house, but she handles like a bistro....
1. Re:Page 3 anyone? by Esion+Modnar · 2004-06-12 05:54 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  19th century Page 3: All the exposed ankle your heart can stand.
  
  --
  
  They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
2. Re:Page 3 anyone? by julesh · 2004-06-12 06:05 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  For non-UK ./'ers, Page 3 is a page in one of our more popular tabloids, The Sun
  
  Of course, other papers, including The Times and The Guardian, don't have a page 3. They go straight from page 2 to page 4, citeing concerns that The Sun may have received a patent on page 3.
Playboy? by TheMadPenguin · 2004-06-12 05:51 · Score: 2, Funny

I wonder if they will be putting old Playboy issues online? You know... we only read them for the articles anyway...

--
Linux with kernel panic...
MadPenguin.org
Oh come on! by 91degrees · 2004-06-12 05:51 · Score: 5, Funny

This is old news.
Oh, really? by ktakki · 2004-06-12 05:53 · Score: 5, Funny

This is good news for Slashdotters, as this online archival project will provide a plethora of background material for articles and comments...

Inventor Eli Whitney Applys For "One-Click" Cotton Gin Patent

Pianists Seek Curbs on Player Piano Technology
"Roll Sharing" Circles Seen as Threat to Recital Revenues

Unsolicited Telegraph Messages on the Rise
So-called "Lard" Telegrams Now Comprise 60% of Traffic, Operators Say

Utah Granted Statehood
Gov. McBride Lays Claim to Concept of Statehood, Says Other States Owe $6.99 Each

(I think The Onion does this better than me.)

k.

--
"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
Circa 1860 by cynic10508 · 2004-06-12 05:54 · Score: 2, Funny

Ye firste poste.
Re:Heh by jhujoe · 2004-06-12 06:04 · Score: 2, Funny

Now that a complete online library is going online, perhaps other libraries will follow suit, and keep information free?
You mean to tell me that previous online libraries were not online? No wonder they were all failures!
Re:RTFA? More like RTFLHYAIICTP by Altima(BoB) · 2004-06-12 06:19 · Score: 3, Funny

RTFA? More like RTFLHYOAWN - Read the F*cking Last Hundred Years of Archived Items of Import from the Corresponding Time Periods.

The acronym loving slashdotters will LOVE this development, but then again, IANAALS (I Am Not An Acronym Loving Slashdotter)

--
Yup...
Would you say I have a plethora of stories? by synaptic · 2004-06-12 06:29 · Score: 2, Funny

Jefe: We have scanned many newspaper stories for your slashdot background material!
El Guapo: How many newspaper stories?
Jefe: Many newspaper stories, many!
El Guapo: Jefe, would you say I have a plethora of newspaper stories?
Jefe: Yes, El Guapo. You have a plethora.
El Guapo: Jefe, what is a plethora?
Um, yea... by Pollux · 2004-06-12 06:30 · Score: 2, Funny

This is good news for Slashdotters, as this online archival project will provide a plethora of background material for articles and comments

And we all know how much time slashdotters take to thoroughly research background material needed to create an informed and well-thought-out post.

"Hey 3l33td00d, check out this post! ClearChannel just patented short-range FM Radio!"
"Wait a second, hax0rd00d, acording to this Morning Post article I read from the UK 19th century news, there was this guy back in the UK who made an FM radio from a coconut back in 1894!"
"Dude! You're so gonna get mod points on that one!"
"Yea, took three hours to find the thing, but +5 is so worth it!"
1. Re:Um, yea... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-06-12 07:29 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  "Wait a second, hax0rd00d, acording to this Morning Post article I read from the UK 19th century news, there was this guy back in the UK who made an FM radio from a coconut back in 1894!"
  
  You've got it all wrong. The Professor didn't live until the 60s. Not to mention he was on an island in the Pacific...
Sad News - Abraham Lincoln dead at 61 by falzer · 2004-06-12 07:52 · Score: 3, Funny

I just heard some sad news on wireless - Abraham Lincoln was found dead in a Washington theatre this morning. There weren't any more details yet. I'm sure we'll all miss him, even if you weren't a fan of his work there's no denying his contribution to popular culture. Truly an American icon.
The 19th century never really happened!!! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-06-12 08:09 · Score: 1, Funny

Or more specifically, what historical accounts we have of the century never actually occurred.
Think about it... a man named Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone??? Only a naive fool would buy a coincidence like that...
I have not yet determined the cause for this historical coverup, but I will not rest until I uncover the truth!
RYFA by Anonymous+Writer · 2004-06-12 08:09 · Score: 2, Funny

"Read Ye F*cking Article"
Re:Benefits Over...? by theflea · 2004-06-12 10:14 · Score: 2, Funny

I would derive much pleasure from the opium-based "tonics" described in these catalogs. Ahhh, the good old days.