HistoryIT, a digital museum preservation company based in South Portland, Maine, is on a mission to ensure that organizations’ legacies are accessible today and tomorrow. Led by founder and CEO Kristen Gwinn-Becker, Ph.D., HistoryIT specializes in preserving, organizing, and sharing key historical materials through digital storytelling.
The importance of preserving historical materials cannot be overstated. While physical documents may feel secure when stored away in boxes or filing systems, they are susceptible to damage from decay or natural disasters. Moreover, the stories contained within these materials can be difficult to share and may be underutilized or forgotten. This is where HistoryIT steps in to digitize and preserve these materials for future generations.
At HistoryIT, a team of software engineers, digital archivists, metadata specialists, and social media experts work together to digitize organizations’ archival assets. The process involves three key steps: strategize, digitize, and share. First, the team assesses an organization’s historical materials and interviews stakeholders to create a digital preservation plan. Next, the materials are tagged and described using Odyssey, HistoryIT’s preservation software. Finally, a digital museum is created with an accessible interface for easy navigation.
The goal of HistoryIT is to democratize history by making the public historical record accessible to all. Gwinn-Becker, drawing from her experience as a historian, understands the importance of making primary sources available to a wide audience. By digitizing and tagging archival materials strategically, HistoryIT ensures that the public can access and engage with these historical resources.
Through their work with a diverse range of organizations, including Junior Leagues, sports teams, and educational institutions, HistoryIT helps clients tell their stories through digital archives. By showcasing primary sources, organizations can connect with their audiences on a deeper level and build trust through transparency. Clients have seen tremendous success in fundraising and relationship-building by leveraging their digital archives to create new connections and nurture existing relationships.
In 2023 alone, HistoryIT digitally preserved over 4.8 million archival items, applied over 37 million metadata tags, and launched 33 digital museums. The impact of their work is evident in the way organizations are able to share their stories and engage with their audiences in meaningful ways.
In conclusion, HistoryIT is at the forefront of digital museum preservation, ensuring that organizations’ legacies are preserved for future generations. Through their strategic approach to digitizing and sharing historical materials, HistoryIT is helping organizations connect with their audiences and tell their stories in the digital age.