Contributing to an Archive : Review of Fold3

    A digital archive is typically an online collaboration of documents and information compiled in an accessible format for a certain audience of scholars, researchers, and in some cases opened completely to the public. The digital archive I chose to explore was Fold3, it is a public digital compilation of  U.S. military records. It uses basic public information like census records, enlistment forms, government documents, court files, and city directories to gather information on U.S. veterans. It also allows for the public to upload stories, documents, letters, and photos of loved ones to help "complete" the records.
    A digital archive of this kind can be extremely useful to genealogist or people hoping to expand the branches of their own family tree. I took this opportunity to do a little researching of my own and was able to find a few documents on my grandfather that served in WWII. What is really neat about this site is that I can upload photos, documents, and can even add stories of his to go along with his entry in Fold3. I like that the family members can help create and add to what is called the memorial page.
    At first I thought that this site would only be useful when researching genealogy, then I started to explore their spotlight sections and realized that this is a great primary source to understanding military life in the U.S. as far back as the Revolutionary War. The user doesn't have to know anyone who has served in the military to research and learn. I got lost in letters, photos, and personal accounts from most major U.S. wars.
    This site does offer quick access to their documents and is easily navigable,  it took me less than five minutes to find my grandfather's file. Fold3 explains that its purpose is to" help you discover and share stories about these everyday heroes, forgotten soldiers, and the families that supported them.", that is exactly what I was able to do. Fold3 makes these files, that would normally take up space in a cabinet, become meaningful information that families can use to build and archive their own history.