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The Western Australian Maritime Museum faced a daunting challenge - how to make an extensive collection of Dutch colonial archives accessible to the public and researchers? These historical documents, written in flowing 17th century script, contained invaluable insights into early interactions between Dutch explorers and the Australian continent. From observations of native flora and fauna to first-hand accounts of encounters with Indigenous communities, the archives offered a unique window into Australia's past. However, integrating the original scanned journal pages, transcriptions, and translations proved to be a complex technical hurdle.

That's where Logical Developments stepped in. Through a collaborative partnership, the Logical Developments team developed a custom software solution that brought the museum's archives into the digital age.

"The problem was that we couldn't find a simple solution that would do what we wanted," explains Jeremy Green, Head of Maritime Archaeology at the WA Museum. "We were scratching around trying to find somebody who could tackle this unique challenge, and then Logical Developments came along and solved it."

Jeremy Green (left) discussing the project with Paul Mulroney (right)

The key innovation was the ability to seamlessly integrate the scanned journal pages, transcriptions, and translations on a single web-based interface. This allows users to easily navigate the archives, clicking on a line of text to instantly see the corresponding section of the original document. Footnotes and other contextual information are also integrated, providing researchers with a comprehensive view of these historical materials.

The Archive in Action: the Seewolf journal

The Archive in Action: the Batavia journal

"It's a very interactive knowledge-based source," says Mr. Green. "Rather than having to go to the State Archives in the Netherlands, people can now access this information at their fingertips."

But research isn’t a static field. Differences in the language spanning the past four centuries mean that translations are continually evolving. Transcriptions can be updated, and new journals can be found. The Museum needed not only a means to display that information, but also the tools to maintain it.

To complete the solution, the team at Logical Developments created a program which enables researchers to collate the source material, such as documents and images. Once gathered, the compiled journal, transcription, and translation can be published to the web interface with a single click. The program provided integrated with the tools Jeremy was already using, including Word and Applescript, making the publishing process straightforward and easy to learn.

The project's success was built on the close collaboration between the museum and Logical Developments. As the work progressed, new challenges and opportunities emerged, and the team worked together to adapt the solution accordingly.

"The project has evolved as we've gone along, as we have come to understand some of the challenges," notes Paul Mulroney, General Manager of Logical Developments. "We've been able to work with the museum to find solutions that meet their needs."

To date, the project has digitized and published over 30 journals, comprising many hundreds of pages of invaluable historical content. The feedback from both the museum staff and the broader research community has been overwhelmingly positive.

"The university people and the archives people have been very impressed with it," Mr. Green says. "They say we're way ahead of them in terms of what we've been able to achieve."

Looking ahead, Mr. Green sees tremendous potential for expanding the partnership with Logical Developments. The flexible framework they've developed could be repurposed for other museum and archival digitization projects, bringing more of the world's historical treasures to the public.

"There may well be possibilities for Logical Developments to get involved in other areas," Mr. Green suggests. "Until people can see it and it's live and working, they may be a bit sceptical. But I think there's a lot of potential there."

For Logical Developments, the success of the WA Museum archives project is a testament to their ability to tackle complex challenges with innovative software solutions. By working closely with their partners, the team has not only helped preserve an important piece of history, but also paved the way for greater public access and scholarly exploration of the past.

"It's been a very interesting journey and a very enjoyable one, too," Mr. Green reflects. "We're really grateful for the support and service provided by Logical Developments, and we're excited to see what the future holds for this partnership."

If you have a problem in need of a digital solution, we would love to help! Visit our website at https://www.logicaldevelopments.com.au to get in touch.