With concepts created in 2002, The OhioCivilWar.org Network is the first attempt of its kind to fully utilize complex social media type scripting in an attempt to accumulate a user built archive and historical record pertaining to Ohio in the Civil War. Similar to the concept of Facebook, OhioCivilWar.org provides dynamic interaction and real time submitting capabilities to a growing membership base of over 1200 active or registered users.

What is beneficial about a complex, true and complete user built, opensource archive? Not only has this dynamic archive documented over 5500 records and 220,000 soldiers to date (structured through regiments) but it has also uncovered items that never would have made it to the light of day. Museum and historical society displays are only as large as their collection allows. Dynamic archives (true and through) that allow the freedoms such as those found at OhioCivilWar.org allow public information and historical archives to grow and expand daily.

So what are the safe guards? This open source structure also allows everyone and anyone to become a critic or moderator. Currently, we havea member base of over 1,200. Of course, their expertise varies.However, this means we have 1,200 eyes that will and do watch forerrors in accuracy. Some have expanded privileges to delete and edit in real time. All members can report errors and force the submitters hand.

Copyright safeguards are now in place to prevent unauthorized duplication. County genealogists and historians discuss the submitted records openly and catch errors or infringement from these submissions. In turn, this forces administrative action.

The site was made public in 2006 from an idea and work that began in2002. It was not built to acquire grants during an anniversary. It was built to make a difference. Genuine and real. It was built to allow YOU to make a difference.

Thank you for your time

Brett Mitchell

OhioCivilWar.org

Structure: The Civil War Open Source Project
Understanding our history has to go beyond brief histories and a synopsis. It's all about the details! The down and dirty, and gritty. Day to day. Soldier to soldier. History! It's not just a date.

Structure: The site is divided into two basic funtions.

1. The Regimental Archive
The archive is set up like a directory tree. Main items  (Regiments) are categories. Categories contain additional and related sub-categories (Roster, History, etc of each regiment, etc.). And so on.

So the 125th Ohio is a category. The 125th Ohio contains sub categories including the regimental roster. The roster is divided up into more sub categories called "Companies". Each "Company" contains more sub-categories called "soldiers". Pretty simple. Get it? I thought you would. It is all about structure!!!!! A tree style directory. Categories hold information and allow you to submit the information in real time.

Detailed items are called "records". You can add "records" (Grave Sites, Images, Documents, Etc)  to any category including, of course most importantly, soldiers.

2. The Community

The Community is set up similiar to FaceBook. It allows you to interact and keep track of the latest information passing through the archive and site including your records. The community also allows you to connect to other members through many social features.

• Your own messaging system.
• Connect through groups.
• Browse other members and connect to them.
• Login with your FaceBook account
• Create discussions in the forum
• Keep track of what's being viewed and your records.
• Show off your historical video.
• Create an extensive profile.
• Submit or read historical articles.

The Mission: OhioCivilWar.org

• To build the historical record by uncovering documents and images, recording gravesites, and documenting histories and locations of Ohio soldiers during the American Civil War.
• To save our history through uncovering primary sources held in private and public collections.
• To capitalize on the liberty and freedom we still have and allow every collector, genealogist and enthusiast to interact in a social network style environment, to become a historical preservationist and create a database that will be a record for future generations who might not have these freedoms.
• To partner with an Ohio university or college.