Posted by Brendon Baillod on January 20, 1999 at 21:30:00:
In Reply to: Research Viewpoint posted by Paul Hancock on January 17, 1999 at 02:37:34:
A similar project has been underway for some time, with
respect to the Great Lakes. I am referring to the
extensive database placed online this year by Great Lakes
marine historian David Swayze. Dave began by researching
all Great Lakes wrecks that were reported in published
sources. He included wrecks for over 100 published sources.
He then began reading the Detroit newspaper
microfilms page by page in order to find references to
any unpublished historical wrecks. Since then, many
historians have donated their databases to Dave for
incorporation into his database. It now includes detailed info.
on wrecks from all over the lakes. The criteria for an
accident's inclusion is that the accident must have been
a total loss and must be verifiable through a primary
resource. Dave has avoided much of the controversy about
wreck stripping by leaving out details about wreck locations.
I am quite partial to Dave's efforts because he gives
accurate demographics on the wrecks and spends a good
deal of time investigating each accident. He also lists
references for his information.
A number of other people have attempted to create databases
of wrecks with varying degrees of success. David Barron of
Northern Shipwreck Research has created an excellent database
on CD ROM which he sell for about $100. This database lists
location info. and covers wrecks of northern North America.
Scott Short attempted to create an online database of divable
wrecks in the Great Lakes, but he had some difficulty getting
people to write in with detailed wreck descriptions. He
recently put his website "Shipwrecked on the Internet" back
online.
Because I stick solely to the Great Lakes, I am quite satisfied
with David Swayze's listing. It is both large and of remarkable
quality. I intend to continue contributing to it and I would
encourage others to email Dave to contribute to it as well.
Dave's database could benefit from a cgi script to incorporate a
search engine, like Walter Lewis has done with his Great Lakes
Vessel Enrollments website, but I think it would be redundant
to begin creating another database, at least for the Great Lakes.
: Hi,
: Well, I have a simple question to ask everyone who follows this newsgroup.
: Would everyone like a centralized database of all shipwrecks in the Great Lakes and if possible all bodies of water in the world?
: I have been doing research since I learned how to read (my first book was Frederick Stonehouse's Isle Royale Shipwrecks 1977 edition). Since then, I have collected nearly 70 books on shipwrecks and have spent hours upon hours in every small library along the Great Lakes. However, it is impossible for any one individual to collect enough information on all the shipwrecks out there. In fact, many of us have elected to specialize in certain locations or time periods. Stonehouse and Wolfe specialized in Lake Superior shipwrecks while Baillod, the owner of this website and myself have primarily spent time on Lake Michigan Shipwrecks. There are a few like Heden and Swayze who have collected a large number of shipwrecks across all Great Lakes, but do not include many shipwrecks that might not be listed in the major references available.
: So what is a researcher to do? I offer this idea to debate. Is it possible to start a centralized database online (and offline) for research, schools or libraries. For example, I have no possible way to do get to references in Canada except those printed in the States. A central database would make that information available without the issue of traveling to Toronto or Owen Sound to do this research.
: For those who have written books on Great Lakes shipwrecks, I would offer that it is the information not your manuscript which I would hope you would provide. I do not wish to see any author have his work misused nor do I wish to see his data kept from the general public.
: A final note I wish to add. I have noticed in the last several years that much of the Great Lakes historical community has spent time in competition or isolation from each other. I have received around 50 to 75 shipwreck historical society membership information. There are just too many groups without the necessary funds or resources. My hometown historical group had a single file folder which was the total accumulation of all available information on shipwrecks in the area. It also could not save several shipwrecks from being destroyed by tourism and divers. Eventually, I see a bleak future if things persist as they do now. It is quite possible that in the near future that information will pass into obscurity and the shipwreck themselves will have been gutted for trophies for divers. Just think of the Three Brothers which now is more a hulk with little more than a short sketch of information on her. And she was protected within one of the underwater preserves!
:
: If you agree or not, please post your opinion.
: Thank You