Putting the Standard Encyclopedia of the Alcohol Problem on the web would be
worthwhile only if it can be scanned with accuracy.  That would require a
full proofreading of the scanned text.  Too many things are being put up on
the web that are flawed and potentially misleading to people who naively
assume the web's reliability.  Is there an angel out there who would be
willing to support the use of top-quality scanning equipment and the human
proofreading to follow?  Would the ladies of the WCTU be interested in making
a grant to a university.  Northern Illinois University has a digitization
center that would be capable of doing the work, but the funding would need to
come from elsewhere.

David Kyvig

David Fahey wrote:

> Arguably, the most important reference work in temperance history is the
> Standard Encyclopedia of the Alcohol Problem, 6 vols., ed. Ernest Hurst
> Cherrington (Westerville, Ohio: American Issue, 1925-30), which tried to
> cover the entire world.  Would it be worth the trouble of somebody to scan
> it and place it on the Web?  A number of larger reference works published
> early in the 20th century are available on the Web.  What would be the
> problems?  What would be required to post the Standard Encyclopedia?  Is
> the print version readily available to researchers?