October 16, 2009 represents the 251^st. In honor of his birthday, we have decided to make this vision website and the new 1828 dictionary website live. Although both websites are a work in progress, we feel it is important to demonstrate the progress of Project::Noah and solicit feedback from the community. Please take a look around and offer suggestions to help us make this project successful.

Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758, in the West Division of Hartford (Connecticut). Noah’s was an average colonial family. His father farmed and worked as a weaver. His mother worked at home. Noah and his two brothers, Charles and Abraham, helped their father with the farm work. Noah’s sisters, Mercy and Jerusha, worked with their mother to keep house and to make food and clothing for the family.

So began the life of Noah Webster, the man often called “the father of the American dictionary.”

Webster began writing his dictionary at the age of 43. It took him more than 27 years to write it. In this first “American” dictionary, Webster introduced distinctively American words such as “skunk” and “hickory” and “chowder.” In addition, he introduced American spellings such as “color” and “music,” derivations of the English spellings “colour” and “musick.”

The 1828 dictionary by Noah Webster is clearly in public domain. However, it is important to recognize that publishers of the facsimile reprint can make copyright claims. For this reason, it is imperative that a public domain source is located and provided to do a full edit and update of the first american dictionary. Task::Access is to digitize the 1828 dictionary from microfilm from a major university library. The result will be a very large PDF with scans for each page. Although it is beyond our control if some volunteers use their facsimile dictionary to make editions, we (as a foundation) have provided a public domain source for the volunteers to use.

An admin tool has been created to update the current database and create an XML structure of the 1828 dictionary. When complete, this new data structure will be the basis for new accessibility options for the first dictionary of the american language.

Volunteers will need to compare the XML structure to the actual dictionary, make notes and comments as necessary. Anyone can volunteer and use the tool to contribute at some level. We are in the process of developing some tutorial pages/videos on how the admin tool works. Please go to the main site and login to donate your time.

As the data gets refined, scholars with specialties will be most especially helpful:

• Strong’s Concordance (Greek and Hebrew)
• Greek Language
• Hebrew Language
• Persian Language (Noah Webster comments in the conclusion that the words are wrong?!?)
  
• Blue Letter Bible
• Etymology

The reprint of the original dictionary (1828) may include some accolades from his contemporaries that was later published in 1840, the second dictionary of the american language. An extensive biography of the life of Noah Webster (page 22) was written by the new editor Chauncey Goodrich. In a few weeks, this biography will be available in searchable text format. If the preface of the 1840 (1856 or 1858 dictionary, depending on how you count) interests you, a large PDF scan is available (4 MB).

This Dictionary, like all others of the kind, must be left, in some degree, imperfect; for what individual is competent to trace to their source, and define in all their various applications, popular, scientific, and technical, seventy or eighty thousand words! It satisfies my mind that I have done all that my health, my talents, and my pecuniary means, would enable me to accomplish. I present it to my fellow-citizens, not with frigid indifference, but with my ardent wishes for their improvement and their happiness; and for the continued increase of the wealth, the learning of the moral and religious elevation of character, and the glory, of my country.
To that great and benevolent Being, who, during the preparation of this work, has sustained a feeble constitution, amidst obstacles and toils, disappointments, infirmities and depression, who has borne me and my manuscripts in safety across the Atlantic, and given me strength and resolution to brin the work to a close, I would present the tribute of my most grateful acknowledgements. And if the talent which he intrusted to my care, has not been put to the most profitable use in his service, I hope it has not been “kept laid up in a napkin,” and that anyy misapplication of it may be graciously forgiven.

New Haven.

NOAH WEBSTER.

Only 2500 copies of the first American dictionary were ever sold. Today, may by the reprint of the facsimile edition for over $60. Our goal is to do a modern reprint for under $25 (The paperback edition may be under $15). In order to accomplish this, a full edit needs to occur. This requires a “public domain” version to be used in the new printing. Many libraries carry the microfilm of the dictionary (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms); however, this microfilm needs to be digitized in PDF format. My library has the microfilm, but does not have a microfilm roll scanner.

If you would like to help, we have two ways to make this happen. One, we can find someone at a library who has the correct equipment (it takes less than two hours to scan an entire microfilm roll if done correctly). Two, we can raise money to purchase a roll scanner (~$10,000) and donate it to the university library I currently can access. A third solution may be a hybrid: if your library allows you to check it out, we could send the rolls to a scanning service (~$800).

Please share your ideas by replying to this message.

The Noah Webster House has been an invaluable tool to do historic research to create a composition that is accurate to the era in which Noah lived. The house has his desk, some clocks and other apparatus he used throughout his life. Thanks to Christopher Dobbs, the executive director of the Noah Webster House for allowing us to have access to the appropriate materials.

The Webster childhood home is now a museum where visitors can see copies of his spelling book, grammar manual and dictionaries. The museum also displays china, glassware, a desk, and two clocks owned by the adult Webster.

The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. To accomplish this, several tasks are being considered. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner. The foundation intends to serve as the vehicle to find people interested in executing the visions to provide assistance as they are able. In this instance, members of the community can contribute by contacting their local library, finding out if the microfilm is available, and finding out if the library has the batch scanner. Once the images are captured (will only take two hours or so with the right equipment), the PDF scans will be made available online to allow others to contribute to the next necessary task: editing and proofing of the content. Following successful completion of this task, other tasks will follow relating to typography, typesetting, and printing.

The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed.

The first project will relate to Noah Webster. Noah Webster was the founding father of American education. In 1828, he published the first American dictionary of the English language. Known for its classic literature and biblical examples along with etymology of twenty six different languages, this dictionary is perfect for Christian Bible study and home schooling. He also published the Blue-Backed Speller which was exclusively used in American education for over 100 years. For these reasons, we believe Noah Webster typifies the Spirit of American Heritage. As such, Project::Noah will serve as a cornerstone of this foundation.

The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary. Although Webster’s original American dictionary only sold 2,500 copies, today it is used daily by many Americans. Our goal is to make it available to even more. To accomplish this, Project::Noah has three specific visions.
The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. To accomplish this, several tasks are being considered. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner. The foundation intends to serve as the vehicle to find people interested in executing the visions to provide assistance as they are able. In this instance, members of the community can contribute by contacting their local library, finding out if the microfilm is available, and finding out if the library has the batch scanner. Once the images are captured (will only take two hours or so with the right equipment), the PDF scans will be made available online to allow others to contribute to the next necessary task: editing and proofing of the content. Following successful completion of this task, other tasks will follow relating to typography, typesetting, and printing.

The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. The current database, http://1828.mshaffer.com/, has mistakes, omissions of etymology, etc. For this reason the most important tasks, Task::XML, will be an online editing of the current words and definitions to include important missing information. An administrative tool has been built to make this possible [http://1828d.mshaffer.com/] and will be accessible to the community to help in the editing process once the microfilm scan occurs. This task will require the efforts of many volunteers to edit, revise, and format the new database structure (and is relevant to Vision::Reprint). Other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for the new website [http://1828-dictionary.com]. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision’s success throughout the process. [Old hi-res (~6 MB) etching is available]

Overall the foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] will strive to capture the essence of American culture by initiating and executing projects that make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society as typified by the first project with Noah Webster. Project::Noah is about making the first American dictionary accessible. To accomplish this, three specific visions need to be executed: Vision::Reprint, will attempt to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25; Vision::Redesign, will improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary; Vision::Recapture will tie the importance of Noah Webster into our American Heritage and create a commissioned painting. All in all, Project::Noah is striving to capture our American Heritage in several ways and make it available to those interested.