Behind the Scenes at GG Archives: Preserving History, One Page at a Time
Our Archivist, Paul Gjenvick, MAS, using a scanner circa 2014.
For more than 25 years, the GG Archives has been a beacon of preservation, more than just a collection of scanned images. It's a testament to the human spirit and the power of history. Every passenger list, brochure, and piece of maritime or cultural ephemera you see here has been carefully preserved, a labor of love that inspires awe and respect.
The Process Behind Every Page
Curating & Acquiring – Locating and preserving rare, often fragile historical documents before they vanish into obscurity.
Digitizing – We don't just capture each item in high resolution; we painstakingly preserve every minor detail. This ensures that even the smallest elements are available for future generations. Transcribing – We don't just type or OCR every name, note, and announcement. We do it to make the contents fully searchable and accessible, ensuring that you can find what you need with ease. Researching & Contextualizing – Going beyond the surface to uncover the stories behind the names, connecting passengers and events to the broader sweep of history.
Organizing & Presenting – Structuring the site so researchers, students, genealogists, and history enthusiasts can easily find what they need — and discover what they didn't know they were looking for.
Why It Matters
This is more than preservation — it's storytelling through artifacts. A simple list of names becomes a window into the past when paired with research, photographs, and historical context. Each piece contributes to a bigger picture of migration, travel, and cultural history.
A Labor of Love
Much of this work is invisible to the casual visitor, but it is essential. From scanning a 120-year-old passenger list without damaging the paper to researching obscure historical figures for added depth, the goal is always the same:
📜 To ensure these materials are accessible, meaningful, and preserved for generations to come.
If you've benefited from these resources — for your research, your family history, or your curiosity — know that what you see is the result of countless hours of quiet, dedicated effort. Your support is crucial in ensuring these materials are accessible, meaningful, and preserved for generations to come.
A Few Scenes from the GG Archives
We Have a Lot of Archival Boxes - the Boxes You See in This View Are Used for Military Related Magazines (Mostly USN).
More Boxes With a Mixture of Military and Ocean Travel-Related Materials.
To the Left, Mostly Military. to the Right, Mostly Ocean Travel and Immigration.
A Better View of Ocean Travel and Immigration Related Materials at the Gg Archives. the Bottom Row Is Very Heavy Usn Boot Camp Yearbooks - Hundreds of Them in Total.
Some of Our Books Cover Military, Immigration, Ocean Travel, Works Progress Administration, Genealogy, and More. Hidden From View Are Boxes of Large-Format Magazines, Passage Contracts, and Other Large Documents.
