Exciting new project for OFHS Big Oxfordshire Names Database

Big Oxfordshire Names Database Project

Sue Honore

After many months of behind-the-scenes work, we have managed to come to an agreement with an organisation which will develop our new searchable Oxfordshire database, codenamed BOND (Big Oxfordshire Name Database). The database will eventually contain all our suitable digitised records – including Monumental Inscriptions; name rich sources transcribed from many books/documents from the medieval period to 20th century gathered as part of the surname project; wills; parish records; war memorial; photos and many other sources. It should be a valuable integrated searchable resource for Oxfordshire ‘people’ records and will available only to OFHS members and accessed from our website. It will also mean that it is easier for us to maintain, add and extract information as we move into the future. At the moment we are in the early stages of the project but hope to have something available in 2024 and will continue to build from there as we add more data. To ensure that the project is a success and the data it contains is accurate we will need lots of volunteers. This work ranges from simple checking of existing transcriptions to transcribing previously un-transcribed records, and testing of the system. There will also be opportunities to be involved in the running of the system when it goes live and answering member queries on the data.

So if you want to be involved in this cutting edge project please contact the BOND team on bond@ofhs.uk . Many of these tasks can be done remotely, so you don’t need to live in Oxfordshire or indeed the UK.