Arkansas Catholic’s second annual Guardian Angels campaign kicks off this weekend to continue efforts to preserve the newspaper’s archives.
The campaign began in October 2010 in preparation for the newspaper’s centennial. Ninety-one years of deteriorating bound volumes needed to be digitally scanned from the last remaining printed copies.
With $12,000 given by donors last fall, the weekly newspaper was redesigned and the first volumes of The Southern Guardian, Arkansas Catholic’s predecessor, were digitally archived. It is estimated to cost another $85,000 to finish the archiving project.
Research for the newspaper’s 100th anniversary made it more obvious that the deteriorating condition of the history chronicled in earlier issues had to be addressed. The acids naturally present in newsprint have already reduced many pages to fragments that cannot be handled or read.
“Even a $3 donation can allow Arkansas Catholic to scan one more page from an early issue of The Guardian and make it available online,” editor Malea Hargett said. “Every dollar we get is going to help preserve Catholic history in Arkansas.”
The Guardian Angel campaign’s five “circles” of giving will recognize donors for their contributions:
Angel Circle: $25 to $99 donation
Archangel Circle: $100 to $499
Cherubim Circle: $500 to $999
Seraphim Circle: $1,000 to $9,999
Annunciation Circle: $10,000 or more.
Individuals, families and Catholic organizations can also sponsor a year that has special meaning to them or in honor or memory of someone.
Digitized volumes of The Southern Guardian from 1911 to 1914 and The Guardian from 1921 and 1945 are available for reading or searching by clicking on the archive link at www.arkansas-catholic.org.
A special “Christmas Card” will be published in the Dec. 24 issue to recognize every donor through mid-December.
Donors are also invited to send personal prayer intentions that will be included in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor during Advent.
The Guardian Angels campaign was named in honor of The Southern Guardian, which was later renamed The Guardian. On the newspaper’s 75th anniversary in 1986, the newspaper’s name was changed to Arkansas Catholic.
For more information about the Guardian Angels campaign, see the Guardian Angels page or call (501) 664-0125. Donations may be mailed to Arkansas Catholic, P.O. Box 2536, Little Rock AR 72203.
