Below is a recording of a presentation given by Walt Rice and Carol Smith for the Pennsylvania State Archives via Zoom on January 27, 2026.
AI in the Archives
As part of its larger digitization projects, the Philadelphia Congregations Early Records project has experimented with AI for transcription of manuscript documents, summarization and enhancement of metadata, and even as a way for readers to “ask questions” of the historic materials themselves. We will share our perspectives and experiences in doing this work, the usefulness of AI so far, and our expectations of the roles of technology and human archivists moving forward. (And yes, we’ll share an entertaining demo or two!)
Speakers
Walter Rice, Technology Consultant
Walt Rice is a technology consultant originally from Philadelphia but now based in Honesdale, PA. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science Engineering and Telecommunications and Networking from the University of Pennsylvania, and has focused much of his work on serving archives and libraries with cost-efficient, appropriate implementation of open-source and custom-developed software for digital archives, with a particular speciality in keeping projects functional for the long term with very limited resources. He built and maintains the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings project, the Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network, the Philadelphia Congregations Early Records project, and is working on projects for a consortium of rowing clubs and the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.
Carol W. Smith, independent curator and archivist
Carol has worked with the Christ Church Archives since 2005 when she was hired to create a digital archives website. Since that time she has worked to create exhibits, oversee the move and expansion of the archives, undertake an oral history program, oversee conservation treatment of artifacts and archival holdings and increase digital access to materials. She has a BA in American Civilization and an MA in Material Culture from the University of Pennsylvania in American Civilization and is a certified archivist. Other long term clients include Fireman’s Hall Museum and the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia (Carpenters’ Hall). In 2022 she received the Sister M. Claude Lane award from the Society of American Archivists for her project to scan and place online the records of some of Philadelphia’s oldest congregations.
About the Pennsylvania State Archives:
The Pennsylvania State Archives collects and preserves the records of the state government. It provides records management services to state, county and municipal governments and provides archival and records management training for the Commonwealth records communities.