I?m working on a historical fiction novel and I need to research
newspapers that were circulating in 1918 in Athens, Greece. I don?t
read Greek, so I would need to find an English language translation of
Greek newspapers (if such a thing exists!). Also, I?m wondering if
it?s possible for me to access these newspapers without having to
travel to Greece (if they?re available in some form besides what I?m
expecting them to be in, i.e., microfilm housed in Greek libraries). |
Request for Question Clarification by
jackburton-ga
on
28 Dec 2003 15:23 PST
Hi melinno,
What you're asking, I don't believe is possible.
A contact I know in Greece, who has been through this procedure,
informs me that you, or someone, would most probably have to go to
Greece to access these newspapers, and there will be considerable
expense in obtaining copies of all 1918 Athens newspapers. Copies are
kept, but the further back in time you go, the more expensive it
becomes! Translations in English, as far as i'm aware of, do not
exist.
What you are asking then, I presume, is a huge undertaking. If you
were to narrow down the day, month, and/or subject you're particularly
insterested in, then this may achievable at a reasonable cost. But
then you'd have the translation service to pay on top!
I speak Greek myself and I visit Greece periodically, and the above
information was given to me from a Greek resident who knows something
about this procedure. If I receive any further information I will let
you know - but if you really need to access all the Athenian
newspapers of 1918 (and have them translated too), then I think this
will be a pricey project.
I would love to help further, if I could!
|
Clarification of Question by
melinno-ga
on
29 Dec 2003 10:56 PST
Hi jackburton,
Thanks very much for letting me know how researching old newspapers
works in Greece. I've researched American newspapers by going through
reels of microfilm in libraries, but it looks like this isn't possible
for older Greek newspapers (and even if it were, I don't read Greek,
so I wouldn't be able to do this in any case).
The reason I'm wanting to access newspapers in Athens relates to my
question 290522, which I posted separately, about how hard-hit Athens
was by the influenza of 1918, and whether any civilians died of it.
To clarify this question, would it be possible to hire someone to
search for the subject influenza? If it's not possible to search on
that subject (someone commented on my other question that nations may
have tried to suppress the extent of the flu for security reasons), I
could get approximate dates that the flu swept through that part of
Europe, and search for a particular couple of weeks or so in the hopes
of finding something.
I would like to contact a library or institute in Greece that could
access and search through newspapers (and I could pay for this if
necessary) and I could also pay for translating some, if the price
isn't too exorbitant. I am going to Greece this spring to do research,
so I can include visiting the insititute/ library/ translation service
in my research plans. Your recommendations for contacts in this area
are greatly appreciated.
Many thanks for your help!
|
Request for Question Clarification by
jackburton-ga
on
29 Dec 2003 11:46 PST
Hi melinno,
I suggest you start at the "National Library of Greece"...
..............................................
"National Library of Greece"
(Official name: "Ethnike Bibliotheke tes Hellados")
Central address:
32, Panepistimiou Street
10679 Athens
Greece
Central Telephone
+30 10 33 82 601
+30 10 33 82 569 ? 571
Central Fax +30 10 33 82 502
Central e-mail nlg@nlg.gr
Website: http://www.nlg.gr/
The National Library of Greece is organized, according to an old law
of 1943, which is still valid, as follows:
1. Department of Cataloging, in which the Office of the National
Bibliography belongs.
2. Department of Acquisition, in which the Office of ISBN, ISSN and ISMN belongs.
3. Department of Manuscripts.
4. Department of Reading Rooms.
5. Department of Secretariat
6. Department of Automation and Documentation.
Apart from the above departments, a Laboratory of Conservation and
Microfilming has been established.
Entrance to the Reading Rooms is done with a valid registration card
issued by the National Library. Material is available for use only
within reading rooms.
The Library is open from Monday to Thursday 09.00-20.00 and Friday to
Saturday 09.00-14.00. The Manuscripts Department is open Monday to
Friday 09.00-14.00
Library is closed on August.
..............................................
I hope these details help you acquire the information you seek.
JB
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
29 Dec 2003 15:03 PST
You also might want to drop these folks an email:
http://www.elia.org.gr/default.fds?langid=2
Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive
and let them know what you're looking for...they may have a
kind-hearted librarian/historian who would be willing to help you out.
|
Clarification of Question by
melinno-ga
on
29 Dec 2003 20:29 PST
Hi Jackburton,
Thanks very much for the information, and please make this your
official answer since you answered completely the original question I
posted. If I can't find a translation service via the links you
provided, I'll just post a new question regarding that.
Pafalafa, thanks for the link and the suggestion! The site has lots of
good links for my research.
Best, Melinno
|
