Much remains to be learned about our county’s past. If you would like to contribute in the further development of this website, please consider writing an article, sending an old photo, or simply pointing out an error or a broken link.
Photos
How to submit photos:
- Photos need to be pre-1930 so as to avoid copyright infringement; photos taken before 1930 are generally in the public domain. That being said, photos submitted should still include a statement like, “Photo from the collection of ________.” Ideally, “Original photo in the possession of __________,” is best practice.
- Photos more recent than 1930 may be submitted if they fall under the “fair use doctrine” or if you are the owner of the copyright. The owner of the copyright of a photo is the photographer–not the subject–unless a written agreement transferring the copyright has been made.
- Photos should include the date, location, and names of people pictured. (I can caption the photo with this information if you prefer.)
- If possible, use a flatbed scanner to scan the photo. Scan at a resolution of at least 300, 600 or 1200 dpi depending on the size and content of the photo. If you do not have a flatbed scanner, but have a Notes app on your smartphone, there should be a scan option. Touch the paperclip icon, then select “Scan document.” Your phone’s camera will take the photo when your phone is parallel with the document.
- Email it to paula.dedmon@gmail.com and I will upload it to this website. If you are a member of Greg Payseur’s Facebook group page, “Cleveland County NC Genealogy and Local History,” upload it there as well so that members can see it there first and perhaps add a comment.
Articles
There are several areas on this website that need further information. Some of the articles in need include:
- business and institutional histories
- church histories
- school histories
- sports histories
- timeline entries
- town histories
- personal remembrances
- others
Compose your document using the following formatting and style: double-spacing, 1-inch margins, 12-point, Georgia font. Include citations in Chicago style as needed.
Email your article to paula.dedmon@gmail.com
Transcribe Handwritten Documents
If you have an old handwritten document, the easiest way to convert it to a text document is to open your Voice Memos app on your smart phone and read it aloud as you record. When you’re finished recording, click on the “hamburger” icon that looks like this, ☰ , and choose “Copy Transcript.” Then, just send it to yourself, download, and paste into a Word document; edit as needed.
You might also try an AI assistant.11
Volunteer
We are always looking for folks who have a specialized knowledge of our communities, events, and institutions around the county. Email Paula Dedmon at paula.dedmon@gmail.com if you would be willing to provide your email address to members of the public seeking answers to specific questions about our county’s history.
Additional Information
If you have additional information about the topics presented here, please email them to paula.dedmon@gmail.com. Especially needed are updates to the timeline page since the 1970s.
- A word of caution with regard to the use of AI. . . The purchase of this platform included five, free AI generated passages. I used my five for introductory paragraphs, just to try it out. I was underwhelmed. AI began generating sentences related to Cleveland, Ohio, and the town of Cleveland in Rowan County, NC. AI can be a useful tool, but it has to learn from us. ↩︎
Cleveland County History 