For years, many Carroll County researchers hoped that The Historical Society of Carroll County might launch a digitization initiative to make HSCC’s amazing archival collections more accessible. Several dedicated library volunteers kept this dream alive, working behind the scenes until the day their dream could become a reality.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the Historical Society received several significant memorial contributions in honor Johns Hopkins pediatric doctor and professor Dr. William Howard Zinkham (1924-2021). These contributions became the catalyst for HSCC’s digitization initiative.

Dr. Zinkham, a specialist in children’s hematology, also served at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center at Harvard Medical School. He was born in Uniontown, and his family recalls their father’s love and fascination with local history. He was known to frequently peruse the Union Bridge Pilot newspaper, an excellent resource for discovering local stories and headlines. The newspaper, sometimes referred to as “the Pilot” was established at Union Bridge with the first issue appearing October 27, 1899 by J. Hamilton Repp, editor and proprietor. It was sold to the Carroll County Times on June 5, 1969 and ran as a special section of the Carroll County Times until 1972. The contributions made in Dr. Zinkham’s honor allowed the Society to first digitize the entire run of the Union Bridge Pilot and launch its new online Digital Library. Since that time, the Society has digitized other collections for researchers and patrons and has plans to identify and prioritize other materials for digitization.

HSCC is honored to carry forward Dr. Zinkham’s love for Carroll County history and his desire to make it accessible to all.