CHRIS upgrade adds thousands of documents
This year, more than 35,000 cultural resource survey documents were uploaded to CHRIS, a web-based geographic information mapping system, expanding what’s publicly accessible to people working on Delaware preservation projects.
Expanded use of cloud storage has made it much easier for State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Research Center staff to upload documents to the system. As additional materials are uploaded, users will be able to view resources organized by file type (forms, photos, National Register nominations, etc.), while tools connected to the web-based storage on the backend of the system provide an additional level of security for confidential archaeological files.
CHRIS, short for Delaware’s Cultural and Historical Resources Information System, is an online resource that provides individuals with information on Delaware’s historic places throughout the years. By launching CHRIS’s interactive map of National Register-listed properties, a geographical information systems (GIS) mapping tool allows visitors to explore historic houses and districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places as well as select National Historic Landmarks.
Maintaining public access to and the integrity of the CHRIS system is critically important to the work that’s needed to preserve pieces of Delaware history. As importantly, CHRIS provides access to documentation and photographs of all surveyed properties, not limited only to those listed in the National Register, enabling Delawareans to explore the history of their own homes and communities.
CHRIS is an ongoing project and does not include all historical forms, reports and photos, particularly those that have not yet been digitized or added to the database. Some attachments for specific properties may not yet be available, and sensitive archaeological information is password protected. Anyone interested in a specific property can contact Research Center Manager Jenifer Anderson-Reno at jenifer.andersonreno@delaware.gov. While not all information is public, additional services are available to cultural resource professionals conducting projects within the state. Credentialed individuals working for a state agency or contractor can request a username and password, by submitting a user account application through this link: CHRIS User Account Application.