Brief History of the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives

Since its inception on January 1, 2000, the GG Archives has grown exponentially, offering access to an impressive collection of over 39,000 documents and photographs. This vast array includes passenger lists from the RMS Titanic, original immigrant passage contracts from Ellis Island, steamship brochures from the early 20th century, immigration-related papers from various countries, and more. These specific examples provide a comprehensive view of historical immigration that will surely pique your interest.

In 2003, the archives underwent a significant change, with the name being shortened to the 'Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives' to reflect the family that initiated the archives. The family history section about the Gjenvick-Gjønvik family was removed that same year, marking a shift in the archives' focus. This change, a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement and staying relevant in the field of historical immigration research, ensures that you always have access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive collection.

In 2010, Mr. Gjenvick played an important part in creating the foundation for the design and color scheme that is still in use today. His idea was to develop a simple, easy-to-use interface that would improve users' experiences. In 2016, the website's backend was upgraded by incorporating Bootstrap, which resulted in better usability on mobile devices.

In 2022, the GG Archives underwent a significant transformation, with its name being streamlined to GG Archives and the domain transitioning to GGArchives.com. This evolution is a testament to the Archives' unwavering commitment to adapt and improve, ensuring a seamless user experience and reinforcing its reliability. Notably, Evelyne Gjenvick, as the content researcher/editor/transcriber from 2018-2024, played a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy of the transcriptions. Her dedication and expertise have contributed to the archives' growth and development, and we are grateful for her invaluable contribution.

Did You Know?

It's interesting to note that over the past two decades, technology has brought about significant changes in the way photographs are scanned. Back in 2000, we relied on 96 DPI scans as our "Master" images. However, today, we utilize 600, 1200, and 2400 DPI scans to create our "master" images. The enhanced quality of the images produced by these high-resolution scans is quite remarkable.