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docs: 5 unsent draft research-access letters (CDNC, Colorado CHNC, Portal to Texas History, Utah Digital Newspapers, LA Times permissions)

92c289da4c392ba99214ac7a195dc3db62b97f5e · 2026-09-25 11:06:51 -0700 · Steve Abrams

Draft only, never sent. Google News Archive skipped (no contact channel); Billy Ireland already covered by osu-request-DRAFT.md. TK-12199

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01SW5KHgwrh2Rr9TKHM6ndqM

Files touched

Diff

commit 92c289da4c392ba99214ac7a195dc3db62b97f5e
Author: Steve Abrams <steve@designerwallcoverings.com>
Date:   Fri Sep 25 11:06:51 2026 -0700

    docs: 5 unsent draft research-access letters (CDNC, Colorado CHNC, Portal to Texas History, Utah Digital Newspapers, LA Times permissions)
    
    Draft only, never sent. Google News Archive skipped (no contact channel); Billy Ireland already covered by osu-request-DRAFT.md. TK-12199
    
    Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
    Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01SW5KHgwrh2Rr9TKHM6ndqM
---
 docs/cdnc-request-DRAFT.md                         | 22 +++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/colorado-historic-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md | 22 +++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/latimes-request-DRAFT.md                      | 23 ++++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/portal-to-texas-history-request-DRAFT.md      | 22 +++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/utah-digital-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md      | 20 +++++++++++++++++++
 5 files changed, 109 insertions(+)

diff --git a/docs/cdnc-request-DRAFT.md b/docs/cdnc-request-DRAFT.md
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/cdnc-request-DRAFT.md
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+# DRAFT — NOT SENT
+**To:** California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research (CBSR), UC Riverside — cdnc@cbsr.ucr.edu (general CBSR inquiries: cbsrinfo@ucr.edu; 900 University Ave., INTS 2117B, Riverside, CA 92521; (951) 827-5841)
+**From:** Steve Abrams
+**Subject:** Research access request — permission or bulk OCR export for "Paul Conrad" / "Los Angeles Times Syndicate" queries, 1964–2010
+
+Dear CDNC staff,
+
+I am compiling a private, non-commercial research index of Paul Conrad's editorial cartoons (1950–2010) that records where and when each cartoon appeared. Paul Conrad joined the Los Angeles Times in 1964, and his cartoons were distributed through the Los Angeles Times Syndicate to many California papers, some of which are digitized in the CDNC. The index is for internal research only: it is not redistributed, is not published to the open web (noindex), is access-controlled, and reproduces no page images.
+
+CDNC's robots.txt disallows generic automated agents, and we have respected that — our tool records the site as "requires permission" and makes no requests to it. I would like to ask for your permission before doing anything further, in whichever of these forms suits you best:
+
+1. **Preferred — a bulk OCR/metadata export.** Search-hit results (newspaper title, issue date, page, article/segment identifier, CDNC URL, and the matched OCR snippet) for the queries "Paul Conrad", "Conrad" together with "Los Angeles Times Syndicate", and "Times Syndicate" cartoon credit lines, limited to issues dated 1964–2010. A CSV or spreadsheet would be ideal.
+2. **Or — an allow-listed User-Agent** for a small number of search-result queries on your Veridian interface. Our client identifies itself as "paul-conrad-archive/0.1 research metadata-only" with a contact address, and I would be glad to use any UA string or token you assign.
+
+If you allow automated access, I commit to: a single connection at a time; at least 5 seconds between requests (or any slower rate you specify); running only at off-peak hours you choose; search-result and text pages only (no page images or PDFs); a total request budget you set; and stopping immediately on request. Every record would credit the California Digital Newspaper Collection and link back to the CDNC page.
+
+If neither option is possible, I would be grateful for guidance on the proper process, and I will of course accept a "no."
+
+Thank you for your time and for building such a valuable collection.
+
+Kind regards,
+Steve Abrams
diff --git a/docs/colorado-historic-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md b/docs/colorado-historic-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fe21c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/colorado-historic-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md
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+# DRAFT — NOT SENT
+**To:** Leigh Jeremias, Digital Collections Coordinator, Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, Colorado State Library — ljeremias@coloradovirtuallibrary.org (201 East Colfax Ave., Room 309, Denver, CO 80203; 303.335.0709)
+**From:** Steve Abrams
+**Subject:** Research access request — permission or bulk OCR export for Paul Conrad / Denver Post syndicated cartoons, 1950–1964
+
+Dear Ms. Jeremias,
+
+I am compiling a private, non-commercial research index of Paul Conrad's editorial cartoons that records where and when each cartoon appeared. Conrad was the Denver Post's editorial cartoonist from 1950 to 1964 (he won his first Pulitzer there in 1964), and his Post cartoons were reprinted in other Colorado papers, several of which may be digitized in the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The index is internal research only: it is not redistributed, is not published to the open web (noindex), is access-controlled, and reproduces no page images.
+
+The CHNC site's robots.txt disallows generic automated agents, and we have respected that — our tool records the collection as "requires permission" and makes no requests to it. I would like to ask your permission first, in whichever form suits the State Library:
+
+1. **Preferred — a bulk OCR/metadata export.** Search-hit results (newspaper title, issue date, page, article identifier, CHNC URL, and the matched OCR snippet) for "Paul Conrad", "Conrad" together with "Denver Post", and "Conrad in the Denver Post"-style credit lines, limited to issues dated 1950–1964. A CSV or spreadsheet would be ideal.
+2. **Or — an allow-listed User-Agent** for a limited number of search-result queries on the Veridian interface. Our client identifies itself as "paul-conrad-archive/0.1 research metadata-only" with a contact address; I would use any UA string or token you assign.
+
+If you allow automated access, I commit to: one connection at a time; at least 5 seconds between requests (or any slower rate you set); off-peak hours only; search-result and text pages only (no page images or PDFs); a total request budget you specify; and stopping immediately on request. Every record would credit the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection / Colorado State Library and link back to the CHNC page.
+
+If neither option is possible, I would appreciate a pointer to the right process, and a "no" is of course fine.
+
+Thank you for your time and for making Colorado's newspapers accessible.
+
+Kind regards,
+Steve Abrams
diff --git a/docs/latimes-request-DRAFT.md b/docs/latimes-request-DRAFT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8cacfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/latimes-request-DRAFT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# DRAFT — NOT SENT
+**To:** Los Angeles Times Permissions (handled by Wrights Media) — LATimes@wrightsmedia.com (per latimes.com/about/how-to-obtain-rights-permissions; stated turnaround 15–20 business days)
+**From:** Steve Abrams
+**Subject:** Permission request — private, internal research viewing of Paul Conrad cartoon images (Los Angeles Times / Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1964–2010)
+
+Dear Los Angeles Times Permissions team,
+
+I am compiling a private, non-commercial research index of Paul Conrad's editorial cartoons — the Times' chief editorial cartoonist from 1964 to 1993, whose work continued to be distributed through the Los Angeles Times Syndicate (later Tribune Media Services) until his death in 2010. The index records each cartoon's title, publication date, and where the original and published versions are held, and links researchers back to the Times archive (latimes.newspapers.com) and the holding institutions.
+
+I am writing to ask permission for one narrow use:
+
+- **Private, internal research viewing of Conrad cartoon images** from the Times' archive (for example, page images or cartoon clippings from latimes.newspapers.com, or images from the Times photo/graphics archive), used solely so that I and a small research team can visually identify and verify each cartoon's title and date.
+- The images would be stored in an **access-controlled, private system**, marked noindex, **never published, redistributed, sold, or shown publicly**, and not used for any commercial purpose. Public-facing records, if any, would contain metadata and a link to the Times only — never the image.
+- I will credit the Los Angeles Times on every record, honor any retention limit you set (including deletion on request), and follow any other terms you specify.
+
+I understand that the Times offers an in-house research service, and I would also welcome a quote if the Times could supply a list of Conrad cartoons (headline/caption, run date, page) from its own index. If some rights belong elsewhere — for example to the syndicate successor (Tribune Content Agency) or to the Conrad estate — I would be grateful to be pointed to the right rights-holder, and I will seek their permission as well.
+
+Please let me know whether this use can be authorized, and on what terms or fee.
+
+Thank you for your time.
+
+Kind regards,
+Steve Abrams
diff --git a/docs/portal-to-texas-history-request-DRAFT.md b/docs/portal-to-texas-history-request-DRAFT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ceab703
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/portal-to-texas-history-request-DRAFT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# DRAFT — NOT SENT
+**To:** The Portal to Texas History, UNT Libraries — Feedback Form at https://texashistory.unt.edu/about/portal/contact/ (newspaper program contact: Ana Krahmer, Texas Digital Newspaper Program — ana.krahmer@unt.edu, (940) 565-3367)
+**From:** Steve Abrams
+**Subject:** Research access request — Paul Conrad syndicated editorial cartoons in Texas newspapers, 1950–2010
+
+Dear Portal to Texas History staff,
+
+I am compiling a private, non-commercial research index of Paul Conrad's editorial cartoons (Denver Post 1950–1964; Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate 1964–2010) that records where and when each cartoon appeared. Texas newspapers in the Portal may have carried his syndicated work. The index is internal research only: it is not redistributed, is not published to the open web (noindex), is access-controlled, and reproduces no page images.
+
+I would like to ask how best to do this research with the Portal, and have not run any automated queries against it. Specifically:
+
+1. **Preferred — a metadata/OCR export or guidance on the approved route.** Search hits (title, issue date, page, ARK/item identifier, Portal URL, and the matched OCR snippet) for "Paul Conrad", "Conrad" together with "Los Angeles Times Syndicate", and "Denver Post" cartoon credit lines, 1950–2010. If the Portal's existing OAI-PMH feed, API, or search-results export is the right tool for this, I would be grateful to know the rate limits and terms you would like me to follow.
+2. **Or — permission for a limited number of automated search-result queries** using a clearly identified User-Agent ("paul-conrad-archive/0.1 research metadata-only", with a contact address), or any UA/token you assign.
+
+For any automated access I commit to: one connection at a time; at least 5 seconds between requests (or any slower rate you set); off-peak hours only; search-result and text pages only (no page images or PDFs); a total request budget you specify; and stopping immediately on request. Every record would credit The Portal to Texas History and the contributing partner and link back to the Portal item.
+
+If this is best routed to a particular partner institution, I would welcome being pointed there.
+
+Thank you for your time and for the Portal's remarkable work.
+
+Kind regards,
+Steve Abrams
diff --git a/docs/utah-digital-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md b/docs/utah-digital-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfafa9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/utah-digital-newspapers-request-DRAFT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# DRAFT — NOT SENT
+**To:** Utah Digital Newspapers, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah — UDN contact form at https://forms.lib.utah.edu/udn-contacts/ (general reference: https://lib.utah.edu/help/; 801.581.8558)
+**From:** Steve Abrams
+**Subject:** Research access request — Paul Conrad syndicated editorial cartoons in Utah newspapers, 1950–2010
+
+Dear Utah Digital Newspapers team,
+
+I am compiling a private, non-commercial research index of Paul Conrad's editorial cartoons (Denver Post 1950–1964; Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate 1964–2010) that records where and when each cartoon appeared. Utah newspapers in UDN may have carried his syndicated work. The index is internal research only: it is not redistributed, is not published to the open web (noindex), is access-controlled, and reproduces no page images.
+
+I have not run any automated queries against UDN, and would like to ask your preference before doing so:
+
+1. **Preferred — a metadata/OCR export or the approved API route.** Search hits (newspaper title, issue date, page, UDN record id, URL such as newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=…, and the matched OCR snippet) for "Paul Conrad", "Conrad" together with "Los Angeles Times Syndicate", and "Denver Post" cartoon credit lines, 1950–2010. A CSV or spreadsheet would be ideal; if UDN offers an API or bulk-data route for researchers, I would be glad to use it on your terms.
+2. **Or — permission for a limited number of automated search-result queries** with a clearly identified User-Agent ("paul-conrad-archive/0.1 research metadata-only", with a contact address), or any UA/token you assign.
+
+For any automated access I commit to: one connection at a time; at least 5 seconds between requests (or any slower rate you set); off-peak hours only; search-result and text pages only (no page images); a total request budget you specify; and stopping immediately on request. Every record would credit Utah Digital Newspapers / the Marriott Library and link back to the UDN record.
+
+Thank you for your time and for making Utah's newspapers freely available.
+
+Kind regards,
+Steve Abrams

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