Discussion:
What is the name of your state? Massachusetts
I am interested in publishing a book that I have transcribed and scanned (the photos) that was originally published in 1919. It was a limited edition produced by a WWI memorial association and an American city in conjunction with a memorial service for the families of those lost in the conflict. There was no notice of copyright on it. I cannot find any current existance of the association. I have not decided whether I am going to produce it as it was first published or add to it with new material. Does anyone think it has a copyright attached? What are my chances of encountering troubles? If I publish it could someone else do the same thing or would I have a right to the work as it was first produced or would it be stronger if I added new additional material?
Answer:
"Does anyone think it has a copyright attached?"
Whether or not it had a copyright when it was first published, it is in the public domain now, so you are free to do with the work what you want.
"What are my chances of encountering troubles?"
Who knows? Anyone can sue any else for anything. However, there are no protectable rights undeer copyright remaining for a work this old. It is possible that ther could be some rights remaining under other laws, but it is pretty unlikely.
"If I publish it could someone else do the same thing or would I have a right to the work as it was first produced or would it be stronger if I added new additional material?"
The only entity that can obtain a copyright is the original creator of the work. You could republish the work verbatim, but you would have no rights to the work, and would have no right to keep anyone else from doing the same thing. Once a work enters the public domain, it remains there in perpetuity.
If you add new material (even a new cover, artwork, etc.), then you are creating a derivative work, and that CAN be protected by copyright. However, you only obtain copyright protection on the new material -- if, for example, you republished the material with a fancy red cover, you could keep others from republishing the work with a fancy red cover, but you could not keep others from republishing with a fancy blue cover, or republishing it with no cover whatsoever.
So feel free to republish the work, but recognize that your rights to the work are limited or nonexistant.