christiana dobrzynski grippe - marac: donor relations
DESCRIPTION
Presentation "Digitization and Donor Relations: Duties Beyond Processing as a Project Archivist" given during panel "Lessons in Success: Case Studies in Project Management" at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference on October 27, 2012 in Richmond, Virginia.TRANSCRIPT
Digitization and Donor Relations: Duties Beyond Processing
as a Project Archivist
Christiana Dobrzynski Grippe
The Museum of Modern Art
MARAC Fall 2012: Richmond, VA
In the beginning…
Job responsibilities
Survey the collection and draft processing plan.
Determine and acquire necessary supplies. Apply simple preservation and conservation measures.
Compile and revise existing descriptions of materials.
Re-house the collection in acid-free containers.
Write and code detailed finding aid.
Assist with reference activities of the Museum Archives.
Conduct item-level cataloguing of photographic images and coordinate their digitization and the creation of analogue print copies.
Perform any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.
Job responsibilities
Survey the collection and draft processing plan.
Determine and acquire necessary supplies. Apply simple preservation and conservation measures.
Compile and revise existing descriptions of materials.
Re-house the collection in acid-free containers.
Write and code detailed finding aid.
Assist with reference activities of the Museum Archives.
Conduct item-level cataloguing of photographic images and coordinate their digitization and the creation of analogue print copies.
Perform any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.
Surveying the Daled Papers
First impressions
First impressionsInventory!
First impressions
First impressionsLabels!
First impressionsLabels!
Item-Level Description!
Also in Daled Papers
Further developments
After surveying, the Daled Papers seemed to be incomplete – some records remained with the donors
Coordinated with curatorial departments as well as Museum Archives regarding communicating with donors
Curator determined that additional on-site appraisal and interaction with the donors was necessary
Donor relations
Challenges
Was not part of initial cultivation of MoMA’s relationship with the Daleds
Would not be part of MoMA’s long-term cultivation of relationship with Daleds
Two donors for the one collection
Intensely personal situation and potentially very intrusive
Language barrier
Time constraint
Lack of “institutional memory” as project archivist
Coordinating amongst several departments within the Museum Museum Archives, Curatorial (Prints and Illustrated Books), Registrar,
Art Preparation and Handling, Conservation, Development, etc.
Trip to visit the Daleds
in Brussels, Belgium
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Where were the records?
Successful survey and appraisal
Outreach and educational
opportunities
What comprises an archive?
“Why is this important?”
“Who would be interested in this?”
“How will this be organized?”
Final thoughts
Don’t make assumptions!
Being a facilitator for communication is key
Every interaction is a chance for outreach (both within the institution and outside it)
Our impact extends beyond the archives
Be willing to embrace the “other duties” associated with your job – being “temporary” is not a good reason to ignore outreach
http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/author/
cgrippe
Christiana Dobrzynski Grippe