Archive is a way to remember and historicize records of people. It is also a way to secure and preserve our cultural heritage. Thanks to archive, scholars can access authentic records. Records can be any kind of artifacts, from pictures, 3D objects, newspapers, books and much more.
For the general public, it is a way to have access to their own culture or different cultures throughout the time. It is a great source of knowledge. Archivists are most of the time historians and can also accompany people in their research and bring useful information as well.
According to Brittney Falter, the choice of digitization can be tough. Documents can be almost identical, but present different annotations. 1 Should we in that case digitize all or just one? Brittney Falter explained that archivists have to work together to talk about those special cases and take a common decision.
When digitizing an object, how can we preserve the tactile characteristics of something intangible like digital information? In other words, how can archivists reproduce the virtues of artifacts when digitizing them? One way is to reproduce the structure of a library and its organization thanks to a software. One such emulation project is Emory University Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library’s recreation of Salman Rushdie’s computer.
Not all records are easy to digitize either. 3D objects, for example, require taking several pictures of them, but it is not quiet the same experience than in-person. We had the example during the meeting with Brittney Falter, of a doll with many threads.
How could we possibly reproduce this experience when taking a picture of it? This is why archivists have double responsibilities: the challenge of the digitization era and the preservation of artifacts of the past.
I was surprised by the importance of the Federal Theater Project in the 1930s and its impact on people. Indeed, it was more than a simple project. It was a multitude of projects with their own meanings.
For example, the idea of revisiting the classics like MacBeth with an all-black version “Voodoo Macbeth” was a revolutionary idea. It was a chance for African American to perform and tackle classics. 2
Within the FTP, there are five units including many companies. They represent a huge number of cultural events. It has been hard to grasp its existence until the meeting held by George Mason University archivist Brittney Falter.
Having the chance to have on hand an original scrapbook related to the FTP from the 1930s changed my understanding on the materials of the FTP.
I had on hand George Gershwin scrapbook which represents an overview of the FTP tour in the region of the West. It includes photographs and information from different units and companies. It was such a unique experience. The scrapbook is a big book with a beautiful cover. We can tell that it is old but the photographs inside are perfectly preserved.
Looking and touching 3D objects make the experience more real. While digital is a great tool for History, artifacts from Archives and Museums help to feel closer to the past and better imagine the life of former people.
