First, the Special Collections archive is a major resource that allows us to explore many different histories including the Federal Theater Project, our school, and the New Deal Era. The archive is very significant and important for scholars because it groups many important artifacts and information into the same place. This allows scholars to be able to easily find what they are looking for. Also, it allows for scholars and even the general public to easily find tons of information about their topic. For example, if a digital historian was looking for artifacts relating to Theater and arts during the New Deal Era, then they would just have to search Federal Theater Project and all of the information would be at their fingertips. Also, the Special Collections allows people to decide whether they want to digitally find artifacts and information or do they want to physically go and feel artifacts and learn that way. For the general public, the archive serves as an extra reminder of our history and our country’s history. Also, they can use the archive as a secondary source when they can’t find any other information or place to go.
The main thing that archivists must use to decide whether to digitize an artifact is how would the artifact appear to the user, if digitized. They must discuss multiple different things to decide if an artifact should be digitized including texture, weight, appearance, and quality etc.1It’s important to realize that archivists make sure the user will be able to understand what the artifact is based off the photo. For example, I dealt with the print press stamp during our Special Collections class and the texture on these is very unique. You can’t feel the ridges or understand how the paint/toner had to be packed into these stamps because of how deep the ridges and spaces are. Also, some of the stamps can only be seen and understood under certain angles of light, which would be extremely hard to show in a photo and would therefore not benefit to digitize. From our speaker, I learned that archivists mainly digitize photos because these are easy to see digitally and they try to keep away from digitizing objects because of all the extra factors that you use when digitizing a 3D artifact.
My understanding of the Federal Theater Project has changed drastically after looking at the materials in class. I realize the true effect this federal project had on so many lives. The government was able to put people back to work doing something they love, such as acting, and also gave normal citizens a cheap play they could see. 2 This project was able to bring people together for a short period of time over a comedy or tragedy of some sorts. Also, I understood how this project gave more than just actors jobs. For example, now writers are able to write articles in the newspaper about the show and critics are able to give their opinions as well. Also, marketing people are able to make flyers and promo for the plays. The project seemed to be beneficial for many people.
- Manus, and Susan. “The Artifactual Elements of Born-Digital Records, Part 1.” The Artifactual Elements of Born-Digital Records, Part 1 | The Signal, November 28, 2011. https://blogs.loc.gov/thesignal/2011/11/the-artifactual-elements-of-born-digital-records-part-1/.
- “The Play That Electrified Harlem : Articles and Essays : Federal Theatre Project, 1935 to 1939 : Digital Collections : Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress. Accessed November 7, 2019. https://www.loc.gov/collections/federal-theatre-project-1935-to-1939/articles-and-essays/play-that-electrified-harlem/.
