Apple data. This is but one example of how scholars could use archived material. The main point being that archived and preserved items can be used to analyze things from that time period Archives in general are useful in many regards. However, the way they are useful can vary from group to group. For both scholars and the public, archives offer a glimpse into history by physical manifestations of that history. This can be through actual documents being preserved or other more three-dimensional objects such as dioramas for example. As discussed in Susan Manus’ article
1one of the major uses for scholars is to actually use archived equipment for certain purposes. Preservationists can use things like older computer systems to analyze and recover some of the out-of-date storage equipment that has simply gone out of use. An example could be using an old Macintosh system to recover old original without needing to be in that time period.
When regarding how the public interacts and uses archived material there are some limitations to think about. One of these limitations can come from not having physical access to some of the items. Most of the time a regular person is unable to actually go a physically analyze these objects. This is one of the biggest reasons and benefits of digitization; it allows for anyone with WIFI access to view these pieces. Another limitation, which scholars face as well, is the necessity for a lot of items to be digitized. The way many of the items in collections are selected for digitization can also be an extension of this limitation. When selecting some items to be digitized, it is discussed with Thomas Padilla and Elvia Arroyo-Ramirez
2that some of the original meanings of the items may be lost or altered. An example discussed was how an item which predated the internet was digitized without consent from those who it was meant for. This “blanket tendency” as it was called to do this can be harmful as it can leave out specific knowledge regarding the item; in this case being that it was meant for a specific group of people.
Analyzing the items that we had in class gave a richer understanding of what the FTP was. One of the first things that I simply had not picked up on with digitized documents was that it was so much more nationwide than I previously thought. There were documents from the FTP in New York, Chicago, and other locations. While I new that it had taken place in multiple cities and venues, having physical evidence in front of you makes everything feel more real. When looking at digitized items you are fundamentally losing the realness and the physicality of that object. Holding a flier for a Macbeth show in Chicago is so much more interesting than looking at it on a screen. You can see how big it is, how it feels, the imperfections on it. All of this added so much more physical context to many of the programs we had been studying throughout this semester.
