Excavations in the Archives: How to repurpose catalog record information and digitized item images into dynamic and accessible web resources that further promote the use of a collection. This presentation will outline the multi-step process it took to preserve, digitize, and catalog the internationally-known collection of archaeologist Ernst Herzfeld; leading to the creation and heavy use of a variety of web resources. An exploration of piecing together grants, budget technology, and labor force needed, will also be discussed.
Ernst Herzfeld papers: Housed in the F|S Archives, the Ernst Herzfeld papers document his archaeological activities in such sites as Samarra, Persepolis, Pasargadae, Paikuli, and Aleppo, and include correspondence, field notebooks, drawings, sketchbooks, inventories of objects, photographs, and squeezes of architectural inscriptions and details.
Cataloging project to digitize and catalog Leon Levy foundation 5778 records, 2443 are Samarra
The Finds Journal with In-874, details in the Finds Journals… The identified strategy in Herzfled’s inventory numbering and the in-depth cataloging we’ve done allows a search system that can build relationships between objects and the archives, and is a system that can be successful in implementing multiple disparate Herzfeld collections across the globe.
Talk about the coding used in the Ernst Herzfeld finds journal and how we can make all these connections in the catalog. Further explored in the youtube tutorial. For each object Herzfeld would assign an Inventory number. Whenever he drew, wrote about, or photographed that object he would meticulously document the inventory number on each one. Because we have identified that strategy we’ve been able to structure our catalog record to make the connections of one item among the various documents found in his papers. 12 objects pulled up with IN-874 Example: Wood fragment with ornamentation from the Palace of Caliph *Sketchbook, journal drawings, photographs, case listings, typological study, unpublished report AND most importantly the finds journal
YouTube tutorial on how to use the Collections Search Center, using an Ernst Herzfeld Samarra query as an example that further demonstrates the connections we are able to make using Herzfeld’s inventory.
New Ernst Herzfeld Image Gallery
(Explain what to find in each one.)
Samarra
Ernst Herzfeld blog posts on the newly catalog and digitized sections, in addition to the Samarra 100 th Anniversary series for 2011. Briefly speak to visitation we’ve received via analytics to prove we’re reaching interested and invested audiences.
New Squeeze 3d Image Project CCPF What is the project? Why is it important?
Squeeze tool
Samarra Resource page, specific to all Samarra materials and resources (including some of the resources I presented). These are things that we are working on and we’d love to work with you all to further develop the resources…
Freer|Sackler Archives: Where to find the resources Contact for research, images, and general questions