Week 5: Boxes and Copper and Ink: Oh My! Part 1

September 23, 2009


This was my 5th week at the Byrd Polar Archives and I found myself at the beginning of an arduous task. Two boxes, both enigmatically titled "Copper Plates" sat in the room, just begging for some maintenance. I later learned that the plates were metal printing plates for the book The Romance of Antarctic Adventure, presumably published around 1935 after the return of Admiral Byrd's second expedition. The first box had a few plates preserved in manilla envelopes with its description written in permanent marker, several other plates laying in the box, and a copy of the book. The second box had several pieces strewn inside, laying on top of each other, with no preservation strategies implemented.  The total number of plates was around 60 pieces, of which none of them had been assigned an item number within its container.  After thinking about how to go about these boxes, I decided that this would take several steps:


1.  Digitally photograph each plate with its corresponding page in the book.
2.  Place each plate into a separate manilla envelope (some smaller pieces can be combined into one envelope) and indicate on the front with permanent marker the box number, item number, stacks location, and brief description.
3.  Maintain a running list of item numbers, descriptions, and size in order to create a Container Inventory List to be attached to the box itself and along with the paper inventory list of the entire Richard E. Byrd Papers' artifacts.
4.  Open each digital file in Photoshop, do any necessary modifications, and add the filename tag.
5.  Digitally scan (at medium resolution) the book.
6.  Upload the book (in .pdf file) to the Byrd Polar Media site.
7.  Upload each plate into the Byrd Polar Media site.
8.  Describe each plate and include the corresponding page number in the digital copy (while linking back to the .pdf for user convenience).
9.  Ensure that all files are viewable and downloadable (in particular, the .pdf).

Granted, this project was not able to be completed in one day.  Fueled by my motivation and determination, I did not even take a lunch!  I worked for 9 straight hours and by the end of the day, I had only completed the first three steps and had just begun the fourth step.  

(A photo of some plates, the book on the right, and a manilla envelope with description written on it)

I felt slightly disappointed that I had been unable to upload anything that day, but my supervisor continually reminded me that this should focus on quality, not quantity (and speed).  

Again, I was reminded that this project is not just digitization.  By accessing all of these boxes slowly and methodically, I have the opportunity to re-house many of the items and create ways that help track the inventory and also help when the artifacts need pulled in the future.  Additionally, I am able to help others find these amazing items for future use by uploading them onto the Web.

Speaking of the Web, this week we opened the Gallery to the public.  It is accessible by going to https://byrdpolarmedia.osu.edu/Artifacts_in_the_Richard_E_Byrd_Papers.  I had uploaded a total of 22 items at the end of Week 4, which is 1 week ahead of schedule.  Due to the large amount of artifacts in the two printing plates boxes, I believe that the next goal of uploading 25 more items by Week 10 will be fulfilled by Week 5.  

In: 8 a.m.
Out: 5 p.m.
On-site hours completed today: 9
On-site hours completed total: 35.25
On-site hours left: 64.75